Interactive Video Conferencing

www.wcfl.net is a video enhanced learning environment which allows tutors to interact using video link with students in a secure online learning environment. They create Virtual Learning Environments for schools and students through their video conferencing software. The VCfL matrix helps schools implement Video conferencing across the whole school and measure progression. The lastest version of the VCfL matrix - now has a 6th aspect. "saving money and time". Educators can develop VC technology in their classrooms and to communicate, collaborate, educate and innovate through this site and their VC technology products. Students in geography, biology and many different subject classes can use this vitual learning environment based on different topics. The entire process of virtual learning will enrich students' school and education experience and finally enhance their learning.

Distance learning through video conferences is becoming more important for educational institutions, on a global level.That's why the IntelliNet IP video conferencing service is created on site www.ivci.com. This site offers high performance, reliable and secure service that allows you to focus on your learning session and not the technology. IntelliNet offers fixed-fee, unlimited usage plans that are much more cost effective than ISDN-based conferencing environments. With IntelliNet, video conferencing can finally become a powerful educational tool without the worry of day-to-day support or out-of-control per-minute costs. Base on school curriculum, Students can attend some videoconferencing which provided by this site, and take them as their alive classes.

www.cisco.com is a website which can bring customers, suppliers, or partners face-to-face around a highly secure virtual meeting table any time. While it is mostly being used for business communications, it is highly applicable for schools and universities willing to offer their students and faculty a modern communication tool, to get in touch with each other, attend remote conferences and presentations directly from their classrooms or labs etc. This site also provide many trainings which teach students, educators and other costumers using the modern communication tools. Students can contact this site anytime they need, attend different training courses through their interactive videoconferencing and learn how to use the telePresence products, and then finally enjoy the high tech communication in our modern society.

www.mnn.com provides many video conferencing for schools. With this site, Students and teachers can take virtual field trips, communicate with field experts, and collaborate with students in other schools to share projects and ideas, Similar to a face-to-face meeting. Video conferencing in this site provide clear images, sound and the ability to connect with people and experiences around the world. 

Many enthusiastic teachers are now "looking for forward-thinking, enriching learning experiences that take students beyond classroom walls." This site can help teacher to do so. Through this site, teachers can now connect their classes with experts in the topics covered in the curriculum, and then students can take the class through interactive video conferencing without leaving their classrooms. This site also provide videoconferencing in many different subject area . The videoconferences provide by this site should not just make teaching easier, will also enhance enhance the subject program learning tremendously. Students in social study class can use videoconference with the Mariners' Museum. Not only they can take a visual tour of this museum, but also can talk to the experts who are working there for further information.

The Center for Interactive Learning and Collaboration (CILC) dedicates an entire section to collaborative activities, both for educators and students. Topics range from "Impact and Challenges of Rural Water Pollution" to "Transportation of the Future." CILC's website provides access to directories of organizations available for video conferencing and distant learning activities. In addition it provides directories for collaboration opportunities, professional developments, and available online courses. In a teacher education class, teachers start from this website to plan a lesson or a project to use in their subject matter course. Along with the details of the lesson/unit/project plan and rubric, a reflection paper is written after conducting the lesson.

The Royal Botanical Gardens, an arboretum and museum in Ontario, Canada offers virtual field trip programs through video conferencing. Class can interact with educators and scientists and explore topics like biodiversity, conservation, botany, plant ecology and the environment. The lessons are available for all grade levels. The programs also provide teachers with pre and post conference activities. Prior to the video conference lesson on plant biodiversity, biology students are to do a short essay on one of the following prompts: 1. How does the environment affect a plant's structure and function? 2. How are we impacting their survival and our environment? 3. What can I do to help restore and sustain the biodiversity of our natural world? After the video conference lesson, students can do a revision to their original essay.

The Victorian Space Science Education Centre (VSSEC) was established by the Victorian State Government. VSSEC uses the context of space to engage teachers and students in the teaching and learning of science. The center offers about half dozen astronomy themed lessons (but can be easily tied into earth science, physics, or chemistry) aimed at elementary and middle school students (some even offered in 3-D). Few even conduct lab experiments (materials sent to schools ahead of time). After a geology lesson on rock types and properties students will collect rocks from their local area to be used during the video conference lesson. The teacher will pick few of the rocks to be used making sure there is a big variety. The lesson will compare geology of Earth with that of Mars. After the lesson students will discuss if their rocks would exist in similar environment in Mars.

The Arnold-Liebster Foundation is an organization established by Holocaust-era survivors Max Liebster and Simone Arnold Liebster. Their goal is to educate future generations lessons of history. Mrs. Liebster makes herself available for a class visit through video conferencing. After a history unit about the holocaust, students are to read sections of Mrs. Liebster's autobiography 'Memoirs of a Young Girl in Nazi Europe' and prepare questions for Mrs. Liebster to be asked during the video conference. Once the questions and interview procedures are ready, students can set up the conference time with Mrs. Liebster.

Minnesota History Center is an interactive museum with both permanent and changing exhibits. The museum offers live history lessons via video conferencing to teach elementary level children about various topics in American history and specifically Minnesota history. Children can learn about the local history not covered in textbooks. Students in small groups will research one of the ten possible topics offered by the History Center and do a brief presentation for the rest of the class. After presentations, class can vote on which lesson is set up for the video conferencing and set up the time for the lesson to take place

twice.cc is a video conferencing website that connects teachers and students to virtual, real-time tours of places they might not regularity be able to visit due to distance, budget or other constraints. Places you can connect to are; zoos, museums, NASA, U.S. Congress and more! Students will research this site to find a place they find interesting and would like to tour. They are then responsible to try and set up a time to coordinate a meeting between them and their place. If approved, students will be able to enjoy their virtual tour.

Educational Videoconferencing Students can interact with the National Air and Space Museum without leaving the classroom! The museum offers Interactive Videoconferencing programs featuring the museum's staff and docent volunteers. Use of the unique National Air and Space Museum collection and the universally-engaging nature of aviation and space make these programs relevant and exciting. Students request a video conference time to set up a time to have a lesson with one of the programs offered. The students will be able to have a live lesson from one of the volunteer tour guides at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum!

"In this 4-part Students Rebuild video conference series live from Haiti, North American and European students participated in a life-changing journey in speaking with their Haitian peers whose schools had been destroyed by the earthquake. The participating classes, in participating at Students Rebuild teams, have come away from the video conferences with a reinforced understanding of the complex issues of rebuilding after disaster, international aid, and the empowering realization that they too can make a difference helping Haitian students-turned-friends rebuild their livelihoods." The 4 sessions include 1. Introduction to Haiti: Student Cultural Exchange, 2. Emergency Education (learning to deal with emergencies where they live), 3. Understanding School Reconstruction in Haiti: A Process in the Making (rebuilding Haiti) and 4. Haiti Today: The Way Forward (looking at ways to improve the future for Haiti). Using this site, students can make videos voicing their own possible solution to Haiti's problems or to try to communicate and raise the spirits of Haitian students. Students can also join live discussions with students in Haiti and all over the world.

This site is an excellent resource for all aspects of video conferencing, including answering what it is by providing an online introduction, tips for using virtual conferencing, examples of schools that use it, as well as other manuals, training and set-up guides. Moreover, Sites2See gives examples of software programs to utilize video conferencing and well as other collaborative sites and resources. Student should go to NASA's digital learning network link and choose a webcast to watch there. Once chosen, students are expected to learn about a certain 'mission' by watching the webcast, linking up with the mission and interacting with it in some way.

iChat is an effective way to utilize video conferencing as an educator. As an "Apple" school, all students have access to this program. The Apple website is an excellent way to answer all questions you might have about iChat. Once you understand how to use this program, your video conferencing idea will open up to endless possibilities as an educator. Students are expected to read about how iChat works on this website. They will set up their iChat program, explore tips on getting started and make sure they are able to use it. Once set up, find a friend to link up with a try to have a video chat using this program. "If you're looking for a more personal way to stay in touch, iChat enables you to see and hear your friends, family, and coworkers no matter how far away they are. It lets you text chat, audio chat, or video chat over the Internet without accruing any text messaging, long distance, or video streaming charges."