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Danny - Opening Plenary
Danny - Opening Plenary
Videoconferencing: Using
Blended Technologies to
Engage Students
Alberta Education
Welcome
• Alberta’s VC Capacity
• Lessons Learned from VC Projects
• Professional Development for Teachers using VC
• Workshop Goals & Overview
Videoconferencing Capacity in
Alberta K-12 Schools is Growing Table 2.1: Number of Videoconferencing Sites
# of Sites
41% Professional
development and/or
13% training
Other
28%
VC Capacity Funding Reporting
• Key Findings
– Two in five (40%) jurisdictions used videoconferencing to
offer full-course delivery. Jurisdictions doing so were
almost exclusively located in rural Alberta.
Figure 3.3: Jurisdiction Use of Videoconferencing
in the 2005/2006 School Year for Full-Course
Delivery
(n=45)
100%
80%
60%
60%
40%
40%
20%
0%
Yes No
VC Capacity Funding Reporting
• Other Key Findings
– 70% of jurisdictions reported having used
videoconferencing in the 2005-2006 school year.
– Where videoconferencing was used for full-course
delivery, it was generally at the senior high school level
(80%) in mathematics (33%) and science (33%).
– Benefits realized in the use of videoconferencing were
reportedly primarily in teaching and student learning,
with many jurisdictions explaining that the technology
served to lessen isolation and increase course access
for schools and students in rural communities.
– The $60 000 grant supplied by Alberta Education was
primarily used to invest in videoconferencing equipment
(an average of 61% of funds) and supportive technologies
(an average of 21% of funds).
Phase 2 VC Call for Proposals Findings
Note: Greater North Central Francophone Education Region No. 2 and Portage College reports pending.
Positive impacts and benefits were realized…
• technical challenges
related to equipment
delivery and installation,
interoperability,
networking, and
determining optimal
classroom configurations
within existing spaces;
Other obstacles and challenges which some
participants faced…
• Staffing challenges;
http://www.vcalberta.ca/elevate2008
Today’s Workshop: Goals
• To assist teachers in engaging students in learning in distance
courses delivered through VC and a blend of technologies by:
– Providing a base of research to give teachers a rationale and direction
for using a blend of technologies and active learning teaching strategies
– Providing opportunities for teachers to see and discuss promising
teaching practices involving teaching with VC and a blend of
technologies in action and to understand the elements involved in
creating a successful learning and teaching experience with VC and
other technologies
– Providing information and ideas that teachers can take back with them
to their classrooms to make immediate connections and enhancements
to their VC teaching assignments
• To allow teachers to build an informal network of professional
contacts to further support their implementation of promising
teaching practices involving teaching with VC and a blend of
technologies through planned interactions and discussions
• To model the active learning process using technology through all
workshop activities
Today’s Workshop: Format
Who is here today?
Which grade levels are you teaching with VC or are interested in
learning about teaching with VC?
Elementary Div.
1
12%
Elementary Div.
2 High School
16% High School Junior High
48% Elementary Div. 2
Elementary Div. 1
Junior High
24%
Who is here today?
Which technologies are you teaching with during VC courses or are
most interested in teaching with?
Interactive whiteboard
Digital still/video
camera, 27 Desktop collaboration software
Blogs/wikis/podcasts, Interactive
25 whiteboard, 71 Document Camera
Student
Multifunction scan/fax/print
computers, 17
Desktop
LMS, 19 Student email
collaboration
software, 63
Multifunction Student computers
scan/fax/print, 31 Document Camera,
51 Blogs/wikis/podcasts
May be teaching 1 or
more courses in near
future
36%
43% Currently teaching 1 or
more courses using VC
I'm an administrator or
support person for those
who will beor are teaching
21% with VC
Who is here today?
What subject areas are you currently teaching with or are interested in
learning about teaching with VC?
Second Other
Math Math
Languages 5%
20%
15% Physics
Chemistry
Biology
Physics
Social Studies Language Arts
13%
16%
Social Studies
Chemistry
9% Second Languages
Language Arts
Other
12% Biology
10%
My wishes for you today
• Ask questions
• Share your experiences and ideas
• Make connections with others