Jam Session 4.3

Please join us on Thursday, March 5 at 11 AM CST as we discuss Coordinating & Supporting Classes Via Videoconference led by Audra May, Distance Learning Director with the South Central Kansas Distance Learning Network.  Items to be covered include training for videoconference teachers & facilitators/proctors/teacher assistants, technology support tools, organizational strategies, communication, and managing poor attitudes.   

Click here to RSVP & add your name to the Band Roster

Jam Session 4.2 Notes

12/11/14, 11 AM - 12 PM CST

Registered

Ruth Anderson, Kinston High School
Cindy Beisner, I-CAN Network
Lisa Blair, Southeast Kansas Education Service Center - Greenbush
Mandy Bryan, Lamar CISD
Rene Carver, Greater Southern Tier BOCES
Ken Conn, i2i Technologies
Dawn Ferreyra, Omaha Public Schools
Richard Ford, VTEL
Grant Gilbrecht, Peninsula College
Lois Hafer, Educational Service Unit 9
Lori Hamm-Neckar, Education Service Center Region 11
Laurie Hogle, Education Service Center Region 11
Mike Kozak, University of Nebraska
Audra May, South Central KS DLN
Linda Meltzner, Farmindale School District
Mike Mirarchi, Columbus City Schools
Pam Neven, Education Service Center Region 11
Ruth Pluemer, Lyons Creek Middle School
Elizabeth Race, Cazenovia Middle School
Emma Richardson, EC BOCES
John Stritt, Educational Service Unit 10

Attended

Cindy Beisner, I-CAN Network
Lisa Blair, Southeast Kansas Education Service Center - Greenbush
Mandy Bryan, Lamar CISD
Rene Carver, Greater Southern Tier BOCES
Ken Conn, i2i Technologies
Laurie Hogle, Education Service Center Region 11
Audra May, South Central KS DLN
Pam Neven, Education Service Center Region 11
Ruth Pluemer, Lyons Creek Middle School
Emma Richardson, EC BOCES
 

1. Blog - ac4vc.blogspot.com

a.         Join
b.         How We Capture Details
c.         Membership List

Ken reminded everyone that the purpose of the group is to set aside some time on (4) occasions during the school year to get together as people involved in K12 education using interactive videoconferencing to talk about our experiences and share information.  The ACVC blog is used to capture the information related to the group.

 

2. Share Something:  Where are you from and what cloud based videoconferencing solutions have you tried?

Many people have tried or are using Zoom.  Pam noted that they have had some quirks here and there using it with their existing hardware bridge, but nothing major and have been able to work through anything that has popped up.

Mandy said they are using Blue Jeans.  Although it is on the expensive side, at the time, they experienced the best interoperability & consistent content sharing with Blue Jeans versus the others they tested with.

Lisa said they had used Vidyo the last 3 years with 1 or 2 students on an iPad, but were moving away from it due to cost.

Rene mentioned using Jabber.  Laurie did as well, but said it didn’t work well for them and eventually stopped working altogether. 

Laurie also mentioned trying to get an evaluation of Acano and Pexip to work without success.

Lifesize Cloud was also mentioned as being used.

Bottom line, the group indicated that we need something that works, integrates with others, & doesn’t break the bank.  Easy ad hoc conferencing that is “Superintendent Simple.”

There is also a desire to set up a videoconference endpoint using a computer based application that gives the same experience as a hardware based system.

 

3. Cloud Based Videoconferencing Solutions and External Cameras & Microphones

With things being software based service, and not overly expensive, it is not a big investment to try something and re-evaluate after a year.

Buying more equipment to manage and try to make work doesn’t make sense

With Zoom, you need to determine how many H.323 rooms connectors are needed to connect in hardware based videoconferencing endpoints – Laurie had gone with 10 and Emma had gone with 20

Emma tried virtualizing Zoom to manage internally, but couldn’t get it to work, same experience with Acano

Emma mentioned finding an HD camera (Value?) that they are converting to USB to use with a computer and a microphone as well (Yeti?).  They tried the Logitech ConferenceCam CC3000e and didn’t like it.  They felt like the video was washed out.

Audra has been happy with their evaluation of the Jabra microphone and the Ziggi HD USB document camera.

 

4. Upcoming Events – Next Session: 3/5/15, Last Session for year:  6/4/15 – Both from 11 AM – 12 PM CST

Jam Session 4.2

Please join us for Jam Session 4.2 on Thursday, December 11 at 11 AM CST as we discuss Cloud Based Videoconferencing Solutions and External Cameras & Microphones that can be used with computers.   

Click here to RSVP & add your name to the Band Roster

 

Jam Session 4.1 Notes

9/18/14, 11 AM - 12 PM CST

Registered
Molly Aschoff, Educational Service Unit 8
Mandy Bryan, Lamar CISD
Ken Conn, i2i Technologies
Linda Dickeson, Lincoln Public Schools
Roxanne Glaser, i2i Technologies
Lori Hamm-Neckar, ESC 11
James Hodges, Utah Education Network
Lisa Kennedy, Warren Consolidated
Michael Kozak, University of Nebraska
Audra May, South Central KS DLN
Linda McDonald, ESC Region 11
Theresa Neuser, CESA 7
Pam Neven, Education Service Center Region 11
Carol Noble, Great Falls Public Schools #1
Emma Richardson, EC BOCES
Gordon Roethemeyer, ESU Coordinating Council
Jessie Takacs & Katie Trausch, COSI
Becky Wenner, East Syracuse Minoa CSD

Attended

Mandy Bryan, Lamar CISD
Ken Conn, i2i Technologies
Theresa Neuser, CESA 7
Emma Richardson, EC BOCES
Becky Wenner, East Syracuse Minoa CSD

 

1. Blog - ac4vc.blogspot.com
a.         Join
b.         How We Capture Details
c.         Membership List

Ken reviewed that the purpose of the group is to set aside some time on (4) occasions during the school year to get together as people involved in K12 education using interactive videoconferencing to talk about our experiences and share information.  The ACVC group has joined forces with the Midwest Video Conference Group as they have the same purpose.  The ACVC blog is used to capture the information related to the group.

2. Share Something:  What brought you to the session today?, Recent Success or Challenge., Where are you from and what are some of your typical activities?, What’s on your mind?

Mandy is a Technology Development Specialist and coordinating distance learning activities is one of her responsibilities.  Lamar CISD does some classes using videoconferencing (smaller this year than in the past).  She helps ensure the classes go smoothly and coordinates other videoconference activities.  She tries to join the group for sessions because she likes to hear what’s going on with everyone else.  The district has lots of videoconference equipment and they want to see it used.  They do an in district Algebra I and 8^th grade American History Quiz Bowl.  The Principals get excited about this activity.  In the past, there was a lot more videoconference activity, but it has fallen by the wayside. 

Theresa has a couple of roles.  She serves as a content provider and as a coordinator for (15) school districts. 

Emma’s group does a lot of high school and college level classes via videoconference.  They use CILC for virtual field trips.  Her group has to schedule and send it to the district though or there is no activity.  She has been sending some activities through GT with some success.  Emma has also been working on some grant writing (RUS) and is on her third appeal due to wrong scoring.  They received their last grant 3-4 years ago.

Becky is a PreK-12 Instructional Specialist supporting effective technology integration with videoconferencing being one method.  Her organization also has a lot of videoconference equipment and wonders why it doesn’t get used more.  She is constantly sending e-mails and creating catchy marketing hooks.  Elementary classes use videoconferencing more than middle & high school classes.  Block scheduling is a hurdle for middle & high school classes.  Specialty classes seem to use it more since their classes are smaller and they have an easier time pulling kids from other classes.  Her organization belongs to TWICE and CAPspace and uses information to try to target grade level teachers.

 

3. Discuss Possible Focus Topics for 2014-2015

Best ways to communicate/advertise/promote to teachers related to videoconference opportunities (free or paid) [Mandy & Theresa]

Mandy has had some success targeting specific teachers through campus technology specialists that personally invite. 

Theresa shared that she has contacts at each of school that she works with.  She also has set-up Google Groups for each content area and targets different groups.  She limits her communication to one e-mail per day and tries to highlight a couple of things in each message.  She also maintains a wiki that includes videoconference resources, but people have to go to it to get them.

Becky has attended Principal meetings and has sent e-mail messages to administrators for promotion.  She is going to start being part of faculty meetings as well.

Ken mentioned that he has seen content providers chosen (to align with specific curriculum objectives) and scheduled at the district level and then scheduled on a “first come, first serve” basis work successfully.

Ken asked if anyone had tried using Remind (formally Remind101).  People were familiar, but had not tried it.

 

Strategies to help manage high school & middle school classes that want multiples of virtual field trips to cover all classes, but can’t afford it.  [Theresa]
Ken said he had a teacher successfully use a field trip form to go through that same process when pulling students for a videoconference event.

 

Software Based Bridging Review (Acano, Blue Jeans, Lifesize Cloud, Pexip, StarLeaf, Vidyo, Zoom) [Emma & Mandy]

Mandy’s organization is trying Blue Jeans this year (haven’t started yet).  They looked at Pexip and Zoom, but had hang ups with each.  Content sharing is an issue with a lot of them.  They want a Cloud based solution that allows existing systems to connect and can possibly integrate with Lync.

 

Coordinating & Supporting Classes Via Videoconference:  Training for Videoconference Facilitators/Proctors/Teacher Assistants, Technology Support Tools (i.e. Moodle), Managing Poor Attitudes [Becky & Emma]

Ken mentioned that Audra May from KAIDE could share a lot on this topic.

 

Comparison of Various Videoconferencing Tools (H.323 compliant solutions, Desktop, Tablet, Smart

Phone, Proprietary {Adobe Connect, Google Hangouts, Microsoft Lync, Skype}) [Theresa]

Ken mentioned a videoconferencing comparison chart from Brown University he has previously used for this discussion.

4. Upcoming Events – Next Session: 12/11/14, Other Sessions:  3/5/15, 6/4/15 – All from 11 AM – 12 PM CST

Mandy has the 8^th grade Quiz Bowl coming up in November and all four high schools will be participating in a COSI Autopsy or Knee Replacement session.

Theresa is about to announce her Visit with Mrs. Claus program through the CILC website.  It is for PreK-2 and is $75 per session.  It gets fully booked every year.

Becky has an animal focused videoconference coming up for some 1^st grade teachers.  4^th grade will be doing a program related to going around New York state in 60 minutes. 

 

Jam Session 4.1

Awesome Community for Videoconferencing (AC/VC) is a band open to anyone using videoconferencing as an instrument to rock K-12 students and staff. We have joined forces with the Midwest Video Conference Group.

 
The goal is to meet four times per school year to share successes and challenges as well as projects and ideas to fine tune the sound of our VC ensemble.

Please join us for Jam Session 4.1 on Thursday, September 18 at 11 AM CST as we discuss possible focus topics for 2014-2015. 

Click here to RSVP & add your name to the Band Roster.

 

Jam Session 3.4 - Notes

6/5/14, 11 AM - 12 PM CST

Registered
Ken Conn, I-2-I Technologies
Dawn Ferreyra, Omaha Public Schools
Roxanne Glaser, I-2-I Technologies
Lori Hamm-Neckar, ESC Region 11
Laurie Hogle, ESC Region 11
Audra May, South Central Kansas Distance Learning Network
Pam Nevan, ESC Region 11
Linda McDonald, ESC Region 11
Emma Richardson, East Central BOCES

Attended
Ken Conn, I-2-I Technologies
Lori Hamm-Neckar, ESC Region 11
Laurie Hogle, ESC Region 11
Audra May, South Central Kansas Distance Learning Network
Pam Nevan, ESC Region 11
Linda McDonald, ESC Region 11

We used TodaysMeet as a back channel during the session, http://todaysmeet.com/ACVCJamSession3.

1. Blog - ac4vc.blogspot.com
a. Join
b. How We Capture Details
c. Membership List


2. Share Success and/or Challenge
Ken Conn: SUCCESS: starting working with i-2-i Technologies  CHALLENGE: spending time working on 123VC workshop preparation 

Lori Hamm-Neckar: popped in but viciously multi-tasking

Laurie Hogle: SUCCESS: getting Zoom implemented after exhaustive evaluations, simple & minimal investment even if it doesn’t end up being the final solution  CHALLENGE: time for rolling out Zoom & getting user documents/procedures together

Audra May: CHALLENGE: organizing ivc playground for ISTE at end of june, july kansas state network inservice prep - usually regional & connect over video, f2f this year, teachers instruct over vc & also use websites & schoology  SUCCESS: making progress on both preps

Pam Nevan: SUCCESS: still at Region 11  CHALLENGE: not knowing what to be challenged about

Linda McDonald: SUCCESS: niece graduating (also challenge), work  CHALLENGE: time management


3. Robotic Telepresence Solutions – Texas Education Service Center Region 11, http://www.esc11.net/domain/535
Audra: limited experience with VGo unit through ISTE ivc playground 

Laurie: investigating how it fits in region 11 model of services, kip @ region 6 just jumped in to offer it, experience using VGo unit loaned from region 6 with student getting treatment at md anderson, stair detection feature (but doesn’t work with off colored tiles)

looked at the Double (through ESSDACK) - good price point - stability and audio was weak on the Double, couldn’t hear in big groups, had network issues (iPad driven)

setting up budget to purchase (3) VGo units, about $7K per unit (with extended battery, 1 yr. maintenance, carrying case) - setting up criteria to determine student selection process, priority for AP/Pre AP students because the homebound teacher is difficult to find, only (4) hours per week required of instruction with homebound teacher - almost 300 students ID’d as homebound in Region 11

experience in Region 6, Region 2, and Region 13

looking at grant proposal for foundation, trying to get this as benefit for VC membership contract - trying to determine pricing for districts, maybe something like $100 per month, goal to cover $1000 maintenance

kip’s experience is that at (14) or (15) units, it is difficult to manage

larger school districts may be better off buying their own, for example if student is 4th grader, they may use it for many years

other research = get what you pay for

use them for content providers, like museum tours

students could use them for field trips

Ken also mentioned the Beam units


4. Upcoming Events – Next Session 9/18/14
Ken Conn: KAIDE Teacher In-Service, 123 VC Workshop

Audra May: ISTE, KAIDE Teacher In-Service

Pam Nevan: 123 VC Workshop

Linda McDonald: Maker Workshop, 123 VC Workshop

Jam Session 3.4 - Robotic Telepresence Solutions

Please join us for Jam Session 3.4 as we discuss Robotic Telepresence Solutions (like VGo) led by Texas Education Service Center Region 11 based on their recent evaluation of various solutions.

 

Click here to RSVP