TEACHERS JAZZ UP THE CLASSROOM WITH
SECOND ANNUAL VIDEOCONFERENCING PROGRAM
WACO, TEXAS— Time, budget and location constraints limit schools from providing excursions outside the classroom. However, videoconferencing gives educators the tool they need to stretch the boundaries of the classroom. Education Service Center (ESC) Region 12 is hosting 123VC: Jazzing Up Your Curriculum with Videoconferencing on June 18-21 and July 30-Aug. 3, 2007 from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. to help teachers capitalize on this technology.
Roxanne Glaser, distance education coordinator and winner of this year’s 2007 Center of Science and Industry (COSI) Excellence in Education through Technology Award, is one of three lead facilitators for this year’s forum, which is conducted through live, interactive videoconferencing.
“The program helps integrate technology into the curriculum … and raises global awareness,” she said.
Glaser said exposing students to different cultures helps them to have a better understanding of different customs around the world.
This year, 40 local teachers will join forces with educators in Ohio, Michigan, Missouri, New York and Texas to learn how to participate in videoconferencing projects and incorporate multimedia technologies such as Moodle, blogging and Wikis to increase student interest.
The course is free for Edlink12 members, a grant-funded telecommunications network managed by ESC Region 12, and $395 for non-members. Information on how to register is available on the ESC Region 12 Webs site, www.esc12.net.
Shirley Boyd, Killeen ISD, said in her blog posted during last year’s conference,
“This was a wonderful opportunity. I am energized to be back in the videoconferencing environment .… I can see so many possibilities. This is something we will definitely want to promote. This is such a powerful learning experience.”
About ESC Region 12
One of 20 centers throughout Texas, the Education Service Center (ESC) Region 12 provides professional training and technical assistance for the purpose of improving student performance for all students. Based in Waco, with offices in, Corsicana, Goldthwaite, Hillsboro, Nolanville and Teague, the ESC Region 12’s service area includes Bell, Bosque, Coryell, Falls, Freestone, Hamilton, Hill, Lampasas, Limestone, Mills, McLennan and Navarro counties.
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