Today is my absolute favorite day of the Jazz workshop. In my opinion, nothing showcases the power of videoconferencing better than an ASK program with Veterans. Combine that with an unexpectedly moving book in “The Wall” with one of the best videoconferencing facilitators in the world (Roxanne Glaser) and you have a recipe for success. The LEARNnco activity with Andy Campbell and the Singing with Shane program are also a lot of fun. If you’re interested in good Texas country music, you should also check out the Shane Howard Band. As we are closing out the workshop and you are working towards completing your small group projects please reflect on the questions below and share your thoughts.
*How will you share videoconferencing with others? What would you tell them about it?
*What have you noticed about interactions among workshop facilitators? Among participants in our room? In your small group?
How will you share videoconferencing with others? What would you tell them about it?
I plan to tell my colleagues about what I am doing and invite the teachers to watch us have the video conference.
*What have you noticed about interactions among workshop facilitators? Among participants in our room? In your small group?
The interaction seems very friendly and playful. It has made the whole experience fun. My small group members are wonderful!
By: Stephen Hines on Thursday, July 28, 2011
at 2:45 pm
How will you share videoconferencing with others? What would you tell them about it?
I’ll invite teachers to observe video conferences that I will have throughout the school year. I believe that this will encourage them to participate in their own VC. I will also be available to help those that aren’t too sure about VC by having an open door.
*What have you noticed about interactions among workshop facilitators? Among participants in our room? In your small group?
The facilitators are on schedule throughout the day. Participants communicate professionally and seem to enjoy interacting with one another.
By: Dolores on Thursday, July 28, 2011
at 2:47 pm
Casual invitations is a great strategies to persuade others to participate in video conferencing! Make sure you remember to invite your campus administrators for all your video conferences. Maybe include parents, PTO board members, etc.
People will see the benefit for kids!
By: Linda Mac on Thursday, July 28, 2011
at 2:56 pm
I like your plan for spreading your knowledge Dolores. Just go in knowing that some people will never get it and all you can do is to keep giving them an opportunity to open their minds. Linda’s suggestion of including administrators, parents, PTO/Board members is great. If the other staff and students see the attention, they will desire it too.
By: Ken on Friday, July 29, 2011
at 6:43 am
Each year I attend wonderful workshops and go back to my campus with a new sense of excitement about the school year. This year will be no different. I want to work with our campus technology specialists to present the endless possibilities of VC. Most of us are not aware of the world available to our students (and to us as educators). I can even see doing collaborative lesson planning and VC with our partner school. We did the EPSE math challenge this year, but there were only 12 students from a grade level involved it that project.
The facilitators work well together. They are well organized and know their responsibilities so that the workshop goes on without many hiccups. This is amazing!
Participants in the room have wonderful, open discussions and all thoughts are valued by one another. I appreciate the help they give me when I am “lost” on technology issues. It is so good to laugh and have fun in a workshop!
The small group was intimidating for me on Monday. In this short time we have managed to agree on and put together a VC project.
By: Ann Schueler on Thursday, July 28, 2011
at 2:49 pm
so glad that you have become more comfortable with your group and have seen a quality project get developed.
By: Linda Mac on Thursday, July 28, 2011
at 3:04 pm
Great, reflective thoughts Ann. When you take this back to your campus, I would suggest choosing one or two specific staff members to partner closely with after sharing your experiences with everyone. It could be overwhelming and discouraging to try to take on too much at once. If you plan to work with someone on at least one videoconference activity in the first semester and one in the second semester and complete them, I would count that as a success.
By: Ken on Friday, July 29, 2011
at 6:47 am
OMG!!! Such fun today! I have a lot of ideas for using video conferencing for my district. I want the English teachers to find authors and experts with whom they can connect. There are just SOOOOO many possibilities!!!! Yeah, I talk in exclamation points. The presentations today were awesome. Loved the Q&A with the vets. I really appreciate all the help from the facilitators. My small group is having a lot of fun putting the presentation together. Fun times!!!
By: Laura Lee on Thursday, July 28, 2011
at 2:53 pm
Laura, I love all of the connections you are making for your campus! Please let us know if you need additional support as things get rolling.
Can’t wait to so you group presentation tomorrow. You guys are so full of personality.
By: Linda Mac on Thursday, July 28, 2011
at 3:11 pm
I love the enthusiasm!!! As you work to expand the videoconferencing use in Danbury ISD, try not to get discouraged. Expect that some people will tune you out and humor you. All you can do is provide the opportunities and model your message with your own classes. Small steps, are still steps forward. Good luck Laura, and please let Linda and I know how and when we can help.
By: Ken on Friday, July 29, 2011
at 6:51 am
I will show the resources to my schools to illiustrate the range of activities are available for video conferencing.
It was obvious the facillitators were communicating through Skype. In our small groups we seemed as if we were in the same room.
By: Stanley on Thursday, July 28, 2011
at 2:59 pm
I will share video conferencing with other by sharing what I did in this wonderful workshop. I already shared with my assistant principal our simulations and guest speakers and the benefits for students using this powerful learning tool. I will create opportunities for video conferencing and give an opportunity for students to participate. When I get excited about something, I tell everyone, whether they want to listen or not. I will also invite teachers to see it when I do a video conference at George JH.
There is hardly any interaction among workshop facilitators while there are more interactions between participants in the rooms. In the small groups, I am interacting with different groups of people. While working on the project, Karen hooked up her computer screen to the camera so I could see what everyone was looking at. It was like I was sitting with everyone.
By: Jeannine Hillis on Thursday, July 28, 2011
at 10:31 pm
Your perspective of the amount of interaction between workshop facilitators is interesting. To me, it shows success that it is so transparent. We have spent months meeting and preparing with things amped up the last few weeks before the workshop. We use Skype throughout the day to communicate with one another to make unanticipated adjustments. We also meet at the end of each day to debrief about the activities of the day to note any adjustments for the rest of the week (or next year) and to review the activities of the following day. It is a lot of work, but worth it if it expands the videoconferencing community giving students the opportunity for higher quality learning experiences.
By: Ken on Friday, July 29, 2011
at 6:58 am