Boundless Learning Takes Us to Outer Space and the Inner Body Monday, September 21, 2009
Posted by Rebecca Morrison in Classroom Technology, Tech PD, VLC Programs, Videoconferencing.Tags: Videoconferencing, Cooperating School Districts, csd, New Links to New Learning, AIMS, NASA, tele
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Also last week was Boundless Learning with Videoconferencing- our two night tele class on interactive videoconference. Educators from Ursuline Academy, Mehlville School District, Francis Howell School District, and Kirkwood School District were in attendance. We also had some CSD staff come to learn more about New Links to New Learning.
Our first night, we connected to David Mazza at NASA and learned about the program offerings at Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio. The Glenn Research Center develops and transfers critical technologies that address national priorities through research, technology development, and systems development for safe and reliable aeronautics, aerospace, and space applications. They also offer fantastic videoconferences!
Our second night, we connected to Ray Vollmer at AIMS (Adventures in Medicine and Science at Saint Louis University). Utilizing a state-of-the-art facility on the campus of Saint Louis University used by practicing physicians for continuing medical education. The inquiry-based methods employed by faculty in the AIMS program focus on activities that challenge students and stimulate experiential learning. Ray showed us a healthy heart compared to an enlarged one; a healthy brain versus one that had suffered a massive stroke, and explained how he teaches lessons to students.
We also went over videoconference basics: bridging, content providers, databases, equipment, scheduling, etc. Our next session of Boundless Learning with Videoconferencing is in January 2010!
“Videoconferencing To Bring the World to Students” Friday, September 11, 2009
Posted by Rebecca Morrison in Distance Learning, Videoconferencing.Tags: Flickr Creative Commons, Janine Lim, Videoconferencing
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Our distance learning colleague, Janine Lim, and K-12 videoconferencing, are featured in a new article entitled “Videoconferencing To Bring the World to Students” in The Journal: Transforming Education Through Technology.
According to the article, “[v]ideoconferencing becomes an equalizer as well as a window to the world.”
Take a moment to check it out!
Compare|Contrast Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Posted by Rebecca Morrison in Classroom Technology, Distance Learning, Videoconferencing.Tags: Skype, Videoconferencing
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Visiting PORTS Monday, June 8, 2009
Posted by Rebecca Morrison in Distance Learning, Videoconferencing.Tags: California State Parks, Digital California Project, Parks Online Resources for Teachers and Students, podcast, PORTS, Videoconferencing
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Martha learned about this content provider in a podcast- Parks Online Resources for Teachers and Students (PORTS) out of California (State Parks). PORTS is a collaborative effort between public schools and California State Parks.
While any teacher can access the on-line, on demand material from the commercial Internet, you must be on the Digital California Project network to participate in the videoconferencing lessons. To see the materials available, click on individual units of study.
New links with videoconferencing! Friday, May 15, 2009
Posted by Rebecca Morrison in Classroom Technology, Collaboration, Collaborations, Distance Learning, Tech PD, Videoconferencing.Tags: Affton School District, ELL PD, New Links to New Learning, Videoconferencing
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Thanks to Ron Spicer of the Affton School District for inviting me to speak with administrators and curriculum specialists about New Links to New Learning and videoconferencing yesterday! I shared with the staff what New Links to New Learning is, focusing on the videoconference services as well as free tele classes. We discussed on demand versus set date and time, virtual field trips and collaborative projects, costs involved, and the easiest ways to get videoconferences schedule (through CSD). I’m looking forward to working with all four schools in the district! One request I’ve gotten in already is ELL professional development (effective teaching strategies) for classroom teachers; experts in the field and best practices from other classroom teachers. If you have a great connection for that topic, let us know!
A Visit to the Zoo Thursday, February 26, 2009
Posted by Rebecca Morrison in Classroom Technology, Videoconferencing.Tags: cold climate, Distance Learning, Penguin & Puffin Coast, Saint Louis Zoo, Videoconferencing
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Today we had not one, but two videoconferences with the Saint Louis Zoo! This was my first connection with our hometown Zoo. Our groups connected to learn about the Penguin & Puffin Coast. (If you haven’t been to the Penguin & Puffin Coast at the Saint Louis Zoo, you need to go- or connect to this videoconference- it’s a must see!) During the videoconference, students learned about penguins and puffins and about the cold areas in the northern and southern hemispheres of the globe. They participated in activities to learn about how these animals survive in their cold climates and they got up to use their own bodies to figure out the locations hemispheres of the earth. (Can you guess what Line is where your belly button located? Which pole holds your toes?)
Though admission to the Saint Louis Zoo is free, this videoconference was $125. The kids saw animals in the studio with presenter Lisa Berman, asked & answered questions, and watched video footage of the penguins and puffins. The program wrapped with a song about penguins.
Videoconferencing | Electronic Education | COSI Columbus Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Posted by Rebecca Morrison in Classroom Technology, Distance Learning, Videoconferencing.Tags: climate change, Columbus OH, COSI Columbus, Distance Learning, Electronic Education, forensic pyschology, genetic disease, logistics management, science, Videoconferencing
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COSI Columbus produces very popular science videoconferences for students in elementary through high school. St. Louis area schools connect to their programming throughout the year! Click on the logo to the right to see the details on all their videoconference offerings, which include Gadget Works, Weather Watch, In Depth: Autopsy, Surgical Suite, and Experts on subjects like climate change, logistics management, forensic psychology, and genetic disease. Some of their programs are point to point, while others are multipoint, so your class could be connected with an expert as well as other students across the country.
Reservation and payment policies can be found at this link: http://www.cosi.org/educators/videoconferencing/reservation-policies/. New Links to New Learning members, if you are interested in any of COSI’s Electronic Education videoconferences, let me know and I will make the proper arrangements for you.
Ask an Author Thursday, October 16, 2008
Posted by Rebecca Morrison in Classroom Technology, Collaboration, Internet safety, Links, VLC Programs, Videoconferencing.Tags: 8DAYS, author visit, Barri Bumgarner, Distance Learning, Dregs, Mysteries of the Ozark, New Links to New Learning, Slipping, Videoconferencing
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Ask an Author Videoconference on Fri., Nov. 14.
Cost: only $125 for New Links to New Learning members, $175 for nonmembers
Two sessions available: 8:30 a.m. for 8-12th graders + 10 a.m. CST for 4-7th graders (sessions last about 1 hr)
What does it mean to be an author? Where do ideas for books come from? Have your students meet with Missouri Author Barri Bumgarner for a live question and answer session over distance learning. A 
former teacher, Barri is the author of young adult and adult fiction books, including 8DAYS, Slipping, Dregs, and Mysteries of the Ozark. She will be connecting over videoconference from Cooperating School Districts in St. Louis, Missouri.
For preparation, we ask participating students take a look at Barri’s website to read about her multigenre works prior to the videoconference. And of course, come with questions! She’ll discuss her inspirations, the writing and revision process, what it takes to get a book published, book promotion, and answer any career related questions from her audience.
Missouri Show Me Standards met by participating in this v/c include:
Goal 2 – Students in Missouri public schools will acquire the knowledge and skills to communicate effectively within and beyond the classroom. Communication Arts: 1. speaking and writing standard English; 5. comprehending and evaluating the content and artistic aspects of oral and visual presentations (such as story-telling, debates, lectures, multi-media productions); 6. participating in formal and informal presentations and discussions of issues and ideas.
Please register for this videoconference by Friday, Nov. 7: rmorrison@csd.org.
And remember to visit Barri’s website at http://www.barribumgarner.com/.
Preparing All Students for the Future Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Posted by Rebecca Morrison in Classroom Technology, Collaboration, Distance Learning, Links, Tech PD, VLC Programs, Videoconferencing.Tags: Brentwood Eagles, Brentwood School District, Cooperating School Districts, Distance Learning, New Links to New Learning, Tech PD, Videoconferencing
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I had a great PD session with educators from the Brentwood School District yesterday! (The district’s motto is “Preparing All Students for the Future” – I liked it so much that’s what I titled this post). We had a good mix of elementary thru high school teachers, as well as administrators on all levels. They were ready to learn about videoconferencing and New Links to New Learning- they had questions for me right at the start. I told the group that I was pretty sure I’d answer all their questions during the course of my presentation (and I think I did). A couple teachers had participated in a videoconference before, but for most, it seemed to be a new technology. We connected from the high school to McGrath Elementary to demonstrate the ease of making a v/c call. I told the group about New Links membership, about videoconferencing resources, and what I do for them- find, coordinate, and schedule videoconferences on their behalf. This group seemed especially keen on collaborative efforts, which is definitely an area of distance learning I’d like to promote.
Thanks to the faculty for inviting me to their school to share my “expertise.” This morning when I got to my desk, I had my first research request from the district. Yeah!
where did you go today? Thursday, June 19, 2008
Posted by Rebecca Morrison in Blogs, Classroom Technology, Collaboration, Distance Learning, Links, Tech PD, VLC Programs, Videoconferencing.Tags: AIMS, Baseball Hall of Fame, blog, content provider, Cooperating School Districts, Discovery Center, Distance Learning, Moodle, New Links to New Learning, SLU, Videoconferencing, Virtual Learning Center
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Today was the Boundless Learning in Videoconferencing tele class. Districts represented were Hazelwood, Ritenour, Francis Howell, Normandy, and Parkway. During the day, participants learned about videoconferencing- everything from the equipment to programs to funding. We connected the class to three content providers- across town, across state, and across the country! Saint Louis University (AIMS), The Discovery Center in Springfield, and the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, NY all provided v/c demos, sharing what they bring into classrooms. In addition to learning about different kinds of content offered, participants learned where to find programs and the best ways to schedule them.
We told participants where to find free videoconferences (government agencies like Library of Congress and NASA). Multipoint versus point-to-point were covered, as was “upon request” and set times- common buzzwords. Participating teachers happened to be in New Links to New Learning districts, so we also shared what membership means. Of course, we gave them time ask questions, to click around the Moodle, to check various v/c content provider databases, and to skim all those v/c blogs out there!
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