VirtualVisits

== =Virtual Visits=

Why Visit Virtually?
Cost Accessibility of Professionals Logistics Eliminate long distance charges

Opportunities and Ideas
Imagine learning a foreign language from a peer who is learning English. Imagine having an artist critique a student's work. Professional Development

Different Types of Virtual Visits

 * Online Chat
 * Audio-conferencing
 * Videoconferencing
 * one-to-one
 * one-to-many (multi-cast)
 * many-to-many (multi-point)

Technologies
Instant Messaging Online Conference VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol)
 * [|AIM]
 * [|I'm]
 * [|Yahoo Messenger]
 * [|Microsoft Net Meeting] Share your desktop with others as you discuss what they are seeing. This is an excellent way to offer technology help and instruction or discuss images and slide presentations.
 * Skype Make plans to communicate with others via Skype or try out a Skypecast by clicking the "live" tab.
 * [|Polycom] Randolph School owns a Polycom system, prefect for crystal clear video conferencing.

What Is Needed?
This can vary depending on the type of visit you wish to organize.

Learn More
[|Ask an Expert Sources] This site has links to experts who are willing to teleconference with classes. [|Epals] Connect with classrooms around the world. Registration is free. [|Center for Interactive Learning and Collaboration] This site offers possibilities for current online communication and an archive of past uses for ideas[|Global Education on a Dime] An article from EduTopia [|Virtual School at Vanderbilt University]    The Vanderbilt Virtual School partners   with schools and community groups to make the most powerful use of technology for their organizations. Examine the catalog online for a list of classes. Take a look at the [|Frequently Asked Questions] portion of the website for more information. During the 2007-2008 school year, classes were $75. [|NING for Videoconferencing Site Coordinators]        Join this social network to ask questions, learn what has worked for others and share your own success stories. [|Videoconferencing Guidebook] This collection of links can help you do everything from [|MAGPI Programs] Look for programs [|Videoconference Adventures] Explore this list of virtual field trips and conference opportunities for education. [|Argonne National Laboratory: Division of Educational Programs] Check here for K-12 science opportunities. [|Virtual Scientist] Vanderbilt offers videoconferences with scientists. [|National Air and Space Museum] This museum offers videoconference classes. [|Cincinnati Art Museum] Participate in the Museum Video Classroom. [|Philadelphia Museum of Art]

[|John Lunn] This author visits using live streaming video and a telephone line. [|Chris Crutcher] This author of Whaletalk and Staying Fat for Sarah Byrne will participate in virtual visits. [|Meg Cabot] This author has a MySpace page where fans can ask questions. [|Linda Sue Park] Online chat is $250 for one hour, which includes a 5-minute test of the technology the day before the event. The chat is conducted using a private chat room on the AOL Instant Messenger service. <span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">[|Gary D. Schmidt] The author of __The Wednesday Wars__ and __Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy__ <span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"> <span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"> has video conferenced with schools through the ASK program. [|Ben Mikaelsen] The author of __Touching Spirit Bear__, __Stranded__ and __Tree Girl__ has information about videoconferencing. <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"> <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"> <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">Back to Tutorials
 * Authors**