The information
presented is an adaptation of a videoconferencing information handout
obtained from the Outreach School. Please contact the Outreach
School with questions about general content.
What is videoconferencing?
Videoconferencing includes
any number of methods by which interactive audio/video happen over a distance.
For our purposes, it is interactive audio/video through a dedicated network phone line.
Unlike a traditional classroom setting, the videoconferencing instructor sees
the students one site at a time on a TV monitor. Likewise, the students see
their instructor and their counterparts throughout the state on a TV monitor.
Needless to say, this is a much different experience than the whole class
being together in the same room.
What are the
presentation/technological capabilities of the
videoconferencing rooms?
Instructors can employ a variety of
presentation methods and teaching techniques when using videoconferencing.
However, you must ensure that students can adequately view
the presentation materials.
-
Use computer based presentations. High contrast text/background work best
for projection. Use a minimum font size of 32 for PowerPoint.
-
Use the Elmo (overhead projector and chalkboard) to display or write lecture
notes or to project images of 3D objects, maps, paintings, photos, graphs, or
slides.
-
You can show material on VHS or DVD. Make sure that the recording is of
reasonable quality. It is legal to play a video for your class if the copy
was legally obtained and the content relates directly to the course.
-
Use any number of visual demonstrations to enhance your teaching.
-
Sub-conferencing allows you to break the classroom into small groups to
encourage active learning. For example, lecture for 20 minutes, then give
the students a group project to work on at their sites. Bring them back in
a designated amount of time to report on their activity. For ease, break
the students into groups by site. Sub-conferencing takes advance planning.
Contact Terri Majewski (766-3071) for information.
-
Utilize the technical director of the site
when necessary.
What
are the videoconferencing policies?
-
Sub-conferencing--Please let Terri Majewski (766-3071) know if you
have sub- conferencing plans at least 24 hours in advance of your class time.
-
Ten minute rule--All classes end ten minutes prior to the hour or
half hour. If your class is schedule from 4 – 7 p.m., it will end at 6:50. If
it’s scheduled to go from 3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., it will end at 4:20.
-
Canceling videoconferencing time--The Outreach School has to pay for
videoconferencing time unless the session is cancelled 16 days in advance.
Please contact them as soon as possible to inform them of any cancellations.
-
Adding a videoconferencing site to your class--If you want to add a
videoconferencing site to your class, contact the Outreach School. It’s not always
possible or feasible, but they will discuss the option with you.
-
Exams--The Outreach School needs your exam two weeks prior to the date it will
be given along with exam instructions. Exams are mailed out to sites with
instructions and are immediately mailed back after completion. Proctors
make copies of the exams before returning them to the Outreach School to
protect against exams being lost in the mail. The copies are ultimately
shredded.
-
Assignments--Think postmark dates in regard to due dates. If you want
students to email assignments as attachments, request that they send a test
attachment the first week of class. This step will ensure that the
attachment format is acceptable.
-
Final Grades--Grades are due in the Outreach Office two weeks after your final
exam date. The registrar in Outreach will send you some final grade forms
and an envelope for returning them.
-
Taping class sessions--Every class is taped at the Laramie site in case
there are technical problems at one or more sites. In the event of a
technical failure, tapes will be provided to students. However,
Outreach doesn't provide tapes to students who miss class.
How can I make the
videoconferencing classroom more
student (and teacher) friendly?
-
Humanize and personalize the classroom--Have
your students introduce themselves the first day, call your students by name,
acknowledge their contributions, invite them to respond, and use humor.
-
Provide detailed "expanded" syllabus--The
syllabus is the road map for your class. It should answer those detailed
questions that occur to students while they are completing assignments. It
should also provide some guidance to outreach staff in Laramie and at the
regional offices--cancelled classes, scheduled exam dates, etc. Let your
students know when and how to contact you, and make sure your expectations are
clear.
-
Prepare yourself and your students for a
technology failure--Outreach will send a tape if there are technology problems
during your class. Remind your students of this procedure, as well.
If you lose several sites, keep taping. Outreach will make every effort to
cover instructional gaps caused by technology failure.
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