Beyond Virtual Field Trips

Did you miss Marci Powell and Jan Zanetis’s webinar on February 21? I did because I was running a MysteryQuest. Well the archive has been posted online and now you can still watch it. Here’s the full blurb about the webinar.

Beyond Virtual Field Trips: Extending Video Communication in the Classroom
This presentation will be available to audience members until May 23, 2007 at 02:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time.
Blended learning works – are we surprised? Of course not – combining multiple modes of delivery, addressing varying learning styles and adapting by skill, attitude and competency are just good teaching strategies. Successful educators are embracing the power of video communications in the classroom to facilitate blended and more effective learning. Join us for this webinar and learn how video technologies are helping teachers make today’s Net Generation Learners into lifelong learners. Marci Powell, Executive Vice President/ President-Elect at the United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA) and past president of Texas Distance Learning Association (TxDLA), and TANDBERG market development manager for Education, Jan Zanetis, a career educator, will discuss how you can bring a higher level of collaboration and content access to your students, colleagues and administrators.

Take some time to watch it if you haven’t already!

CBS Features VC Field Trips

Just received this tip from Bob Dixon via several listservs. CBS did a story on virtual field trips that is nice and concise and features several content providers we’re familiar with. Great student quotes too.

The clip also features Jody Kennedy, who has written several articles about videoconferencing. These are the ones I know of.

Content providers featured include Mote Marine, Reef HQ in Australia, and the Center for Puppetry Arts. The clip is only three minutes long and perfect for workshops and training sessions. Check it out!

Interviewing Congressman Fred Upton

This morning Coloma Jr. High, Marcellus Middle School, New Buffalo High School, River Valley High School, Ross Beatty High School, and St. Joseph High School participated in an interview with Congressman Fred Upton. Students had prepared questions ahead of time.

The discussion covered a myriad of topics including stem cell research, global warming, illegal immigration which affects our congressional district with farms depending on migrant workers, what its like to be in a minority in congress, social security, gas prices and the likelihood of a draft coming back.

Two questions really caught my attention:

  • As a high school student I’ve noticed more students who don’t value their education. What would you say to them?
  • We spend a lot of time taking very long tests. Some kids are not good test takers, but they know the material. What can we do about this problem?

We used the Polycom RSS to record this session and you can watch the streaming if you wish. This will allow the schools that weren’t able to participate the ability to still benefit from the interview.

Thank you to all the coordinators and especially Congressman Fred Upton and his staff for making this another successful videoconference!

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