Video Conferencing on a Shoestring!

ICTEV Conference 2011 “In Touch”Anne Mirtschinmirtschin@gmail.com

Speaking to an Indonesian teacher of English and her class:Sharing favourite books, hobbies and interests etc

Connecting with videoconferencing

• Within the school• Beyond into the state or country• Beyond into the globe• Group to group or• Individual to individual

The shoestring!

Requirements• Laptop with desktop with webcamera• Headset or microphone and speakers• Data projector and white wall/whiteboard

(optional)• Choice of free videoconferencing software

(downloadable or online)• People to connect with

Tools Used

• Skype• MS Communicator• Elluminate• Gtalk • discoverE• oovoo

Beyond School – into the state

Online debating

Global connections!

e-Cultural Learning Adventures

Lost in Malaysia

Bianca teaching grade 4 from China

Question Tags – Endang and amazing educator from Indonesia

Speaking directly with earthquake victims 12 hours after the occurrrence using skype

West Java EarthquakeSeptember 8th

• 7.3 richter scale• 64 deaths, 37 people missing, and 27,630

people displaced in nine districts in West Java and one in Central Java.

• Approximately 54,231 houses were damaged in 12 districts in West Java and one district in Central Java.

Will Richardson quote on Learning is Now!

• What a great model for the immediacy of learning that can happen these days, and the relevance. When you think about all of the things that your students could learn and practice here, interviewing skills, geography and geology, information research, retrieval, editing, organization and sharing, all in the larger context of perhaps assisting those in need who were thousands of kilometers away. I want to make the point, however, that it's all grounded in your own understanding of these technologies and the ways in which they can help us connect. If you didn't have that knowledge and experience, this probably would not have happened, and that really is the goal of what we're all trying to do here, get more comfortable in using these technologies to learn in our own practice.

One on one linkup with Indonesian students (10 students in all)

International Friendship Day – Singapore linkup

Students from Eliza Park Primary School, Singapore interview professionals via skype

A linkup with a school in RussiaRussian Connections

Should Australia go to India to play sport?

• Foresee and sense cultural misunderstanding

Should Australia go to India to play sport?

Online discussions with North Castlemaine Primary School, Victoria, Australia

Skype intros with theAmerican School of Bombay

Online discussions with a school in Mumbai, India:- “Should Australia go to India to play Sport?”

Using Skype with India

Skyping Endang from Indonesia in the batik markets

Virtual Tours – Endang, Indonesia, walks us through the Batik markets

Veronica Woo, from SMJK Poi Lam School in Ipoh, Malaysia walks these girls through her school and cultural celebrations.

Touring a Malaysian School Kitchen

Concert Rehearsalfrom Malaysia to Australia

Expert Speakers

Keynote speaker – uni lecturer from Doha, Qatar, speaks to students at Qatar Academy and Hawkesdale P12 College about citizenship journalism.

Skype an author!Andrew McDonald

Using elluminate

Members of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra demonstrate their instruments as part of the Ping Music Project

Grade 6 student teaches year 10 IT class

Halloween

discoverE

Global Peer Mentoring – Kodu!

Sarveesh from Kuala LumpurTaman Burkitt Maluri School teaches Australian students MS Game making Kodu.

Choral Reading:from the Lion King

Capella

From Veronica Woo, Ipoh, Malaysia

• Well, it is definitely the power of Skype connection, you and the audience that have immensely helped in motivating our students, who are learning English in a very challenging situation where they rarely speak English among themselves, but it’s only with us that they have got no choice but to speak English! All this, plus the realisation on their part, that they have actually performed in front of a native English speaking audience of educators that have also helped in a way! Thanks to the event organiser and of course, you, Anne, for making this possible! Hopefully, the other students will also be motivated to see their peers’ achievement and change their attitudes and perception towards learning English.

Virtual Classrooms

Cash Journals

Learning VCE accounting virtually using skype/videoconferencing

Virtual Teaching Round Practicum

Agriculture

• Year 7 students learnt floral arranging from a florist via skype videoconferencing

• Students made their own floral arrangements.• Florist then commented on their

arrangements and judged them.

Walking through Skype

Skype (http://www.skype.com)

VOiPLive chatAudioconferencingVideoconferencingBookmark and save chatsCan record conferencing- eg pamelaAllows group chatGroup videoconferencingShare files

About skype...

• Skype is a free piece of VOiP software, that can connects computers together to allow free telephone calls.

• Good follow up service, actively seek feedback, always improving their service.

• User and operator friendly• Inexpensive – just need cheap headset or desktop microphone

and headphones, cost of download time is negligible. • Download software from http://www.skype.com• Allows chat, group chat and calls and video conferencing, file

sharing• May be used to call landlines

Groups in skype

•Instant conversations with like minded people across the globe•Audio and txt chat enabled

• The basic aims of this project are to:-

• acquire cultural awareness (differences/similarities)

• to promote the culture of peace• connectivism• to become a community of practice

Successful videoconferencing!

• Speaking to a web camera requires use of eye contact and minimum little movement

• animated voices • The voice takes the place of body language.• Appropriate use of microphone is critical• Student confidence is crucial for effectiveness• Appropriate placement of any object being displayed• Keep any movement of objects or people to an

absolute minimum

Successful videoconferencing cont...

• Use the chat window feverishly for feedback, questions and variety of delivery, ensuring understanding

• Video should be used to keep the class interested• Clear, slow voices and short, simple but full

sentences.• Need to be able to multitask eg speak, read chat,

position camera, microphone, control and manage existing class and virtual class etc.

Management issues

• Determine the required outcomes/objectives• Keep the camera as still as possible. Bring students/objects to the camera, • Seat students appropriately, so that they can be seen via the web camera.• Allocate roles to students eg chat window, web cam operator, microphone

manager etc as this is a real multi tasking operation. (Keep them busy)• Ensure everything is organized right from the start – all materials required

are on hand.• Use objects to show and tell were possible• Always test the equipment before starting the class and test prior teacher

to teacher before the day. • Always use chat first before ringing.• Organisation, confidence and management are the key to success.

Class discipline

• Small groups are far more effective and manageable. If students are misbehaving, ensure that the camera does not pick that up.

• Have a discipline management plan before commencing. Most students love this kind of work, but if sound quality, voice carry over, technical issues, software dropping in and out it may become boring and students, restless.

• Always have a backup lesson ready should the internet not function and a backup date for another attempt.

Constraints

• Video option is lost once there are more than two participants in the conference (with free version)

• Long distance and differing bandwidth• Skype may be blocked• Ensure all other programs that might use a

video camera are closed.

Tips

• Start with small, short projects• Communication is of prime importance• Commitment and dedication are essential• Get to know the other staff prior to and throughout the project, to gain

confidence in each other• Do not be frightened to ask for help or ask questions of any nature.• Be prepared to work hard (as hard as you may have ever worked in your

life) and take risks• Give out check list sheets to ensure that students remain on track• Enjoy the journey into the best that 21st century learning can give.

Challenges

• Time zones• Languages • Holiday periods• Testing and Examination times

Where to find partners

• Skype partners - http://theedublogger.com/want-to-connect-with-other-classrooms/

• Skype in Schools - http://skypeinschools.pbworks.com

• Skype in Education http://education.skype.com/• Around the World in 80 schools

Search online for more

Resources

• http://mashable.com/2007/08/21/skype-toolbox/

Where to learn more

• Tech Talk Tuesdays (4-5pm, Melbourne Aus time):• http://techtalktuesdays.global2.vic.edu.au• eT@lking Wed 8-9pm (Melbourne Aus time):

http://learncentral.org (australia series) http://www.australiaseries.wordpress.com

• Facebook groups eg Australiaseries• classroom20LIVE:- http://live.classroom20.com• Twitter• Online conferences