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Video Conferencing on a Shoestring! ICTEV Conference 2011 “In Touch” Anne Mirtschin [email protected]
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.
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
