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Jan Zanetis

User Profile Image Jan Zanetis
Member since : Aug-17-2009 (Verified)
1 Ideas, 2 Comments, 1 Votes

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Ideas Posted

I like Ning, I like Moodle, I like computers... I don't think this should be a conversation about what application is better than another but about making sure the FCC is aware of all of them and how they benefit all learners. I'm a firm believer that a blended model is best...use the technology and application that fits the current learning task.

One technology I think that is rarely mentioned and very powerful in connecting students to people and resources is h323 videoconferencing. This is the "killer app" for broadband technologies. About 30% of US schools already have this technology in house (Wainhouse Research, 2009). What better way to connect kids to kids across the globe to solve real world problems? See globalrunproject.org for an example of best practice. Here again, I am not advocating JUST video, but consider it a strong partner in a multimedia approach to problem based learning that may incorporate LMS's such as Ning or Moodle, web-based video (for one on one talking head type activities) and Web 2.0 apps as appropriate. See my attached slide.

Steve, Thanks for getting this conversation going!

Comments Posted

Jan Zanetis 7 months ago
Moodle rocks! The thing I like about it, besides the cost, is that other great edu apps integrate with it and it is so user friendly. Even teachers with limited tech skills get the hang of it pretty quickly.

Jan Zanetis
Jan Zanetis 7 months ago
Steve,

I am glad you asked about this. I am attaching a couple of documents recently done by Wainhouse Research that will give you some idea of this technology's penetration and applications. While the original implementations were indeed very expensive, and used ISDN lines to work, today its much more reasonable and quite often funded through E-Rate and various Federal grants...and run on boradband networks. Up until recently the majority of applications were for connecting teachers to rural students to deliver courses, however in the last couple of years the number one use of the technology is to connect classes to content providers: museums, science centers, historical sites for live, interactive, standards-based lessons covering every subject in the curriculum. For more on this, visit the major clearinghouse in the world for this: http://cilc.org the Center for Interactive Learning and Collaboration. To test drive what I'm talking about, do a subject search here: http://cilc.org/c/education/content_provider_programs.aspx
The most rapidly growing app is collaborative projects linking kids to kids. CILC also cover that here: http://cilc.org/c/community/collaboration_center.aspx

There's not a lot of research on this videoconferencing in education. Attached is a recent report conducted for the state of Arkansas, who from the legislation, funded a VC deployment into every high school in the state. Here is a page with some interesting articles that are related, however few with pure research: http://www.twice.cc/rvcbib.html I recommend the one by Cathy Cavanaugh, an oldie but goody. I would be glad to gather more information on this topic if you wish.

Jan Zanetis