What is videoconferencing?
Video conferencing uses telecommunications of audio and video to bring people at different sites together for a meeting. This can be as simple as a conversation between two people in private offices (point-to-point) or involve several sites (multi-point) with more than one person in large rooms at different sites. Besides the audio and visual transmission of people, video conferencing can be used to share documents, computer-displayed information, and whiteboards. Improvements are being made in collaborative tools that allow people at different sites to electronically manipulate a common document or computer application.
Pacific Bell Knowledge Network Guide to Videconferencing Glossary
Why use Videoconferencing?
Advantages of having videoconferencing equipment in your district:
Virtual Fieldtrips—Provide the opportunity for your students to connect with zoos, museums, and parks without the expense and inherent dangers of transporting them off campus. Give them access to collections and artifacts too far away to see in person. Have them speak with experts in their fields and notable people from all walks of life, one on one, in real time. Teachers gain access to hundreds of pre-prepared collaborative lessons led by educational professionals from major museums, zoos and other locations around the world.
Classroom to Classroom Collaborations—Whether it is across town, or across the world, videoconferencing allows your students to meet and interactive with their peers face to face. This encourages cooperative learning through shared lessons for all age groups, and across all economic and social divides.
Distance Learning—Use videoconferencing equipment, either within your district, or working collaboratively with other districts, to offer courses that historically have low enrollment and therefore may not be offered otherwise. Offer more AP courses to high school students, or the chance to earn high school credit to upper level middle school students. Conduct workshops during the evenings for your local community, offering short courses on any number of topics. Use vc equipment to communicate with homeschooled or hospitalized students.
Staff Development—Bring professional development to your teachers when they have the time, on-site. Eliminate the need for teacher pull-outs, substitutes, travel expenses, etc. Schedule professional development via videoconferencing equipment during mandatory faculty meetings and superintendents conference days.
Administrative—Eliminate the need for travel between offices within the district, or regional centers, or as required by the State Education Department. Many of these meetings can be attended using videoconferencing equipment, saving time and money on unnecessary travel expenses.
Many institutions offer videoconferencing in a variety of disciplines and across all grade levels. While some government run sites are free, fees are usually between $100 - $200. While Western Suffolk BOCES can book any program, upon request, the following guides are lists of current Content Providers and programs in 2010. Please contact Western Suffolk BOCES for information regarding specific program pricing.
Western Suffolk BOCES Online Videoconference Program and Provider Guide
Tanberg's Downloadable Videconference Provider Guide
Useful Links
Videoconference Provider On-line Guides, Search Engines and Databases:
Center for Interactive Learning and Collaboration
Polycom/Berrien Provider Guide
Two Way Interactive Connections in Education - TWICE
New Hampshire Public Television Knowledge Network
Free Content Providers
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
Global Opportunities
Award Winning Content Providers
NASA Digital Learning Network (Ames)
New Content Providers
New York Historical Association and Farmers Museum
If you would like to book a videoconference or to find out more about videoconferencing for your school, contact:
Karen Schmid
Western Suffolk BOCES
kschmid@wsboces.org
(631) 595-6836