Video Conferencing

Over the last decade EduTech has partnered with experts around the world in offering outreach and professional development opportunities that enrich ND student learning and align with curriculum standards.  Our role stretches from researching potential programming and collaborations opportunities to scheduling and supporting.  Many of these unique experiences wouldn’t be possible without the state support of Stagenet and our partner universities.  See our short list highlighting some of the collaborations offered this school year 2011-2012.

Enrich Your Classroom video opps 4’12

Join us sun up or sun down all around the world on May 3, 2012 from 7:00 am CST to 7:00 pm CST for the 9th Annual Megaconference Jr. global event.  This is your students’ chance to interact live with schools around the world! Plus, win great prizes from our amazing sponsors this year!

Presentations in the 9th annual Megaconference Jr. cover a range of topics from Exotic Presentations from Asia to America, led by National Dali High School, Taiwan (for students ages 12+) to London Sports, led by Carpenter’s Primary School, UK (for students ages 5-14) and everything in between! There’s something for everyone at the 9th annual Megaconference Jr. this year. Check the online schedule at http://www.megaconferencejr.org/content/schedule-2012 to see all the presentations taking place.

Plus, don’t miss the three interactive cafes for your students’ chance to chat live about diverse topics of interest to them! And enjoy a special guest visit from Dr. Bob Dixon, the founder and ten year host of the original Megaconference (spoiler alert – there WILL be hats involved)!!

Sign up as a General Participant in 1 Easy Step!!

1. Go to: http://www.megaconferencejr.org and create your account. You will then be registered as a general participant site. (Note, if you have an account already please just login but be sure to update your information from last year.)

Select Interactive Presentation Seats Still Available

A few interactive presenting spots are still open for the following presentations:

- Student Collaborations: Creating World Music, with The Bolles School, FL (for ages 12-17)

- Science Technology, Engineering and Math with Weaver Lake, MN (for ages 9-11)

- Presentations from Australia and New Zealand (for ages 5-17)

Megaconference Jr. 2012 Sponsors include CILC, CISCO, Center for Puppetry Arts, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Cleveland Museum of Natural History, Mote Marine Aquarium, and the Minnesota Zoo!

Center for Puppetry Arts Spring Programming by Videoconference for Your Classroom

Rainforest (grades 2-3)  On April 25^th students will have an opportunity to construct a flying tropical bird rod puppet and participate in learning activities about the location of the tropical rainforests and their relationship to the equator and tropic lines, various animals found in the rainforest and the different layers in the rainforest.  This is a great activity to kick off Earth Day. Three spots/session. COST: $70.

 Butterflies (grades K-2) On May 9^th students will have an opportunity to construct a butterfly marionette while participating in learning activities about the lifecycle of the butterfly.  This is a great arts and science lesson all in one.  Three spots/session. COST: $70.

 Program time for both is 10:00 -11:00 am cst.  For more information and to Register, contact Kari Sauer by email at kari.sauer@sendit.nodak.edu or by phone at 1.800.804.8550.

North Dakota K12 classrooms are invited to connect with Georgia Institute of Technology scientists using high definition videoconferencing technology.  Scientists work with teachers and students directly from the Georgia Institute labs as they transform textbook material into real activities.  For more information or to participate in any of the topic sessions listed below contact Warren Matthews by  email at d2d@gatech.edu.

EduTech will facilitate interactive videoconference participation for one classroom (grade 5-8) to participate in Polycom’s AskAuthor Special Event The Ultimate Gift by Jim Stovall.   Connection is planned for March 6th.

Faced with the challenge of total blindness, Jim Stovall has gone on to become a National Olympic weightlifting champion; an Emmy Award winner; the President and Co-Founder of Narrative Television Network; and a world-renowned author and speaker. Upon his death, Red Stevens, a self-made millionaire, singles out his nephew to receive some special life lessons and tasks to complete in order to receive his bequest.

ASK Author events are FREE.  Classrooms are required to read The Ultimate Gift in preparation for the author interview.  ASK (Authors Specialist and Knowledge) is a process that provides students with the opportunity to interview an author or a subject specialist in the topic they are reading about

Registration is first come first served. If interested don’t wait contact Kari Sauer at EduTech today to sign up by email kari.sauer@sendit.nodak.edu or by phone 800.804.8550.

A Special “Author Interview” with local author Eva Ridenhour is planned in Celebration of the Seventh Annual Read Across North Dakota 2012 facilitated by EduTech.  ++UPDATE++ See author interview

If you don’t have quicktime, click this link.

On February 17, 2012 two North Dakota classrooms will have a unique opportunity to participate in a collaborative ask the author interview with 8-year old homeschooler Eva Ridenhour by videoconference. This young author, illustrator and dancer from Mandan, ND will share the steps, the processes, and the technology used in her authorship project. Ms. Ridenhour will be accompanied by educator and mother Gwyn Ridenhour. Participation will fill fast!

Spots will fill quickly! There is no cost to participate. Not grade level specific. Interested parties can contact Kari Sauer at kari.sauer@sendit.nodak.edu. Selection will be determined on a first come, first served basis. For more information on this young author visit, www.evaridenhour.com.

Classrooms are invited to participate in the seventh annual Read Across North Dakota (RAND). Registration closes January 25th!  RAND is open to K-12 classrooms who have access to H.323 (IP) videoconference equipment.

Now in its seventh year, RAND is modeled after the international Read Around the Planet (RAP) event but includes only K-12 classes in North Dakota. If your students have never participated in RAND it’s an awesome way to celebrate reading and literacy with another classroom! There is no cost to participate. To register, www.edutech.nodak.edu/video/rand.

This activity was designed to give students in elementary and secondary schools around the state the opportunity to read to each other, collaborate and contribute to each other’s learning in real time, using advanced multi-point video conferencing technology. Interactive video classroom-to-classroom connections will take place February 15-16, 2012. Each connection is scheduled for one hour. Registration deadline is January 25th.

K-12 language arts teachers and students are invited to participate in the Eleventh Annual Read Around the Planet 2012 international event that provides an opportunity for teachers and students around the globe to cross traditional classroom boundaries in celebrating literacy and reading. Through the use of real time live point-to-point videoconferencing technology the event connects classrooms (students) around the world by celebrating literacy through sharing their favorite story, skit, poem or literacy works. No cost to participate.

EduTech will again facilitate all North Dakota teacher registration, test calls and event scheduling with TWICE. Teacher registration is available at http://www.edutech.nodak.edu/video/rap/. Important RAP dates to remember:

• December 1, 2011: Teacher Registration opens
• January 13, 2012: Teacher Registration closes
• January 14-25, 2012: Leftover/Late Registration
• By January 28, 2012: Matched partner details available
• February 2012: Techs do test calls and teachers talk to each other
• February 22-March 7, 2012: Connections occur.

Prior to the event teachers are encouraged to download the Teacher Packet and Lesson Plan at http://www.twice.cc/read.  For more information contact your Regional Information Technology Specialist (http://www.edutech.nodak.edu/contact/) or Kari Sauer at kari.sauer@sendit.nodak.edu or 1.800.804.8550.

North Dakota Classrooms are Invited to Participate in a Special “Author Interview” in Celebration of the Seventh Annual Read Across North Dakota 2012 facilitated by EduTech.

On February 17, 2012 two North Dakota classrooms will have a unique opportunity to participate in a collaborative ask the author interview with 8-year old homeschooler Eva Ridenhour by videoconference.  This young author, illustrator and dancer from Mandan, ND will share the steps, the processes, and the technology used in her authorship project.  Ms. Ridenhour will be accompanied by educator and mother Gwyn Ridenhour. Participation will fill fast!

Spots will fill quickly!  There is no cost to participate. Not grade level specific.  Interested parties can contact Kari Sauer at kari.sauer@sendit.nodak.edu.  Selection will be determined on a first come, first served basis.  For more information on this young author visit, www.evaridenhour.com.