| Imagine being able to easily connect to classrooms around
the world with full video and audio. Wouldn’t you love to take your
students to museums, zoos, research centers and historic sites anywhere in
the world? Discuss current topics with students in Russia? Talk to
experts? The possibilities are endless when you "travel via
electronic field trips using ISDN or IP video conferencing technology.
Working with teachers and content providers, Onondaga BOCES will provide the bridge to collaboration between many educational institutions and classrooms eager for these new learning experiences. |
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Our schools are challenged with providing increased educational
opportunities without increased budgets. Many educational institutions are
answering this challenge by developing distance education programs and
curriculum resources that bring comprehensive interactive experiences and
lessons into the classroom.
The use of distance learning equipment for electronic field trips is growing as
a tool to replace physical field trips. Electronic field trips are cost
effective and reduce issues involved with actual field trips, such as student
transportation, safety, and time issues. Videoconferencing makes effective use
of the expensive equipment that might be currently under-used.
Providing students with 21st century skills means schools must extend the
curriculum to include cultural literacy, global awareness, and interactive
communication. Videoconferencing will empower students to think about the world
beyond their walls.