Video Conferencing

Through E2BN, we will have access to "Click to Meet" Video Conferencing service.

This will be a free service but does require pre-registration with E2BN to notify them of the equipment you will be using and the IP address.

Calls across the Consortium network will be free, however, calls beyond that are likely to incur a charge.

Click to Meet will provide a "Gateway", enabling calls between IP and ISDN users.  It will also enable "multi-point" calls of up to four remote sites.

We had hoped to get “hands-on” experience with some loan equipment, having taken delivery of two TV based "Polycom" units.

Unfortunately, the LEA were not ready at that time but we're now waiting to pilot IP Video Conferencing in Cambridgeshire with them.

Please email the Project co-ordinator via Learningcom@aol.com  or call on 07786 007402, if you would like to know more.

Video Conferencing tips:-

A successful conference relies on planning and timing.

It is not unlike running a live TV show and all participants should be working as a team.

Advance Planning

• Think about the room location, booking, access, background and lighting.

• Contact the other group you will be conferencing with before hand to check times, IP addresses, the content of the conference, swap mobile phone numbers so you have an emergency contact on the day.

• Ensure you and another staff member know how to use the equipment before hand. (If you're off ill on the day, you won't want all that forward planning to go to waste!)

Preparation and Organisation of students

• Assign jobs to members of your class.

  • Speakers - it can become frustrating to all if people try to speak at once.  Have one spokesperson (possibly teacher in charge) to make the introductions and lead/finalise the conference.

  • Floor manager - help keep an eye on timing, seating plans, lighting.

  • Technician - help set-up the equipment.

  • Sound Person - your microphone should be turned off before you are ready to conference (sound data transfers before audio and many people have been caught out being heard at the other end)

• Discuss the guidelines/rules ahead of time with your class.

  • Encourage pupils to think about 

    • their appearance, as they might for a school photo, they are on show!

    • body language & posture

    • respect - of team mates and those at the remote site

    • eye contact

  • Keep belongings to a bare minimum, leaving bags and coats outside.

  • Bare necessities for students - paper in peoples hands can be very distracting and frustrating for the end users if rustling throughout the conference.

   

• Discourage

  • fiddling

  • interrupting

  • noise

  • bold colours

  • checks & stripes

At the Time

• Have room set-up in advance.

• Ensure  mobile phone is switched on, has charge and coverage (it should be the only one in the room) - for emergency/courtesy calls to the other group.

• Have paper and thick pen handy to write messages to the other group in case the  audio drops.

• Check appearance.

• Code of conduct - agree discreet signals with your group in case individuals over step the mark.

• Back-up lesson