Face to Face

Does video conferencing for education create more compelling and interactive learning environments?  Yes, I believe it does.  The use of technology is very valuable to the classroom learning.  Video conferencing creates a virtual meeting experience so realistic, students and teachers feel as if they are in the same room as people far away.  Video conferencing has unlimited potentials in the classroom.  Some of the potentials are:

• Virtual Field Trips
• Real-time world experiences
• Interviews with experts in different areas of study
• global student collaboration
• teacher professional development

Video conferencing lessons for schools can also ignite an interest and enthusiasm for learning that traditional teaching methods sometimes  can't.  What if a science class could interact with astronauts  at NASA?  This field trip would be virtually impossible because of cost, travel and other problems that may occur, but with virtual conferencing ALL students would be able to participate.  

The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum has a program for video conferencing lesson in which teacher can sign up for to use in their classrooms.  These programs are schedule and the teachers can get classroom material to use with the programs.

http://www.nasm.si.edu/education/classroom_videoconf.cfm

Ginger Lewman remarked, "it allows our students ages 10-14, to begin to develop not only essential communication skills, but also an acute awareness of global issue."

I believe video conferencing will help to engage and make our students better learners!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BphlhfdHhGY&feature=related