Distance+Learning

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2/5/09 8:00 AM Distance Learning Video Conferencing 2.0 Using Webcams and Free Programs.... Video Digital World: Kids Today

Objective: Look at the free tools available to engage students so they will relate their world to education obtaining the skills they need to be successful.


 * Birdville created a database of their teachers so students can quickly find teachers to talk to.
 * Building wide training - every teacher received a webcam/ then teachers had 45 minutes to go back to the rooms to set them up and try them. They then came back to debrief. Tech person then had a blog for them to use: The Paradigm Shift has started.
 * Administrators also use the webcams- we connected with an administrator at Smithville. "I can now attend meetings via webcams, stay at home, watch kids, a lot of things." "I have a teacher who is on the East Coast and we do pen pals. It knocks down the walls. Watched his 5 year old...he is immersed. It gives kids more opportunities."

Ideas: Connect with your class when a sub is there. Teachers all share to a central location Pictionary with two campuses Unwrapping a Christmas -Holiday (countries) with a webquest Use wikis or blog and webcams to colloborate with another class. They wrote a book with pictures of someone's dog. Real world - Iraq communication / poll the classroom for possible contacts to enhance your curriculum Use twitter with the kids- once the novelty wears off teachers can actually support the kids all the time. Critter Cam- how did the critter get out at night??!

Webcams Depends on need: Can create an avatar (voki, others) Can live stream to a district channel

Oovoo- Download. Multiple users at once.

Skype- More than one can use it at once (?) Tell the teachers is just a few clicks away Finding people is easy, go through settings to set security

dimdim- no download. Join and host a meeting. Free/ Share & show desktop, applications etc. There is a paid version.

ustream.tv- get an account, login and broadcast live! Be sure to Allow the broadcast widget to access your video camera or webcam. Broadcast to another lab (training or classes)/ PTA Programs/ No more missed programs/ Records her class so students can view when absent, need reteach, etc. be sure to save and post to You Tube if desired. Can use code.

Skype in School in WIKI

MeBeam.com- invite anyone in. Very simple and no download

Tools to use: Google Docs, Good

I would like to attend the TXDLA conference in Corpus Christ April 6 - 9 .[|April Conference]