Remote Teaching
2014
TEALS – Lester Jackson
Agenda
• Goals
• Landscape
• How it works
• Prerequisites
• Video Conferencing
• Bandwidth
• Best Practices
• Case Study
• Lync Setup
• Diagnostics
• Travel
Purpose
• Use of Microsoft LYNC or equivalent video conferencing to remotely
deliver teaching curriculum through rich audio, video, presentation
and white board content
• Address TEALS mission to provide access and exposure to computer
science courses for students who otherwise do not have a pathway to
study CS
• Intended primarily for schools in rural communities where tech
industry volunteers are lacking
2014/15 Remote Teaching Teams
High School
Class Location Vol. Location
Course
# Vol. Regional Manager
Arizona College Prep
Chandler, AZ
WA
INTRO FULL
4
Kevin
Elise P Buckingham Charter Magnet
Vacaville, CA
CA
AP
3
Vichi
Henrietta Lacks Health & Bioscience
Vancouver, WA
WA
AP
5
Kevin
Lee County
Beattyville, KY
OH,NY,NJ
AP
3
Nathaniel
Lee County
Beattyville, KY
FL,OH,DC
INTRO
3
Nathaniel
Manson
Manson, WA
WA
INTRO
4
Kevin
Lind-Ritzville
Ritzville, WA
WA
AP
3
Kevin
Marshall
Duluth, MN
MN,CT
INTRO
2
Nathaniel
MIT Academy
Vallejo, CA
WA
AP
4
Kevin
Morgan County Area Tech Center
West Liberty, KY
WA
INTRO
4
Kevin
New Technology
Napa, CA
WA
INTRO FULL
4
Kevin
Northampton County
Conway, NC
MS,TX,CA
INTRO
3
Vichi
Warren County
Warrenton, NC
NC,AL
INTRO
4
Nathaniel
West Michigan
Grand Rapids, MI
MI
INTRO FULL
6
Vichi
How it works (Example)
TEALS Volunteers
Redmond, WA
Lab Mode
Lecture Mode
Bidirectional
Communications
TEALS Partner School
Warrenton, NC
TEALS Students
(Lab, 1-on-1 with TA)
TEALS Classroom
(Lecture, 1 to Many)
Classroom Recommendations
Classroom
Logitech BCC950 Conference Cam
Microsoft LYNC
Projection Surface (Wall, Screen)
Business Grade Cable/DSL Internet
Classroom Teacher
IT Support
Optional
Hands-free telephone
Students
Microsoft LifeChat LX-3000 Headset
Microsoft LYNC
Microsoft LifeCam Webcam
Volunteer Recommendations
Volunteer Teacher
Volunteer TA
Microsoft LifeChat LX-3000 Headset *
Microsoft LYNC
Microsoft LifeCam Webcam *
Pen input device (example Surface
Pro or Wacom Intuos tablet)
Microsoft LifeChat LX-3000 Headset *
Microsoft LYNC
Microsoft LifeCam Webcam *
Pen input device *
Optional
BCC950 cloud based remote
Hands-free telephone
*Or equivalent hardware
Video Conferencing
• Recommended software - Microsoft Lync
• Native and web client
• OS support for Windows 8 & Mac OS X
• Supports voice, video, text, screen sharing, whiteboard
• Recommended Hardware
• Microsoft LifeChat headset – combines headphones with mic
• Microsoft LifeCam for student-to-volunteer communications
• Logitech BCC950 deployed in classroom to read students
Video Conferencing Best Practices
1.
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4.
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7.
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10.
11.
Test the tech setup thoroughly before school year starts
Prepare for multiple backup lines of communication (Phone, SKYPE)
Engage classroom teacher as eyes into classroom
Prepare for internet disconnections
Name cards visible at students stations
Responsive school tech support with mobile contact
TAs & Teachers split class to watch all student stations
Expect long transition times between talking to students
Understand classroom setup; if applicable apply name cards on monitors
Obtain classroom roster with seating chart from classroom teacher
Ensure all students see the same screen or log into lecture session
Bandwidth
• Video conferencing effectiveness is highly dependent on bandwidth
• Best used with corporate grade cable/DSL internet connection
• Varying technical constraints
• Prioritize lecture video presentation from volunteer to classroom
• Minimize 1:1 interactions if suffering bandwidth sluggishness
• Fluctuating video and audio quality with poor bandwidth
(If having bandwidth problems, first kill video, then try audio through a phone instead)
• Request school district IT to prioritize packets for period zero class or
throttle others
Students
• It’s important to make sure the students recognize you’re in charge of the
class, even if you’re not physically present
• Visit in person as soon as possible
• Learn names ASAP
• Students trust you more once they know you know who they are
• Make sure your face is visible, even when you’re using PowerPoint
(Make "eye contact", which means looking into the camera when possible)
• Track the position and status of each student
• Remoteness increases disconnection and miscommunication
• Call on students constantly so they know you’re watching
• Establish a clear procedure for HOW you know which students need attention
Establish a presence in the class
Best practices
• Use interactive activities
• More difficult to set up and organize remotely
• However, VASTLY improved retention for students
• For example, have students act out parts in nested for loops
• Use visuals as much as possible
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Bullet points on PPT are easy to create and teach
Their retention is not nearly as good as a good visual
Can use whiteboard for impromptu discussion
Structured PPT animations for more detailed visuals
• Be prepared to repeat yourself
• In addition to difficulty understanding the material, extra layer of miscommunication
via the remote connection
Lessons Learned From LCHS
1. Harder to tell when a student is disengaging from the class
2. Slow computers? Students log-in before lecture. Turn on before
class starts
3. Clearly specify technology practices. Make them habits
4. No commute time to rehash the day, so recap on Lync after class
5. Only use “this” and “that” when you can visually indicate
6. Software upgrades will cause problems
Resources
Video Conferencing with Microsoft Lync
• YouTube
• Product Page
Hardware
• Logitech BCC950 ConferenceCam
• Cloud-Controlled Remote for BCC950
• Microsoft LifeChat LX-3000 Headset
• Microsoft LifeCam Webcams
• Wacom Intuos Pen Tablet OR
Microsoft Surface Pro 2
Services
• http://portal.microsoftonline.com
• https://sched.lync.com
Support
• remotehelp@tealsk12.org
Lync Setup
Remote Teaching in Action
Provisioning
TEALS
Create LYNC Accounts
• Format = {firstname}{lastname}@TEALS.onmicrosoft.com
• Initial Password = unique for each volunteer
• Display Name: 2014 TEALS {role} at {assigned HS} ({firstname}.{lastname})
VOLUNTEERS
STUDENTS
1. Login @ http://portal.microsoftonline.com • Client download required
2. Update Password
• Web client to unique sessions per
volunteer
3. Install Client
4. Schedule Lectures https://sched.lync.com • Optional SKYPE with limitations
Sign In and change your password
Download Lync 2013 Client, sign in
Schedule Lectures
Lync Licenses
• Generated for all volunteers
• Assign main session a specific session link
• Assign each student to a specific session link
• Configure recurring meeting for the school year to ensure links don’t
expire
• Add session link to class page where students and staff can access
and link
Diagnostics
• MAC OS
• LWAPluginInstaller.PKG June 4, 2014
• General
• Override Video Device Settings
• Detach docked video pane to size for class viewing
• Toggle displays with “Manage Presentable Content”
Remote Teaching in Action
Travel
Travel
• Remote teams can visit class rooms twice a semester
• Teachers can visit class a maximum of twice a semester
• TAs can visit class a maximum of once a semester
• Recommended visits is 3rd-4th and 9th-10th week after start of
semester
• Coordinate classroom visits with classroom teacher and school
building administrators in advance to arrange entry, expectations, etc.
• Budget allocated for flight, hotel, car rental, and meal allowance only
• Send travel plans to regional manager to obtain direct bill
reimbursement authorization
Travel Reimbursement
• Non MSFT Employees
• Direct Bill established for flight and
auto rental only
• Must obtain travel authorization
from Regional Manager using
http://trips/directBill/
• Once approved, Regional Manager
submits travel request using
http://trips/directBillTravel/
• Volunteers must submit travel
reimbursement invoice after trip,
include scanned original receipts
• MSFT Employees
• Schedule travel through internal site
https://www.concursolutions.com/tr
avelhome.asp
• Expense trip through internal
http://msexpense
• Use TEALS I/O code: 1396213
• All original receipts must be kept throughout trip; no exceptions; expenses denied without receipts
• Budget limited to hotel $150/day; meals $75/day; mileage $0.56/mile
Appendix