Students see, hear and learn about sharks while interacting with a live Mote educator. [200x150/14K]

What is videoconferencing?

Synonymies: Cyber Schools, Distance Education, Distance Learning, Distributed Learning, eLearning (e-learning), Electronic Encounter, Electronic Field Trip (eFieldTrip, EFT), Interactive Distance Learning (IDL), Interactive Instructional Video (IIV), Interactive Videoconference (IV, IVC), Internet Videocommunications, Picture Telephone, Televideo Conference, Videoconference (VC, VeeCee, Vidcon, Vidconf, Videoconf), Videoconference over IP (VCoIP), Video TV (VTV), Video-telephone, Video Teleconference (VTC), Video Telepresence, Video Teletraining, Videonet (Vidnet), Videophone, Virtual Classrooms, Virtual Field Trip (VFT)

With videoconferencing technology, people at two or more locations can see and hear each other simultaneously. The two parties can be as close as the next room, or as far away as the next hemisphere.

Room-based videoconferencing systems can be small, remote-controlled devices (like a VCR) that can rest on top of a television set and have a built-in camera and microphone (see picture at right). Videoconferencing can also take place using software and hardware installed on a desktop computer.

Starting a room-based videoconference is similar to making a telephone call, and may involve both local and long-distance charges. Once connected, two or more sites can collaborate by sharing documents, slides, video, white boards, or other media across the videoconferencing system.

Why videoconference?

Connecting with Content Providers: Videoconferencing offers new possibilities for museums, libraries, zoos and aquariums to offer live, interactive educational programs to audiences that might not otherwise be able to visit these institutions in-person. These institutions are often refered to as content providers.

Networking schools: Schools are taking advantage of the informal education opportunities provided by content providers, as well as using their videoconferencing systems for more formal instruction (tutoring, mentoring, courses, and lessons). Many schools are also using videoconferencing for multi-school collaboration project, professional development, and community events.

Videoconferencing with Mote

To recieve videoconference programs from Mote Marine Laboratory, you will need a videoconferencing system capable of connecting at speeds of 384 Kbps or more. Anything less (i.e., 256 Kbps or lower), and the video and audio signals may not be synchronous. We recommend using an ISDN (H.320) connection, which makes use of special phone lines dedicated for video, voice and data transmissions. We are also on Internet2, and customers may connect to us via IP (H.323) using this large bandwith network. We will sometimes connect using commodity Internet connections (the kind often used to surf the World Wide Web). However, please be aware that conferences conducted over commodity Internet usually suffer from significant, severe audio and video loss.

Mote’s dial-up numbers and testing protocols will be sent by email to the contact listed on the SeaTrek registration form.

Find out more*:

Videoconferencing From Wikipedia: the free encyclopedia.
SBC Knowledge Network Explorer: a much more extensive guide and directory to videoconferencing.
Videoconferencing Collaboration Collage (ed1vidconf): SBC's email listserv for educators and librarians.
Center for Interactive Learning and Collaboration: Effective Videoconferencing
Videoconferencing Cookbook: from the Video Development Initiative (ViDe).
K-12 Videoconferencing: Information resources for practitioners of interactive videoconferencing (IVC) in K-12 settings.
IDSolutions: a business providing videoconferncing solutions.
The Whitlock Group: a business providing broadcast and presentation solutions.
Videoconferencing for K–12 Classrooms: Development guide published by ISTE detailing how IVC works.
Florida Distance Learning Association: FDLA is affiliated with the United States Distance Learning Association.
UWTV Videoconference Zone: Creative streaming video about videoconference do's and don'ts. Requires Windows Media Player.
Wire One Technology, Inc.: a leading videoconferencing solutions provider.