Agenda for video conference 1

Booked for 3pm-5pm Wed. 4 Feb 1998 between Glasgow and Heriot-Watt Universities.
[Glasgow end: 0141 330 6849]
Done as part of the CBL evaluation ATOM.
It resulted in these tips for how to run a video conference.

Top level

1. Explore equipment and procedures
2. Introduce ourselves
3. Discuss the reading
4. Discuss the exercise:
   1. The overall plan for learning activities
   2. The design of the evaluation

A. Exploring the facilities

1. Computer
   1. WWW connection
   2. Camera and/or other display of the computer display to the far end
2. If the sound goes: Have cards ready
3. Practice each of the following cases:
   1. Vision-vision only
   2. Sound-sound only
   3. Glasgow vision - HW sound only
   4. HW vision - Glasgow sound only
   5. Phone connection
4. Camera practice
   1. Glasgow end:
      1. Me,
      2. computer,
      3. paper "slides",
      4. other people here
   2. HW end:
      1. The active chair person,
      2. Each student,
      3. the computer if any,
      4. paper "slides".

C. The reading

1. Spiel by Steve on HCI vs. CAL evaluation
2. Paper 1 (introduction to CAL evaluation)
3. Paper 2 (the method of Integrative evaluation, to be used in the exercise)

D. The exercise

1. The overall structure of this ATOM (reading, exercise, ...)
2. Designing the exercise and division of labour
3. Designing the evaluation.

Note to ATOM deliverers (i.e. teachers)

• I had a section in the basic ATOM (course) notes on where the video conference fits, and its main aims.
• Book the video facilities; and then check at the other end whether the booking "got through".
• Although this is not standard practice, really you need access to the suite for 30 mins in advance to a) train yourself on the video equipment (I've seen a conference judged a failure because this didn't happen). b) connect the laptop computer: it will take time to get the internet connection working, type in the IP number etc.; and furthermore discover whether or not the direct video connection from the computer will work.
• Email the other end telling them how to prepare
• Design and write a detailed agenda. It comes from combining the following issues a) the pedagogic agenda for this session; b) general tutorial group techniques e.g. introducing people; c) video conference procedural issues c1) general practices; c2) what we need because we are all new-ish to the medium; c3) because learning about / experiencing video conferencing is one of the learning aims for the course.
• Set it up in the following formats: a) WWW; b) OHP format, printed on paper not acetate (for cameras in the suite); c) possibly a different paper copy for me; d) some computer format for my laptop
• Prepare and print paper signs that should be standard issue for any video conference: Yes/No; I can't hear you; Phone me on 0141 330 6849
• Put felt tips, paper, a nameplate in my bag to take to the conference.

Draft email to the other end

I believe Alistair Kilgour will be present observing at my end. I have written an agenda for our meeting, which you can see at http://www.psy.gla.ac.uk/~steve/courses/vidconf1.html The main points are: we have the facility booked until 5pm, but will probably finish before that. I propose beginning with some structured exploration of the communications: both what we can do, and what procedures we adopt ourselves. (After that, the content.) The media we (may) have at our disposal are: vision, sound, telephone, written words, computer screens.

WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO TO PREPARE
Each person should bring several sheets of blank paper, and a felt tip pen with a thick nib, suitable for writing big signs. I will be asking each person to display their name on a name plate in BIG and thick letters.

What is the phone number in your video suite? The Glasgow end is 0141 330 6849. [Also 0141 330 4847 (Steven Jack's office)]

You may want to get a computer working at your end. This may involve you getting an internet connection working.

I suggest you designate 3 persons:
*Active chairperson. She will control the cameras at Heriot-Watt and do any chairing of the session that I do not do. Because this may get her bogged down in wrestling with the technology and those speaking, we should also have ....
*Overall chairperson. She will not act much, but will sit back and monitor how the occasion is going from the viewpoint of the Heriot-Watt class as a whole; intervening if necessary.
*Computer (keyboard) operator at the Heriot-Watt end, if you have one. Ready to bring up new pages as necessary.

Steve Draper