by Tim Van Heule
Coordinator of Distance Learning

Image taken from Senator Graham's website (http://lgraham.senate.gov)

Last week, AP Government students in Mrs. Williams class at Wade Hampton High School had the opportunity to speak with Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) through videoconference.

The students generated a list of questions that they wanted to ask the Senator and eventually narrowed the list down to ten questions. Unfortunately, not all of the questions were able to be asked due to time constraints; however, the questions that were asked generated a lot of debate when the videoconference ended and the class resumed. Questions ranged on issues regarding immigration, the military, civil rights, economics and environmental issues.

An experience such as this provides students in Greenville County with a unique opportunity to have a one-on-one dialogue with the Senator. This is not the first the first time our students have participated in a videoconference with Senator Graham. Students from Riverside High School and Greer High School also participated last year. We have reached out to Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC) and Congressman Bob Inglis (R-SC) as well.

A connection with an elected government official allows students to ask questions about issues that matter to them, something that may not always happen in a town hall meeting. This increased access provides real world connections students, bringing them into the political process as they learn the importance of phrasing questions appropriately.

While this increased access is great, it is not something that is always available to all students because of scheduling constraints with our elected officials. However, connecting with a United States Senator is only one of the benefits of videoconferencing in a high school government or social studies class. Some of the other projects that can be accomplished through videoconference are debate, mock congress and trials. Students from one school could connect with students across the district and debate current issues, mock bills and even participate in mock trials. All of these possibilities create a “new” audience for the students to prepare for and make the learning in the classroom more meaningful.

Our district is large enough to allow such projects to occur without most of the students actually “knowing” each other. However, we are always looking to expand our videoconference offerings outside of the district and are open to collaborations around the country and world. Please contact me if you are interested.

Web 2.0 Presentations!
Jeff McCoy

Are you tired of creating PowerPoint after PowerPoint, or having to grade your student’s PowerPoint presentations? You might want to try www.prezi.com. On a recent business trip, a colleague of mine introduced me to Prezi. Prezi is an online presentation tool that allows users to create, store and present their content online. No need to have a pen drive, just have access to the internet. Of course, if you do not have internet access, you are able to download your presentations in flash format to a pen drive.

Prezi is free for up to 100 MB of storage. As long as users don’t exceed 100MB, there are no fees. If you find yourself needing more space, you can always purchase more space. Getting started is easy. Just click the sign up link at the top right hand side of the page. You will receive a confirmation email to verify your email. After that, time to get started!!

Prezi has multiple templates and styles to choose from. Simply choose your template/style and Prezi will guide you through the rest of the process to create your online presentation. Your presentations are all online to be accessed anywhere and anytime you need them. Again, you can download a copy of the presentation in flash format to your computer.

Your students will enjoy a change from the traditional PowerPoint presentations.

by Kevin S. Merritt, Instructional Technology

I just returned from Edtech 2009 (disclaimer – GCSD did not pay for mine) where the attendance was much better than I anticipated but still off from previous years.  Many conferences are experiencing the effects of state and district budget cuts.  Travel and purchasing funds have been slashed or eliminated during these tough economic times, hitting both conference planners and the vendors/exhibitors that come to “peddle their wares.”  What are we to do?

FEAR NOT, FRUGAL FRIENDS!  I, Kevin, the King of Bargains, will help you in your quest for FREE AND USEFUL STUFF!  In light of these tough times, I am on a quest to help teachers and administrators get the most out their ZERO ACCOUNT BALANCES!

Today’s bargain is FREE MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE for your computer lab, media center computer area, or laptop cart.

Many schools use software such as NetSupport to manage student computer usage.  NetSupport is a great product, and many Greenville County Schools have it.  Since we all seem to be short of cash these days, however, let me suggest some FREE alternatives for schools that don’t yet have NetSupport licenses already purchased.

NOTE:  PLEASE CHECK WITH YOUR DISTRICT TECH SUPPORT PERSONNEL BEFORE INSTALLING ONE OF THESE PRODUCTS.  They will need to test the software in your networked environment for conflicts and compatibility issues.

I have 3 alternatives for you to check out:

1.  iTalc (link) – This is a free, open source, “full blown” Classroom Management software package.  It contains everything you would expect to find in this category of software for a GREAT price!

2.  Netop MyVision Free (link) – This is a “light” version of their “paid for” software.  It has a smaller feature set, but basic functions such as thumbnail monitoring of student screens is still included.  You download the basic trial version, and it turns into the free, reduced functionality version after the trial period.

3.  LanSchool Lite Free (link) – Another “light” version.  This also has some reduced functionality, but may still serve your purpose.

Check out these products and see if one of them might work for you!  I’d love to see some posts from folks who have tried them out.  Give me your feedback!

Kevin

by Tim Van Heule
Distance Learning Coordinator

Education always has some great buzzwords… developmentally appropriate, instructional time, differentiated instruction, etc. But what about virtual field trip?

As the economy continues its downward spiral, virtual field trip is a buzzword that continues to gain popularity. If you can’t take your students to a location, take them via a virtual field trip! But are all virtual field trips created equal? Are there different versions of the virtual field trip, maybe an e-field trip? Are they the same thing, or if there are differences, what are they?

The difference between the two is more a difference in the language. Both allow teachers to take there students to destinations outside of the classroom; however, one is highly interactive while the other is not. What I term as the virtual field trip involves the use of videoconference, incorporating live audio and video communication. This type of virtual field trip is highly engaging, allowing students to speak and interact with content experts (content providers). Does this mean that what I term is the e-field trip is a lesser activity? Absolutely not, both of these activities provide students with valuable  opportunities that enhance the curriculum.

This link (please note this video plays best in Internet Explorer) is an example of a virtual field trip that one of our schools participated in during the 2008-2009 school year. WYFF, our local NBC affiliate, produced this video as they highlighted how teachers are becoming more creative to provide opportunities in the classroom in light of a poor economy. The students connected with the Discovery Center of Springfield as they learned more about magnets during a program titled, Magnet Mania! While I agree that teachers are finding ways to be more creative in light of the current economic situation, I don’t agree that the use of a virtual field trip such as this is only due to economics. Through virtual field trips such as these, our students are able to connect with an expert in the field who reinforces the standards being taught in the classroom.

Unfortunately, not everyone has access to this equipment that allows these connections to occur. You have to ask yourself, “What can I do with my students if we do not have videoconferencing equipment in my school and/or district?” This is where the e-field trip comes in. I’ve always been impressed with eFieldTrips. I think they do a great job of producing interactive web-based content. There programs contain great visuals, appropriate use of audio clips, and the content is appropriate in length. While doing a little research for this post, I also found the Utah Education Network and their Virtual Field Trips.  One thing I really like about this site is that you can tour anything in any of the content areas, and if the content you are searching for is not available, there are links and tutorials for you to create your own virtual field trip that you can share with others. This is a great project that students would find meaningful.

Again, this is just a difference in the meaning of the terminology. I don’t consider one to be more correct than the other. The important thing is that they both provide opportunities to enhance the curriculum while providing engaging opportunities for the students.