Possibilities of Distance Learning in High School

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Possibilities of Distance Learning in High School

• Atlantic County ETTCPresenter Kathleen Willson

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What is Distance Learning?

• Downloaded videos to view
• Cable or satellite programmed lessons
• Video-taped lessons
• Web-based lessons.
• Interactive Video-conferencing!

Todays Focus Interactive Video-conferencing
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Challenges - for todays workshop

• Describing it
• Well use examples and video-clips
• No Techie Talk Today !
• ETTCs offerings
• Distance Learning Workshop will be offered this
  year at ETTC2 day workshop
  
• Mike Sweeter from EWT
• Rick Warren from Linwood
• Distance Learning Demo Trips all through next
  school year.

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What is video conferencing?
Video-conferencing allows people from all over
the world to connect live using either

•  ISDN 1 to 6 phone lines
• Monthly access fee, per-call fee based on
  distance
  
• Need a special spot or special wires
• Old Faithful.

ATM over the Internet pipe Monthly access fee,
free calls Could work on every computer! New and
Flaky!

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Interactive Videoconferencingpoint to point
I can see and hear your class!
Oakcrest H.S.
ACVTS
Your class can see and hear me!
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Multi-point
All classes dial into a bridge which allows up
to all see each other and hear each other.
ACVTS
Oakcrest H.S.
Some other class
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Positive - Benefits

• First of all, it's almost like being there.
• A video-conference can improve retention and
  appeal.
  
• Educators and librarians report that it can
• Heightens motivation,
• Improves communication, presentation,
• Increases depth of learning,
• Videoconferencing helps set up authentic learning
  situations.

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Positivescont

• Small classes can still run.
• Allows any school to offer all kinds of classes!
• Meets the needs of all students gifted
  talented, special needs, specific interest.
  
• Saves on specialty teachers ITV room can be
  staffed as duty.
  

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Negatives

• Scheduling!!!
• Equipment problems.
• Teaching over ITV takes practice.
• Fewer body language and tone of voice clues
• Discipline and motivation of far end is hard
• Its NOT a TV-show its a class!
• Takes time to build relationships with sending
  and receiving schools.
  
• Need motivated students.
• Prep-time for classes.

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Present uses of Video-conferencing in High
School

• AP, Enrichment and Homebound classes.
• Virtual Field Trips and Projects
• Professional Development
• Meetings professional memberships.
• Fostering relationships with sister schools in
  faraway places.

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1. AP, Home-bound and Enrichment classes

• Japanese, German, American Sign Language, other
  unusual world languages
  
• AP History Mainland to Buena
• Algebra Mainland to sending schools
• Spanish Atlantic City High to Ventnor
• French ACCC to Pleasantville High
• Home-bound instruction help for ANY class Egg
  Harbor Township pilot projects

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Positives and Negatives

• It offers enrichment it many areas.
• School expand their curriculum offerings.
• Homebound students can experience learning with
  their classmates.
  

• Scheduling!!!
• Studies show student motivation can suffer.
• Class time is lost due to scheduling conflicts.
• High drop out rates in college distance learning
  classes.
  

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2. Virtual Field Trips and Projects

• Break Down the Classroom Walls!
• Conquer Time and Space!
• Avoid Budget Constraints on Field Trips!
• This is where the excitement starts!
• For example
• NASA
• Cape May Zoo
• Philadelphia Art Museum

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Positives and Negatives

• It offers enrichment it many areas.
• Allows students access to places they could not
  visit in school!
  
• Saves travel time
• Could save , costs are often more reasonable
  then actual field trips.
  

• Scheduling!!!
• Costs often costs not build into budget.
• Always need Plan B.
• Time it takes time for teacher to research
  trips
  
• Time to schedule trips.

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3. Professional Development

• College Classes
• Online seminars
• Most ETTC workshops are available via ITV.

Positives and Negatives
Good Universities Penn State Save time and tra
vel expenses. Easy way to attend workshops, more
convenient!

Scheduling!!! Can be static and lack discussion
.

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4. Meetings and Committees
Positives and Negatives
Saves travel costs and time when working with
other high schools on ad-hoc meetings.
An open-door policy helps teachers to get
comfortable walking in and chatting with
colleagues elsewhere. Allows practice with the IT
V
Scheduling. Confusing with so many people talking


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5. Fostering relationships with sister schools.
Positives and Negatives

• Enriching
• Allows a perspective on other cultures.
• Allows students ability to travel without the
  costs.
  
• Students can practice languages

• Scheduling - Really difficult to arrange with
  different time zones.
  
• Language Barriers.
• Costs - Phone Charges

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Examples and Ideas

• Philadelphia Museum of Art
• Liberty Science Center Chem and Bio lab
• Diversity discussions with an Irish classroom
• Handshake around the world
• Wildlife refuges in various countries
• NASA Johnson Space Center
• Underwater diving experience AquaQuest
• Performance Artists various universities
• Holocaust Education Stockton
• United Nations

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How to Start?

• Garden State Distance Learning Consortium,
  GSDLC
  
• Conferences Partners in Distance Learning,
  NECC
  
• Web research.
• Old-fashioned networking - phone calls and email.

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Where to look for Field Trips and Video
Conferencing?

• Amazing array of possibilities with Pacific Bell
  
  
• PacBell Main site
• PacBell
• Video Adventures

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Next Steps?

• Get to know your room setup
• Visit other room setups Linwood, EHT, Stockton
• Try a Virtual Field Trip in September
• Organize the course offerings via ITV
  possibilities

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Questions? Discussion?
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The end

• Reach me with questions.
• Kathleen.willson_at_stockton.edu

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ETTC Distance Learning Clips

• An assortment of clips
• On different aspects of
• distance learning

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Tech Talk - Equipment

• Full room or mobile unit or PC top unit
• One TV - or Two or Four
• One Camera or Two
• Traveling Mike
• My Turn buttons
• Whiteboard
• Document Camera
• Document sharing joint editing

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Tech Talk - Vendors

• PictureTel
• Tanberg
• Polycom
• V-TEL
• Intel