Virtual-ly Free Videoconferences, TCEA

 

February 7, 2008

Roxanne Glaser, ESC Region 12, Waco, TX

Paula Yezak, Temple ISD, Temple, TX

Session Description

Unique learning experiences don't have to cost a lot of money. Come join us for loads of ideas on free videoconference programs and collaborative projects.

Download printable handout here:

tcea08_free.pdf

Content Providers (Free Programs)

• Rainforest Connection Live
• NASA Digital Learning Network
• NASA NEEMO,  Robin Hart YouTube Video

   

• Cleveland MetroPark Zoo
• Smithsonian American Art Museum
• Arizona Memorial Museum Association
• Library of Congress
• Lancashire Conservation Studios
• National Archives
• Eli Lilly and Company, Meghan Johnson 

Content Providers (Easy on the Pocket)

• Camden Children’s Garden ($55-$80)
• Center for Puppetry Arts ($145/MP 3 sites)
• Global Leap ($65)
• The Grace Museum ($75 for TEKS-based programs)
• Indianapolis Zoo ($80 MP for monthly specials--Butterflies/Penguins/Earth Day)
• The Mariners' Museum ($50/$75)
• Mote Marine, Florida ($50/$75)
• Michigan State University Museum ($50)
• Vanderbilt University, Tennessee ($75) 

   

Teacher Demos (Free, but programs cost)

• NASA DLN Overview and Program Showcase
• Cleveland Institute of Music - Distance Learning Jambalaya
• Cleveland Museum of Art
• Challenger Learning Center - Wheeling Operation Montserrat
• Connect2Texas providers email Gerri Maglia for more information

   

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.

• Monster Match (Roxanne Glaser)
• Holiday Extravaganza (Roxanne Glaser)
• Bluebonnet Conference (Roxanne Glaser)
• Read Around the Planet (TWICE Janine Lim)
• Texas History Mystery (Angela Conrad)
• Landmark Challenge (Roxanne Glaser)
• MysteryQuest USA (Janine Lim)
• MysterQuest World (Janine Lim)
• ASK Programs(Janine Lim-MI and Roxanne Glaser-TX)
• The Great Race (Kathy Mohr and Katrina Moore-OH) 

Home-grown Content Providers

These are examples of how ESC Region 12 created programs for schools in their service area. The following three are only available to EDLINK12 members. These projects could be easily replicated in your own district or service area.

• Singing With Shane
• Seuss-a-palooza
• Weather With Rusty

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. We use the Collaborative VCs Wiki and Janine's Kid2Kid Projects Booklet to plan effective classroom to classroom connections.

• 100 Days of School
• Down in the Deep (A Mini-Jazz Collaboration from May 2007)
• Hong Kong and Clifton (Fall 2006)
• United Kingdom and Temple ISD (Contact r.symberlist@ukerna.ac.uk, JANET program for partners) 
• Iraq Soldier Connection (Contact tajiadmin@freedomcalls.org)

Mega TETN Statewide Events

(Open only to purchasing video services from their ESC)

• Bearden's Snake, Rattle, and Roll (February 29, 2008)
• Texas Connects--Going Green Day (May 16, 2008)
• Connect2Texas: In the News

IVC Listservs

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

IVC Blogs

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 with Roxanne Glaser
• Out on a Lim
• Avon, Ohio Distance Learning Program
• Got Videoconferencing?
• CSD The Wired Classroom
• EPISD VC 
• NY Hall of Science Virtual Visits

Other ideas for creating projects

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

Finding Partners

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

Supportive Technologies

• 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)