Today we had a really fun connection between Mr. Heppler’s 2nd grade class at Hollywood Elementary, Stevensville, MI and Ms. Daugherty’s 4th grade classat Spencer Van Etten Elementary, Van Etten, NY. The two classes shared their worm farms with each other via videoconferencing! Both classes had the equipment moved into their classroom, so this was [...]
Filed under: Collaborations | 1 Comment »
Today we had the last MysteryQuest USA of this year. I am always struck by the patience and flexibility of the students in participating in this event! We had some interesting challenges this time – the class in Wales, Alaska had a power outage and were connected for a while via their generator; another class [...]
Filed under: MysteryQuests, Techie Stuff | Comments Off
One of the best reasons to use videoconferencing is to connect to people who would be difficult to bring to your classroom otherwise. Today’s ASK videoconference with United States Poet Laureate Rita Dove, Commonwealth Professor of English at the University of Virginia was an amazing experience. The program was a collaboration between SAXophone, providing registration [...]
Filed under: Special Events | 2 Comments »
In my online class on using videoconferencing, Planning Interactive Curriculum Connections, I ask the participants in the first week to share their goals for using their videoconference equipment. Here is a response from Carol Scott, Media Specialist, Mustang Public Schools, Oklahoma. One of the best set of goals I’ve seen for elementary videoconferencing: I hope: [...]
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Today I facilitated another MysteryQuest USA. We had a great group of kids from Michigan, Missouri, Wisconsin, New York, and Texas. We had to weather a few technical glitches, but the students did very well. Rachel Villanueva’s class from McAllen, Texas did an exceptional job with their clues and guessing the locations of the other [...]
Filed under: MysteryQuests | 2 Comments »
I’ve been doing VCs since 1999 and it’s gotten to be a comfy easy thing to do! Well, now we are getting a new Tandberg MCU installed and I’m back to that newbie feeling. Realizing again how complex this technology really is! Waiting with baited breath to see if it works. What a celebration and [...]
Filed under: Techie Stuff | Comments Off
Yesterday a colleague offered me a possible project collaboration with a country in Asia. Obviously to make it work, we have to address some time zone issues! It will definitely mean students coming in late for a videoconference on one or both ends of the videoconference. So then last evening as I was mowing, I [...]
Filed under: International VCs | 1 Comment »
Just finished one of my favorite annual videoconferences that we do. Students from Buchanan, Coloma and New Buffalo High Schools interviewed Senator Levin on current issues. Clearly the students had given much thought to their questions and included facts and information they had researched when asking their questions. A few highlights include: On a daily [...]
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Today we had two fun science connections. 3rd graders from Stewart Elementary, Lakeshore, connected to COSI Columbus for the Gadget Works program. This videoconference is one of the best available out there! Students learn all about simple machines, take apart gadgets such as the happy crab and chattering teeth, and watch the BellPopper machine at [...]
Filed under: Content Providers | 3 Comments »
Today I’m sending via email to my schools a list of career videoconferences. The Berrien County ISD Career Technical Education program is paying for a few videoconferences for Berrien County middle school and high school students this year. I’ve selected these programs for their ability to be scheduled during the teachers’ class period and because [...]
Filed under: Program Lists | Comments Off
