What Is IVC?

Greetings,

What an awesome week we had this past week! I had the great opportunity to participate in a 5 day (IVC) boot camp. If you were not able to partipate in this Conference then you are probably asking, what does IVC stand for? Well it stands for Interactive Video Conference.

By using videoconferencing technology, two or more people at different locations can see and hear each other at the same time, sometimes even sharing computer applications for collaboration. This rich communications technology offers new possibilities for schools, colleges, and libraries, who are now using videoconferencing systems for a variety of purposes, including formal instruction (courses, lessons, and tutoring), connection with guest speakers and experts, multischool project collaboration, virtual field trips, professional activities, and community events. Remember all activities are live.

We were able to collaborate with 7 different sites or locations from all over the world including the following cities:

1. Berrien RESA, MI
2. Killen ISD, TX
3. Hays CISD, TX
4. Torfaen LEA, Wales
5. Kamloops, BC
6. El Paso ISD, TX
7. Edu Tech, ND

18 out of over 50 Teachers were selected from our Texas site to participate in this conference. This IVC project allowed participants to create project simulations and learn effective collaboration techniques to enrich curriculum with interactive experiences for many curriculum areas. This conference focused on leadership in K-12 videoconferencing. Participants created a plan for a student project for the next school year.

The goal of the conference was to get to know participants all over the world and to learn how to put together a video conference project. The 10 collaboration outcomes included the following:

1. Shared objectives
2. Sense of urgency and commitment
3. Dynamic process
4. Sense of belonging and connecting
5. Create an open communication
6. To develop a mutual trust and respect
7. Complementary, diverse skills and knowledge
8. Intellectual agility
9. Share valuable resources
10. Create memorable experiences

If you get a chance to participate in an IVC in your area, I encourage you to sign up fast because the experience was very enlightening. We were able to collaborate with the NASA Kennedy Space Center and learn all their fantastic virtual field trip programs they have to offer. To learn more about virtual field trips please visit: http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=2507464n and http://vcoutonalim.org/2007/05/05/vc-on-youtube/ We also learned about the many collaborative features of Google Docs, Google Site, Skype, Flickr, Email list serves and more.

We were introduced to The ASK Program. For more information on this program please visit: http://www.misd.net/DistanceLearning/ASK/ASKProgramOverview.htm Here is one of the ASK Program activities that we had the opportunity to participate in:

ASK Specialist: The Wall by Eve Bunting
Grade Level: 5-8
Topic: Memorial Day, the Vietnam Memorial and War

This simple picture book will introduce your students to the Vietnam Memorial and will help you teach them about Memorial Day and Vietnam. Materials about "The Wall" and the Vietnam War will be included in the kit.Students will interview a Vietnam Veteran.

This experience was very touching and emotional with some of the participants. We had the opportunity to interview 2 outstanding Vietnam Veterans (http://www.lestweforgetusa.org/) We were able to interact with them, see them and ask them questions via video conferencing. For more information on this program and others please visit: http://www.remc11.k12.mi.us/dl/ASK.htm This is just one activity we participated in.

Next week I will be sharing more activities and details about the conference. Remember if you are interested in participating in a conference like this, talk to your Computer Specialist, or your Campus Technician on your school campus. See you next week with more exciting details.

1 Week to 5,000,000 Hits

Greetings,

It's amazing when something goes viral, that a lot of people find out about it, and all the sudden it spreads like a wildfire. Of course it does take time of posting to gather a following on your Youtube or Teachertube site. This next video was released on March 1, 2010, and as of today has close to 8,000,000 hits. That's right 8 Million visits. The video is about everything working together in a synchronistic way, where everything goes just perfect. You can check it out at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qybUFnY7Y8w

I think this is one of their numerous videos that they have been posting consistently over a 3 - 4 year period. This is where they slowly gathered their following. Remember it takes time of posting videos consistently to get noticed. Unless you do something great and Hollywood picks it up. Yes, it really can happen. If you have not done so you can see a post I did where a video post was noticed by Hollywood Directors and Producers and someone got a nice pay out. You can check it out on the post I did back in December ,27, 2009. I have posted the video in two froms, one off of Youtube and the other posted on blogger.

Ok, today's blog is about a cool web site where you get pictures by spinning a galaxy. That's right, if you don't believe me, you can check it out yourself at http://www.taggalaxy.de/ You can simply type in the tags that you are looking for and you will see a galaxy with a sun and various tags to limit your search. Then you will continue to see more planets with tag words that will help you narrow your search. With the mouse, you can spin the planets and move them side to side, or up and down. It's pretty cool. Here is what the galaxy looks like when you do a search on Spring BreakMost of the pictures will come from Flickr or http://www.flickr.com/ a picture hosting web site. Anyways once you have found your globe with pictures you can click on it and spin it. Pretty cool. Alright, next week I will be sharing with you the importance of backing up your hard drive. What do you do when one goes bad and you have over 250GB of data and files on it and you have not backed it up? Yes, you can pay to recover it, but how much are you willing to pay? I will tell you about that story next week. Do not forget in April, I will be blogging about the Flip camera software and posting step by step pictures on how to create a movie using the software. Take care.