videoconferencing+benefits+2008

=Videoconferencing benefits = You need to contribute to this page in the wiki, and share benefits to using videoconferencing for administration in teaching. You need to make a different point from the points raised by others. Please note, a wikispaces wiki does not automatically save frequently enough to cope with multiple people editing the same page at exactly the same time.

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//**One of the great things about a wiki is that it can foster a true sense of collaboration. To really bring this home, it is a good idea if you make the page look like a series of paragraphs and remove your names throughout. This is how pages such as those in Wikipedia are constructed to appear as one coherent document, even though lots of people have written on it. We can still see who has contributed what using the "history" tab (which will be used for marking your contributions). Can we be brave and remove names and place a combined bibliography at the bottom of the page? ___**// Face to face communication within an institution and outside the institution is the crux of video conferencing. This style of communication has many benefits which are broadly contributing to efficiency in schools, saving money and time in transit. When rural teaching staff undertake special training often long trips are required to travel to a larger centre where a trainer meets with many teachers. Video conferencing can eliminate travel and related costs for this type of training (http://www.f2fl.com/solution.pros.html ). All staff can collaborate with staff in similar positions across the state. Specifically management and administration ideas can be shared face to face and discussed instantly instead of waiting for the delay of text based communication which comes minus the facial expression and voice tone that would normally provide the context for the text based comment. Yes words are very important however video conferencing is now here and becoming ubiquitous in society and soon across the management of teaching and learning.
 * Benefits to using videoconferencing for administration in teaching. **

The use of web-conferencing technology is affordable and extends opportunities for gifted and talented students far beyond the boundaries created by physical location. It brings together gifted and talented students with mentors anywhere around the world. For instance if a gifted student has expressed interest in working for a group such as the United Nations it is possible for the student to sit down and chat face to face with staff in that position and discuss dreams, aspirations and how to achieve them. The technology itself is rather inexpensive as the computer needed to run free web conferencing programs such as MSN messenger is very affordable. Also the cost of a web camera, speakers and microphone are also very realistic. Overall the technology is very cost effective and results in students being partnered with mentors that they otherwise would not have access to.


 * The benefits of global videoconferencing within a primary school. **

Students’ within a primary school that use videoconferencing to connect to overseas classrooms creates vast benefits. Lets say hypothetically, a year 3 class required to learn about the English weather and vice versa. Students could read or watch video clips online about the English weather. However, with the videoconferencing students could ask each other first hand from other students of the same age and from their home country. If a school has the right ICT infrastructure in place, one huge benefit for the use of videoconferencing is that it is cheap to use. As Lightbody (2008) discusses that ‘i t is one of the few areas in ICT where you can get a really useful product and software for less than Australian $100’. Other benefits and uses of global videoconferencing for the students’ are: learning about remote environments, enhancing distance learning, sharing experiences with students from different cultures, collaborating effectively in real time, holding a global 'show-and-tell' and learning the different dialogue between foreign language students. (Lightbody 2008) Lightbody. K. (2008) ‘ // Easy Video Conferencing in Schools // ’. Facilities Consultant. Retrieved 3rd November 2008, from http://www.zardec.net.au/keith/vidconf.htm

Video conferencing is cutting edge technology that can not only be enjoyable to use but it can also enhance learning experiences. Imagine a classroom where students visit “children in Zimbabwe, tour a Brazilian rainforest or interview an astronaut” (Horton 2008: online). Moreover, imagine a learning environment where student's interview experts from around the world from the comfort of their own classroom. In the past this would not have been possible due to travel costs, time constraints and inconvenience (Horton 2008: online). The possibilities for real world learning are endless and only limited by teacher and student’s imagination and interests.
 * Videoconferencing benefits **

References Horton, J (2008), //‘How Classroom Video Conferencing Works’//, Howstuffworks.com. Retrieved 3 Nov. 08, from http://communication.howstuffworks.com/classroom-video-conferencing.htm/printable

Video Conferencing is a new and exciting technology that opens up interesting possibilities for schools. The individual technologies that make up a video conferencing system are not new. They include a camera, microphone, computer with software and a projection system. High Speed internet is also a requirement, each of these technologies has been around for several years but it is only recently that the costs have fallen and the availability has risen. The State Government of NSW has made it a priority to install a video conferencing system in every Public School in NSW. This is going to be a substantial investment for the benefit of all students across N.S.W.

Video Conferencing allows a whole new range of activities to take place. One of the most significant is the possibility of virtual collaboration on projects. Video conferencing allows people in different geographical locations to meet and collaborate in various ways. An example of this could be the developing programs and assessment tasks. In the area of School based Vocational Education and Training there is a mandatory requirement to meet regularly with other VET teachers to discuss assessment criteria and consistent assessment standards. These meetings occur 2-3 times per year in all SVET areas. Some teachers are required to travel 2-3 hours from rural N.S.W to attend these meetings. It is quite possible that video conferencing will be used as an alternative to this long distance journey. Various schools could collaborate and participate through a virtual meeting. This would save time and money for the teachers involved.

To find out the latest information on the NSW government plans to introduce Video Conferencing go to

https://www.det.nsw.edu.au/strat_direction/schools/ccp/index.htm

Videoconferencing in rural schools. As previously mentioned, rural schools would benefit enormously with the videoconferencing availabilities within these schools. As rural areas do not have the luxuries of city conveniences, it is a priceless commodity to any student, principal or teacher that required additional assistance within any outsource that the school or community was not able to provide. To extend this further for rural school convenience, as there can be alot of behavioural problems with students, and perhaps only 1 school within the region, there needs to be an alternative to student learning, if a students behaviour is unacceptable through a variety of reasons. The distance that a child may also need to travel to a school may be impossible, there fore another alternative method must be allowed. Home schooling is this option and through the convenience of being able to use a videoconference, students, parents or caregivers will have access to teachers to help students with their studies. School of the air is one such home school option.

Rothschild, M. 2008. Online Learning:Talking back to teacher- videoconferencing for home schools. The Morning Star Home School Academy Inc. [Cited 10/11/08]. Available URL: https://www.themorningstaracademy.org/articles/talking_back_to_teacher_-_videoconferencing_for_home-schools.html