Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader

1

• Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader?
• Presented by
• Ken Conn October Smith

2
AGENDA

• Introduction
• Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?
• 1st Year Reflections

3
DEMOGRAPHICS

• 21,000 students (18 elementary, 4 junior high, 3
  high school, 3 alternative campuses 5 more
  schools opening in the next 2 years)
• 2,000 employees (1,500 teachers)
• 56 VC units (purchasing 36 more)
• Bridge services until recently
• Purchasing a gatekeeper/firewall transversal and
  MCU

4
SURPRISES

• Define Distance Learning Coordinator
• The job has changed
• Learning curve
• Equipment, networking and purchasing
• No matter what they say, it just might not work
• Polycom vs. Tandberg

5
LESSONS LEARNED

• Organization is the key
• I have to have a day planner
• Always have a backup plan
• In District VCs are best

6
CHALLENGES

• What to do when it doesnt work
• Funding (programs and equipment)
• There is not enough of me to go around
• Rely on techy people on campuses

7
SUCCESSES

• We do on average 2 video conferences a week
• VCs have become a necessity to get information
  from TEA
• Teachers are asking for more

8
RESOURCES

• ListServ
• Collaboration Collage (also known as
  "ed1vidconf") - http//www.kn.sbc.com/wired/vidcon
  f/ed1vidconf.html

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RESOURCES

• Searchable Web Sites
• CILC (Center for Interactive Learning and
  Collaboration) - http//www.cilc.org/
• TWICE (Two-Way Interactive Connections in
  Education) - http//www.twice.cc/

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Want More??? Support, Networking, and MORE
Information

• Videoconferencing For K-12 Classrooms A Program
  Development Guide
• http//www.amazon.com/Videoconferencing-K-12-Class
  rooms-Program-Development/dp/156484210X
• PICC (Planning Interactive Curriculum
  Connections) online class
• http//www.remc11.k12.mi.us/dl/picc/index.htm
• TxDLA (Texas Distance Learning Association)
• http//www.txdla.org

11

• Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader?
• Presented by
• Ken Conn October Smith