become a virtual tourist
DESCRIPTION
A presentation made at the Texas Distance Learning Association Conference, March 2008 and at the Texas Computer Education Association Conference, Febryary 2008TRANSCRIPT
Welcome to Becoming a Virtual Tourist with Your Students!
Presented by: Cindy Miller & Joe JohnstonFrenship ISD
What’s Your Destination?You and your students can now travel to any destination right in your own classroom. How?
How to Plan Your Trip Online
Where are you going?How are you getting to your destination?How long is it going to take to get there?
Where Are You Going?Looking for a way to maximize distance learning opportunities w/o a tremendous amount of cost to each campus.Looking for a way to integrate career awareness and exploration activities into academic curriculum.
How are you traveling to your destination?
Introduced this new portable ITV unit to our district administration and campus principals at a meetingBought one and provided training through AT&T’s Distance Learning Guru—Vicki AllenHad a competition
How long is it going to take to get there?
AT&T helped us install the software and configure it with our networkWork very closely with your Technology DirectorThen our C-Techs took off running and began scheduling the unit for their campus.
Traveling Schedule Information
Event NamePurpose of the eventDay of the eventStart and end time of the eventName & location of remote siteRemote contact person, phone & e-mailReceiving site person, phone & e-mail
Traveling Calendar Schedule
Some of our Traveling Destinations:
Vanderbilt University for various conferences w/career professionalsSmithsonian InstituteBronx ZooNASATexas Connect Community HeroesTexas State Aquarium
Meet Your New Traveling Buddy!
VSX™ 7000s
VSX 7000s Features:
Ideal for medium to large rooms of up to 40 peopleAn all-in-one solution including SD PTZ cameraIncredibly natural imaging using the latest in video technology & standardsEmbedded speaker & subwoofer for superior audio performance
VSX 7000s Benefits:
Easily share presentations, movie files, audio clips and picturesEasily sits on top of any TV or XGA displaySmooth, natural motion and sharp, clear images for optimal viewingExcellent audio & call clarity
VSX 7000s Disadvantages:
Lighting in the room when using a projectorBandwidth use on campus—500K for a 384K call
Comments from our C-Techs:
My teachers had many great ideas about using the portable ITV unit…would have liked to use it more if we had one on our campus—Frenship Middle SchoolI really didn’t have time to sort through all of the opportunities…it is almost a full-time job doing that—Bennett Elem.
Comments from our C-Techs:
I loved using it. It was time consuming finding sessions to go with the topics the teachers wanted to use…I think the time is well worth it.—Crestview Elem.I thought it was wonderful and know that my teachers really did too. Our only problem was that we had a difficult time finding events that we could attend since we only had one unit in the district…Willow Bend Elem.
Website for ITV Portable Unit
www.polycom.comVicki Allen with AT&T
Director of Education Advocacy208 S. Akard, Floor 12Dallas, TX 75202Office: 214-571-7984 Cell: 972-979-6871Education—[email protected]