The Video conferencing Toolkit ( by John Smith)

Transcription

1 Vide cnferencing: Best practice guide Cntents Acknwledgements... ii Intrductin Familiarisatin with the vide cnferencing equipment Setting up yur vide cnference call Checking the technlgy and the venue Preparatin Equipment Rm preparatin Shts Planning yur sessins Stage 1: Learning utcmes Stage 2: Teaching and learning activities Stage 3: Timings Stage 4: Supprt materials PwerPint Tips Handuts etc Cpyright materials Stage 5: Cntingency planning Stage 6: Evaluatin The vide cnferencing sessin Wrkshp fr new users Preparing yur students Sessin practicalities Yur first sessin At the start f each sessin During the sessin Tips Yur students Teacher/student interactin Evaluatin... 7

2 6.1. Technical Learning utcmes Student expectatins Activities Imprvements Catering fr special needs and speakers f ther languages Recrding yur sessin Wh d I cntact if I have prblems? Useful sites... 8 Acknwledgements This guide incrprates infrmatin frm: The Vide cnferencing Tlkit ( by Jhn Smith) Vide Cnferencing Issues in Teaching and Learning (unpublished dcument by Pam Wilsn, Perth Cllege) Using Vide cnferencing t Teach: A Reprt t the Learning and Teaching Cmmittee frm the VC Stakehlders Grup (unpublished dcument) Dcument name: UHI_VC_best_practice.dc e-learning Team, UHI Millennium Institute, Octber 2009 Page ii

3 Intrductin Vide cnferencing (VC) is used thrughut UHI fr learning, teaching and administratin. Currently, there are apprximately 150 VC units thrughut the Academic Partners and Learning Centres. This dcument prvides best practice guidelines n practical aspects f using vide cnferencing equipment in a teaching situatin. 1. Familiarisatin with the vide cnferencing equipment Befre yu begin teaching, yu shuld be able t: Use the zm and the mute buttns Adjust the camera s that it includes everyne in the picture Switch t different displays (fr example, PC, dcument camera) and back again. Nte: Find ut hw t get help quickly if smething ges wrng while yu are teaching. 2. Setting up yur vide cnference call Bk a VC rm at yur cllege. Cntact the VC Service ( vcmaster@uhi.ac.uk) t set up a bridge call with: Cnference title Nte: all lcatins taking part shuld use the same title Date, start time and finish time Venue (fr example, Perth Studi 1 NOT the rm number) 3. Checking the technlgy and the venue Familiarise yurself with the technlgy befre yur sessin. Have practice sessins with yur cunterpart tutr prir t the actual sessins. If in dubt, ask yur lcal VC supprt fr assistance (if available) Preparatin Equipment What equipment d yu want t use? The main camera (transmits thse present in the rm t ther lcatins) The dcument camera (transmits small bjects and paper-based materials) DVD player (transmits DVDs) PC/laptp (transmits screen cntents: PwerPint presentatins, dcuments, interactive whitebard etc.) Check that all equipment is functining crrectly prir t the sessin. If yu have any queries abut equipment, cntact lcal VC supprt staff (if available). e-learning Team, UHI Millennium Institute, Octber 2009 Page 1

4 The dcument camera Use the dcument camera t transmit high-quality still images f printed dcumentatin and f 3D bjects. Nte: there is a mvements neck n the dcument camera fr zming in n a particular prtin f yur dcument r bject. The text t be transmitted via the PC r the dcument camera must be legible fr everyne. Use a fnt size f pints r abve. The fnt size shuld never be less than 20. Vides and audi materials If pssible, arrange a test sessin t check the quality f images n vides/dvds and that yur audi quality is clear. The PC/Laptp There will be a laptp r cmputer fr the transmissin f slide shws and dcuments. Nte: yu may have t arrange fr this t be put in the VC rm. DVD player Check DVDs. High definitin requires high bandwidth and may nt transmit. If in dubt, cnsult the VC service /6/7, vcmaster@uhi.ac.uk Rm preparatin Draw the curtains. If the curtains are nt drawn, the image may white ut. Ensure participants are nt backlit r yu will transmit a silhuette. Avid a busy backgrund s that the subject is clearly transmitted Shts It may be pssible t set up preset camera psitins at the start f the class s that views can quickly be changed frm, fr example, the teacher t the class/individuals. 4. Planning yur sessins The main cnsideratin must be the learning bjectives and hw best t achieve them. Amng the key strengths f vide cnferencing are: The synchrnus nature f cmmunicatin The ability fr interactin The ability t create a sense f cmmunity amngst disparate grups f learners Stage 1: Learning utcmes Determine learning utcmes and relevant cntent, skills, knwledge etc, in advance. What d yu expect yur learners t achieve? 4.2. Stage 2: Teaching and learning activities Plan the teaching and learning activities carefully. Ensure yu prvide variety and the pprtunity fr interactin. Cnsider additinal means f cmmunicatin and supprt, such as and VLE-based activities. e-learning Team, UHI Millennium Institute, Octber 2009 Page 2

5 Ensure yu have a well-structured lessn prir t the vide cnferencing sessin. What delivery methds will yu use and what activities d yu intend t incrprate? Lecture, discussin, small grup wrk, quizzes, presentatins? Use the vide cnference fr activities that require synchrnus interactin. Use the VLE fr access t materials, self study activities, assignment submissin, tests, asynchrnus interactin and synchrnus text chat. Try nt t restrict yur sessins t a lecture style nly. Plan a range f activities t vary the pace and add interest. Build-in questin and answer sessins. Variety keeps interest and mtivatin high. Determine hw yu are ging t mderate/supervise activities nsite/via VC link. Assign small grup activities with a task that can be prepared earlier/discussed later. Make sure students have a plan f interactin fr the sessin s that they knw what is happening and wh they will be wrking with. Prvide handuts, guidelines etc t yur students in advance Stage 3: Timings Establish timings, allwing fr technical cnsideratins, call setup and shut dwn time, intrductins, and questins. Plan fr interactin, breaks, and nline/ff line activities. Determine hw lng yu expect t spend n each activity Stage 4: Supprt materials Plan the use f supprt material, bth within and utwith the VC sessin. Bks, jurnals, handuts, vide, Web-based materials etc. may be used befre/after the sessin as required. What materials will yu use PwerPint, handuts etc? PwerPint Tips Use a fnt size f pints r abve. The fnt size shuld never be less than 20. This allws fr visual clarity and frces yu t be cncise: Presentatin title: 48 Presentatin subtitle: 36 Slide Headings: Slide text: Make sure yu have gd cntrast, fr example, yellw n blue prduces a clear, readable image. Avid using red n green which will strbe r black n white which prduces glare and causes eye strain. Cntent: use bulleted infrmatin as apprpriate and d nt verlad screens with text use single wrds r phrases nt sentences r paragraphs have n mre than 7 lines f text, each line n lnger than 7 wrds e-learning Team, UHI Millennium Institute, Octber 2009 Page 3

6 make sure that images are clear. D they add t yur presentatin? make sure headings are specific and meaningful Layut: ensure yur layut is cnsistent thrughut avid verlading with text/images etc Delivering yur PwerPint presentatin: Remember t pause at times s yur audience can prcess what yu are saying D nt talk fr lng perids with the same slide n the screen. Give yur students time t read the slide and then turn the camera back t yurself. T maintain cntact with yur students, it's imprtant that yu are visible as ften as pssible Handuts etc Put handuts and ther materials int the VLE prir t the sessin as sme dcuments may nt display clearly n the VC. This way, students can cncentrate mre easily n the materials r use them fr nte-taking. Ensure the purpse f each handut is clear. Make sure the instructins and layut are clear. Include clear titles, headings, subheadings etc. Text shuld be legible and nt cramped. Layut shuld be attractive Cpyright materials Use f cpyright material in an e-learning situatin requires permissin s please btain clearance befre transmitting any cpyright materials. If the sessin is being recrded, ensure yu have permissin frm the cpyright hlders t recrd their materials Stage 5: Cntingency planning Ensure that yu have cntact numbers fr technicians and any ther relevant supprt staff Stage 6: Evaluatin Evaluate yur sessin (this need nt be frmal) yu might als like t include this as part f yur reflective activities in yur wn persnal blg. Hw successful was the sessin? What were the reasns fr it being (less) successful? Hw culd yu imprve future sessins? Ask fr feedback frm yur students and regularly mnitr the prgress f learning. Yu may need t adjust yur delivery frmat and chice f activities. e-learning Team, UHI Millennium Institute, Octber 2009 Page 4

7 Remember, yu can use the survey tl in the VLE t create an evaluatin survey. The e- Learning template cntains an example f a survey that yu are welcme t use and adapt t yur purpses. Cntact the e-learning Team (elearning@uhi.ac.uk) fr advice. 5. The vide cnferencing sessin 5.1. Wrkshp fr new users Staff and students need t learn the basics f a vide cnference. Ensure everyne is aware f/has infrmatin n: technical aspects, such as using the mute buttn, etc vide cnferencing etiquette (see the Vide cnferencing: Etiquette dcument) yur prtcls fr teaching and learning by vide cnference Preparing yur students Cmmunicate the purpse and utcmes f each sessin t students in advance. Make available any preparatry materials and establish grund rules ahead f time. Activities culd be prvided via the UHI VLE, r UHI Cmmunities. If students are t take part in activities, cntact them ahead f time with: Any relevant infrmatin, phtgraphs, vide ftage PwerPint presentatins abut a particular theme in advance s that vide cnferencing time can be spent in discussing the tpic under review. Infrmatin cncerning expected student participatin. Ensure yur students knw hw yu wish them t make cntributins. Instructins/printuts/questins Prir reading/viewing/listening etc Sessin practicalities Check that everyne can hear and see yu and that yu can hear and see everyne at cnnected lcatins. Nte: There is apprximately a three secnd audi delay. Check the image being transmitted is it well-framed? Fr example, frame the face and upper bdy fr a single persn. Tutrs shuld transmit a head and shulders view. Ensure that all students are in sht and that they sit tgether where pssible. Lk directly int the camera t give the impressin yu are speaking directly t the audience at the ther end. Ensure that yu mute the micrphne when yu are nt speaking. Nt muting the micrphne can cause feedback and ech prblems. Ensure that any discussins include attendees bth in remte and lcal lcatins face bth the lcal and remte audiences. e-learning Team, UHI Millennium Institute, Octber 2009 Page 5

8 Fr extended cntributins frm ne student, fcus the camera n them with the student directly addressing the camera Yur first sessin It is likely that students will nt knw each ther prir t yur first vide cnference. Put a student list in the VLE stating where each is based prir t the vide cnference. Place a cpy f the Vide cnferencing: Etiquette dcument in the VLE prir t the sessin. Use name cards t identify lcatins and students and t enable tutrs and students t address each ther by name. During the first sessin ask students t intrduce themselves briefly r, if yu have prvided this as a pre-sessin activity, their partner in the remte lcatin. Use an ice-breaker activity t encurage bnding acrss lcatins. See the Vide cnferencing: Teaching guide fr examples At the start f each sessin Remind yur students f the purpse and utcmes f the sessin at the beginning f each sessin. Explain/remind everyne f discussin rules and any special methds yu may have fr students t gain yur attentin During the sessin Tips Use relevant visuals r audi t illustrate pints. Mute yur micrphne when yu are nt delivering. Build a break int sessins t give students a chance t stretch and talk. See the Vide cnferencing: Teaching guide fr examples Yur students Address students by name t persnalise the sessin. Ask specific questins and direct them at individuals r grups t ensure as wide a participatin as pssible. Actively invlve learners early and ften, using small grup r hands-n activity, reading, writing, discussin, and questins. Where there are relatively large numbers f students r students are nt well-knwn t each ther, ask students t state their name befre making cmments. Pause where relevant in a presentatin s yur students have an pprtunity t respnd/ask questins. Ensure learners have an pprtunity t fcus attentin away frm the screen s that activities are brken up. e-learning Team, UHI Millennium Institute, Octber 2009 Page 6

9 Teacher/student interactin Lack f feedback in a VC situatin can make it difficult fr a teacher t check cmprehensin and that cncepts have been understd. Prvide adequate pprtunity fr students t ask questins and prvide feedback during a presentatin. If lcal students ask questins, check that these have been heard by students in the remte lcatin. If necessary, repeat the questins. D nt leave images etc, up t lng. If a teacher/student has stpped referring t an image, return t the view f the persn speaking. Keep a nte f student participatin. 6. Evaluatin It s always pssible t imprve n sessins. Yu may want t prvide evaluatin frms fr yur peers and/r students t identify ways in which this can be dne Technical Were there any technical issues that need t be reslved befre the next sessin? Were yu able t use the DVD recrder, PC etc? Were these the right chice? 6.2. Learning utcmes Were these achieved? If nt, why nt? 6.3. Student expectatins Were expectatins made clear t students prir t the sessin? Were these met? 6.4. Activities Did yu have the right mix f /apprpriate activities? Were students adequately prepared fr these? 6.5. Imprvements Hw culd the sessin have been imprved? What wuld yu d differently anther time? In what ways is VC different t f-2-f delivery? Are there any lessns t be learned? 7. Catering fr special needs and speakers f ther languages Students with special needs r wh are speakers f English as a secnd language may be present. It might be difficult fr such students t fllw what is being said. Use: Visual supprt materials Sessin recrdings Prvide additinal supprt via the UHI VLE and UHI Cmmunities. e-learning Team, UHI Millennium Institute, Octber 2009 Page 7

10 8. Recrding yur sessin Cnsider recrding yur sessins. Cntact VC Services at fr advice. Yu may wish t recrd a key sessin r a guest speaker. Recrding a sessin means yu can make the recrding available in the VLE. Nte: Yu must infrm yur students that the sessin will be recrded. Recrdings can be useful fr supprt tutrs wh need t knw what has been discussed, fr freign students and students with learning difficulties/special needs, r fr students wh have missed class. 9. Wh d I cntact if I have prblems? If yu need supprt fr yur sessin, it is best t cntact ne f the vide cnference technicians belw: Bb Brandie: Rray Stewart : Leanne MacLed: Useful sites UHI Millennium Institute: Vide cnference venues and cntact details UHI Millennium Institute: Vide Cnferencing FAQs UHI Millennium Institute: Vide cnference cntacts (lcal supprt) e-learning Team, UHI Millennium Institute, Octber 2009 Page 8