| Videoconferencing is one of the greatest | | | | that their careers are not a thing of the |
| technologies to come out of the last twenty | | | | future, they are something they can be |
| years. While the earliest videoconferencing | | | | working toward today. |
| systems were cumbersome and impossible to use | | | | |
| in some cases, the newer videoconferencing | | | | One final way these virtual field trips can |
| systems are quite easy to use and they | | | | help is that they can increase retention |
| transmit pictures and audio in the best | | | | levels of students studying the subject. |
| possible quality. | | | | After all, it is much more fun and exciting |
| | | | to learn about a subject like rocketry from |
| In fact, in many cases, it has truly become | | | | someone who has actually built a rocket and |
| like sitting in the same room with another | | | | sent it into space than from a dusty old |
| person, making it the perfect substitute for | | | | textbook that has never left a classroom |
| extensive travel between states, countries, | | | | shelf. |
| and even time zones in some situations. | | | | |
| Videoconferencing, though, is not just | | | | Another creative use of videoconferencing |
| limited to business applications. | | | | technology is applying it multi-school |
| | | | projects, or learning projects that involve |
| There are a number of different creative uses | | | | more than one school. In this application, |
| for videoconferencing that you should | | | | schools from districts, schools from |
| consider when you are thinking about this | | | | different locations around the country, even |
| great new technology. | | | | schools from various places around the world |
| | | | can exchange all sorts of valuable |
| One of the most creative videoconferencing | | | | information. |
| applications occurs in the world of | | | | |
| education. With the right equipment, groups | | | | In addition, students can work on projects |
| of school children can now take field trips | | | | about other countries by meeting children |
| without ever leaving the classroom. Students | | | | from other countries in a virtual setting. |
| can go places and talk with people that were | | | | Students can hold contests to help improve |
| considered off limits before | | | | learning skills like spelling bees, history |
| videoconferencing technology came to light. | | | | competitions, or geography bees to work with |
| | | | students at their level around the world. |
| For example, classes can talk to experts in a | | | | Moreover, student can hold miniature research |
| variety of different areas to help them | | | | conferences to discuss their findings on |
| understand a particular subject they are | | | | school projects, much the way that scientists |
| working with. If students are studying | | | | in the real world hold research conferences. |
| rocketry, a quick virtual field trip to NASA | | | | |
| to chat with our countrys leading scientists | | | | One final creative application of |
| is not off limits even if you happen to have | | | | videoconferencing is the way it could allow |
| a classroom full of fourth graders living in | | | | people to network professional activities, |
| the state of Washington. This can be a | | | | even if they are worlds away. For example, a |
| wonderful tool for students and teachers for | | | | teacher candidate, that is teachers who have |
| a number of different reasons. | | | | not yet gotten their degrees, can |
| | | | videoconference with actual teachers and view |
| Studies have shown that contact with experts | | | | actual classroom situations to decide how to |
| from the real world truly helps students. It | | | | deal with things in their own classrooms at a |
| can help to improve their interest in the | | | | future date. This could open the way to |
| particular field. If you go back to the NASA | | | | mentoring relationships in the future. In |
| example for a moment, talking with the | | | | truth, though, this could be applied to any |
| scientist who engineered the Mars ROVER may | | | | future professionals in any field or |
| help to spark a childs imagination where a | | | | industry. All of the tasks can be completed |
| simple science video could not. | | | | via a video screen, cutting down on travel |
| | | | time and expenses and giving people access to |
| This type of virtual field trip may also help | | | | each other where access was never before |
| to get a child more motivated in the subject | | | | possible. |
| area. For many kids, the careers they dream | | | | |
| of seem so far away. With virtual field trips | | | | There are many creative uses for |
| and visits with scientists and other career | | | | videoconferencing. Having the equipment to |
| professionals who may have previously been | | | | start a good video conferencing session is a |
| off-limits, children can get closer to the | | | | good way to start making your own creative |
| experience itself, helping them to realize | | | | uses for videoconferencing. |