The Coolest VC Training Ever

Ok, I just finished the coolest training with Roxanne Glaser, ESC 12 in Waco, TX. Roxanne and I participated in the 123 VC Jazzing Up Your Curriculum with VC workshop last summer. We both have K-2 buildings wondering what the best use of videoconferencing is for their grade levels.

So we adapted the Jazz format to 1.5 hours! Tonight we connected 6 K-2 schools with 4-8 teachers at each site. 3 Michigan schools and 3 Texas schools.

We started right off with introductions. Every school did a cool introduction with the components we required: school name, location, mascot, weather/climate, and a unique town tidbit. They were really creative with songs, costumes and chants. Teachers who hadn’t done VC yet were on camera having fun!

Next we had several teachers share the videoconferences they had participated in before so the new teachers could hear the possibilities.

Then we really got into the fun part. We gave teachers 10 minutes to brainstorm some potential projects. They made a huge letter poster with the school name, topic, time & time zone, grade, and the preferred month. In the picture you can see the posters with the ideas. Then we did a round robin sharing the ideas, and then sharing which ones the teachers wanted to do. Voila! In about 45 minutes we had 10-15 project ideas and partners! Incredible! More later as we implement and move forward.

ASK Jim Stovall Training

Yesterday evening we had the training for the ASK Ultimate Gift Videoconference coming up in March. This is “ASK Deluxe” with the ASK process plus blogging. You can read about past ASK Ultimate Gift programs and view the December 14 session.

The training has been archived on the Polycom RSS (on loan to BCISD from Polycom for events like this one).

Arizona Memorial Museum Association

Today a Galien Alternative High School history class is talking to Pearl Harbor survivors at the Arizona Memorial Museum Association. Students listen to the stories of World War II Veterans who were at Pearl Harbor, and then they take some time to ask questions. The stories of the veterans were interspersed with historical photos and artifacts. This is an incredible experience for history students. Visually rich, riveting stories, personal interviews. And free! Really free! They only have access to ISDN, and they prefer to call out to us! This was our first time connecting to the Arizona Memorial Museum and we definitely will be connecting again.

I imagine though, that if you want to connect on Dec. 7, you have to schedule WAY in advance! In addition, due to the 5 hour time difference between EST and Hawaii time, you’ll have to be flexible and willing to connect later in the day.

I think it’s really important, especially when students are interviewing veterans, to teach them to be a good respectful listening audience, and to thank the veterans for their service. In our previous videoconferences with our local veterans, they really appreciate those gestures from the students.

So try out this content provider if you haven’t yet!

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