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