From a teacher

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From a teachers perspective

• The Cookie Cutter Approach to Videoconferencing
  in Education

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• Outline
• 1. Benefits and Challenges to videoconferencing.
• 2. How to prepare before the first day.
• planning before videoconferencing
• tips for being on camera
• suggestions for dealing with paperwork
• classroom management strategies

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Part 1- Benefits and Challenges
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Benefits

• With VC, we can reach more students with good
  instruction.
• Teachers teaching in their area of specialty.
• Easier to access powerful guest speakers.
• - Ralph Klein centennial celebration
• - WWI veteran
• - Canadian Space Agency - Dr. Dave Williams
• Available technology (SMART boards, document
  cameras, DVD players, etc., are powerful teaching
  tools.
• Wow factor helps keep students (and teachers)
  interested (at least at first).
• Positive test results so far Students scored
  above average on the 2006 Social Studies
  Achievement scores.

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Drawbacks

• 1. Technology not available to everyone.
• 2. Great amount of co-ordination and planning
  required from administrators.
• Bell times?
• Common PD days? field trip times? Reporting
  Periods?
• Teacher timetabling, money issues

• 3. Lots of extra work for a teacher!!!!
• Have you considered the time it takes to learn
  the technology, change delivery strategies, extra
  PT interviews, backup planning, paperwork
  hassles, discipline, extra marking load, visitors
  to the classroom, and time away from the
  classroom?

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Is it worth it so far?
Yes !
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Part 2 How to prepare to be a VC teacher

• Planning before Videoconferencing
• Be as prepared as you can with course materials.
• Talk to (or visit) people who are using VC.
• Be somewhat familiar with the technology you have
  to use.
• Check out some of the literature online.
• www.vcalberta.ca
• www.videoconference.com

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Tips for being on Camera

• Dont be camera shy! The camera adds 10 pounds
  to everyone.
• Act normal!
• Avoid pure white clothing and clothing with wild
  patterns. Solid colors work best.
• If you are a pacer, try to avoid moving around
  too much while talking remain on camera as a
  large part of the picture if you are instructing.

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Suggestions for dealing with paperwork

• Have someone on the other end be responsible for
  helping deal with paperwork.
• Avoid using mail services for transferring
  assignments whenever possible. Explore e-mail,
  live marking, or other means.
• If your assignments are digital, send them that
  way.
• Let students know from the beginning that late
  assignments are not an option in this format.
• A common student-accessible site for posting
  assignments, readings, and comments is a good
  idea.
• Be prepared for hassles. BEG FOR EXTRA PREP TIME!

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Classroom Management Strategies

• Many of the strategies that good teachers use in
  normal classrooms work in VC.
• Visit your remote class(es). Keep in contact
  with parents, especially at the beginning of the
  year.
• Spend time at the beginning of the year going
  over expectations, differences, contingencies,
  etc.
• Have emergency plans that students can access if
  the technology fails.
• Let your students do some of the work for you!
  (cameras, login/logout)
• Dont be afraid to make mistakes!
• Have Fun! This may be as close to stardom as
  many of us will get!

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Thank you for your time!

• Video and Questions