Journal #7Classroom 2.0

Classroom 2.0 – Video Conferencing
Video Conferencing technology lets individuals at two or more locations to communicate with each other at the same time. With software, a camera and connection to Internet, any body can change a computer into video conferencing center. This technology is an effective tool for enhancing students’ knowledge of different subjects. For example, teachers are able to use video conferencing to bring into classrooms live animals, rain forest and aquarium. By doing this, students learn characteristics, behaviors, habitats, and diets of these animals and their relationship to their environments.
SOME BENEFITS OF VIDEOCONFERENCING
In addition to bringing experts into the classroom, interactive video Conferencing has other benefits:
• Students who are visual and auditory learners can benefit tremendously
• This technology encourages multiple classrooms at various locations to collaborate.
• Video Conferencing makes students eager to learn.
• Students can improve their communication skills by practicing as well as observing themselves and other individuals correspond.
• When students prepare for the conferences, they develop their research skills.
• Students practice graphing and other skills as they create pictures, graphs, or drawings for use during video conferences.
I followed on the following threaded discussions:
1) An individual who is in charge of Multimedia/Communication center of a school, asking for advise on what technology she needs to purchase for that space, if it is intended for video conferencing and video publishing. Since, their final mission is to run a student produced news show with the possibility for live feeds of morning newscasts.
2) The above individual received the following suggestions:
• To purchase equipments that might be replaced frequently within her budget, since technology equipment quickly become obsolete.
• Encourage students to submit photo/video stories from their cell phones via MMS. The volunteer editor of the day would then convert these into feeds that could be picked up and used anywhere on the school internet or any where.