K-12 Videoconferencing Collaborations: From Concept to Classroom

 

March 27, 2008

Roxanne Glaser, ESC Region 12, Waco, TX

Shane Howard, ESC Region 12, Waco, TX

 

Session Description

Schools can maximize videoconferencing budgets by finding and creating free collaborations.  Roxanne will share practical strategies for transforming ideas into engaging collaborations that take student learning to the next level.  Duplicate successful videoconference projects and sail into spring with great ideas to finish the year!

 

Download printable handout here:

TxDLA08_idea_implementation.pdf

 

 

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Classroom to Classroom Collaborations

Unlike student projects, classroom collaborations are not tightly managed or controlled. They begin with the idea of the classroom teacher. Then we find partners, negotiate time and dates, and connect. Most of the time, these are point-to-point, unmoderated connections. See Planning Documents below for guides and how to information.

 

• "To Kill a Mockingbird"
• "Down in the Deep"

 

Student Projects

Centrally coordinated or managed by one person or a team. Some projects are only open to schools within a network area and others are open to any school with H.323 videoconferencing anywhere in the world. Most projects listed here have evolved from other projects. If you see something that you might be able to use, be sure to link back to us or give us credit.

 

• Bluebonnet Conference (Roxanne Glaser)
• Texas History Mystery (Angela Conrad)
• Landmark Challenge (Roxanne Glaser)
• Monster Match
• Holiday Extravaganza

 

Home-grown Content Providers/Experts

These are examples of how ESC Region 12 created programs for schools in their service area. These projects could be easily replicated in your own district or service area.

 

• Singing With Shane
• Weather With Rusty

 

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IVC Blogs-find partners, get ideas, learn tips for coordinating

 

If you are new to reading blogs and are wondering how to keep up with all the info on IVC blogs, you will need to use an RSS reader (bloglines or Google Reader). Here is a quick video to explain it in plain English. 

 

• VC Rox: K-12 Videoconferencing in TX
• Out on a Lim
• Got Videoconferencing?
• CSD The Wired Classroom
• EPISD VC 

 

Other ideas for creating projects

• ePals Project List
• Global Run Project
• Collaborative VCs Wiki
• Kid2Kid Projects Booklet

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Planning Documents

• Collaborative VCs Wiki (Janine Lim)
• Kid2Kid Projects Booklet (Janine Lim)
• Tommy Bearden's Tips for Collaborative Videoconferencing
• Sample Google Form (Roxanne Glaser)
• North Carolina State University Videoconference Design Project

 

Finding Partners

• Collaborations Around the Planet
• Which collaboration site should I use? This is a great post from Janine's blog.
• CILC Collaboration Center
• Connect2Texas' New Student Program Listings

 

IVC Listservs

• Join AT&T's Collaboration Collage
• K12 IVC Listserv
• Megaconference Jr. Listserv
• Connect2Texas Listserv

 

Tips for Preparation

• Asking better questions
• Zoom that camera
• Ideas for interactions
• Questioning Toolkit

 

Supportive Technologies (managing information and communicating)

How to select the appropriate supportive technology

• Wordpress for blogs (hosted not blocked by filters)
• PBwiki for sharing descriptions and schedules (was only blocked by two districts)
• Joomla for websites
• GoogleDocs for sharing connection details and contact info
• Moodle for online forums and closed projects (not blocked)
• Flickr for sharing photos (not used in schools, only for professional development)
• Skype for communicating behind the scenes (essential for international projects)
• World Clock Meeting Planner (used to make sure about time zones)