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.   

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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