Think Interactive Videoconferencing (IVC)
What Is Interactice Videoconferencing?
- Educational activity that links two or more people at two or more locations
- Video images are being sent over the Internet (IP)
- Video signals go both ways
- Everyone can be seen and heard
Videoconferencing Resources
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Glossary |
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Bridge – A device in the middle of the network that processes audio and video information from multiple sources |
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CODEC - An abbreviation for a coding and decoding device |
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Far-Site - The other conference sites located at a distance from the conference instructor or presenter |
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Mute – A state where the microphone is off and not transmitting audio. |
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Near-Site - The conference site where the meeting our class is originating from |
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PIP - Picture-In-Picture. The small window the local party appears in located in the bottom right corner of the screen |
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Remote or Far Audio - audio sent from distant class/location |
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Remote or Far Video - video sent from distant class/location |
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Multipoint Videoconferencing - video conference that connects more than two video sites which requires a bridge or MCU |
Dealing With Technical Difficulties
- Know where to get help
- Have a phone in the room at all sites
- Have telephone numbers of others sites available in case you lose a connection
- Discuss contingency plans ahead of time:
- Continue with audio, if still available
- Overheads or PowerPoint provided, in advance, at each remote site if video is lost
- Work on group projects until video is restored
- Reschedule, if possible
Types of Videoconferencing Calls
- Desktop
- Point-to-Point: One to Group
- Point-to-Point: Group to Group
- Classroom: Guest Lecturer or Co-Instructor
- Classroom: Local and Remote Classroom
- Multipoint Call
Videoconferencing Applications:
Areas of Focus
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1. Distance Learning |
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2. Professional Development |
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3. Meetings |
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4. Virtual Field Trips |
- Administrative meetings
- Advanced Placement Classes
- Articulation Issues
- Board Meeting
- Broadcasts
- Building New Course Programs
- Campus Collaborations
- Chancellor Address
- Classroom Observations
- Collaboration with other educational institutions
- Committee Meetings
- Continuing education and training for faculty and staff
- Counseling
- Courses and support for distance education students
- Departmental meetings
- Disaster Recovery Emergency Planning
- Distance Learning classess
- Dual enrollment courses
- Faculty and Administrator searches
- Faculty Sharing
- First Responders
- Generating new outlets for courses
- Job Interviews
- Judicial Hearings
- Mental Health Consultations
- Presentations from experts
- Professional Development
- Staff Meetings
- Student Hearings
- Telemedicine
- Technical training for application users
- Technical training for facilitator staff
- Training from vendors/manufacturers
- Virtual Field Trips (Content Provider)
Videoconferencing "How-to"
GENERAL
A Teacher's Guide to Videoconferencing - from Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory
Using Videoconferencing in the Classroom
Videoconferencing in the Classroom: Communications Technology across the Curriculum - details a range of curriculum developments involving video conferencing. Written by Tim Arnold, Steve Cayley and Mike Griffith and received funding as part of the DfES "Videoconferencing in the Classroom Project"
Video-Conferencing, The Next Generation - NAIS 2000@Baltimore Workshop, 3/3/2000, presenter: Steve Bergen; The "Summercore" Teaching Company
Videoconferencing Development Initiative Videoconferencing Cookbook
VC Project Wiki - This wiki is a collection of educator-created templates and projects for collaborative videoconferences.
What Can I Do With Videoconferencing?
Video Conferencing in Plano ISD
POLYCOM
- Showing and Sharing Content
- Placing a Call
- Camera Control
- Multipoint Capabilities
- Videoconferencing Tips
TANDBERG
Other Resources
Wesley Fryer's Teach Digital Wiki - teaching with videoconferencing page
Videoconferencing Out on a Lim
An Internet Hotlist on K-12 Video Conferencing Resources by Vicki Allen
My del.icio.us links for videoconferencing
Videoconferencing Content - Search for Content Providers
AT&T Videoconference Adventures
KNE Videoconferencing Directory
Center for Interactive Learning and Collaboration
Polycom Content Searchable Database
COLLABORATIONS
GUEST EXPERTS
GUEST VISITORS
WORKSHOPS
LISTSERVS
More Soon...
Selected Content Providers and Programs
Adventures In Medicine & Science - Saint Louis University School of Medicine
Discovery Center of Springfield, MO
Kid2Kid Videoconference Connections
Planning Interactive Curriculum Connections
Jim Stovall, The Ultimate Gift
Virtual School @ Vanderbilt University
More Soon...
Polycom Basic Equipment Training
Equipment Description
Remote Control
- controls all functions of the system
- touching the remote control will automatically wake up the system
- to enter text, press number buttons, using the text-entry method commonly used with cell phones or, press Keyboard and use the on-screen keyboard to enter text
Camera Codec
- built-in, high quality color camera
- a fast pan/tilt/zoom
- controlled by remote control
- combination of compressor-decompressor or coder-decoder
- compression of outgoing video, audio and data
- decompression of the incoming information
Microphone/Speaker
- table microphone is designed to be placed on a table during a video conference
- ideal location for the microphone is on a flat surface 6.5 ft from the front of the system
- microphone cable should always point towards the system
- automatically equalizes sound levels
- Siren™14Plus audio with integrated speaker and subwoofer
Visual Concert
- Show high resolution content simultaneously with high quality video – both images are active at the same time. People video on one monitor, Content on high resolution XGA display.
- Show PowerPoint slides, motion video and audio, graphics and more.
- No special settings or software configurations needed.
- Play or Stop content showing with a simple button.
- Plug and Play.
Basic Set-up
Using the Polycom Remote Control
System Basics
Making A Call
- In the dialing field, enter the IP address
- Press Call on the remote control to place the call.
- Call progress indicators appear on the screen to show that the call is in progress.
- When the indicators turn green, the call is connected.
Answering a Call
- The VSX system can answer incoming calls manually or automatically.
- To answer the call manually:
- Press Call on the remote control.
- If your system is set up to automatically answer calls, the call connects automatically.
Ending a Call
- To hang up from a call:
- Press Hang Up on the remote control.
- Confirm that you want to end the call.
Placing a Call from the Directory
- Press Directory on the remote control.
- Find the entry to call.
- Press Call to place the call.
Saving A Single-Entry to the Directory
- Press Directory on the remote control.
- Select New and specify that this is an entry for one site.
- Enter Information
- Name - Number
- Call Quality - IP Number Extension
- Mobile Number - Phone Number
- Category - Email
- Select Save to save the entry.
Storing a Preset
- If you are in a call, press Near or Far to choose a near-site or far-site camera or other video source.
- Press the Arrow Buttons on the remote control to move the camera up, down, to the left, or to the right.
- Press Zoom to zoom the camera out or in.
- Press Preset on the remote control.
- Press and hold a number to store the preset position. Any existing preset stored at the number you enter is replaced.
- The system uses preset 0 as the default camera position.
Using Camera Presets
- If a call is connected, press Near or Far to choose a near-site or far-site camera or other video source.
- Press a number on the remote control.
- The camera moves to the preset position for the camera or other video source.
Visual Concert
To start showing content using a Visual Concert VSX:
- Connect the computer to a Visual Concert VSX device
- Press on the Visual Concert VSX, or press
- Graphics or Camera on the remote control
To stop showing content using a Visual Concert VSX:
- Press on the Visual Concert VSX, or press
- Graphics or Camera on the remote control
Using a Document Camera, VCR, or DVD Player
To start showing a document, object, videotape or DVD in a call:
- Press Camera on the remote control.
- Select a video source.
- Press on the remote control.
To stop showing a document, object, videotape or DVD in a call:
- Press Camera on the remote control.
- Select the main camera.
- Press on the remote control.
Volume
Adjusting the Volume
- Press Volume
Muting the Microphone
- Press Mute on the remote control.
-The audio system is voice (noise) activated;
-Avoid rustling papers or tapping objects;
-Always assume someone else is in the room on the far site, even if they do not appear on camera;
-Muting the microphone will ensure that the far site does not hear your pre-conference or side comments;
-Always inform the far site when you are turning your microphone off during a call.