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Video Teleconference Survey Unit
Video Teleconference Survey
  • Meet the Teacher
  • Unit Description
  • Objectives
  • Materials and Resources
  • Unit Lesson Plans
  • Relation to Standards
  • One Computer versus Many


  • Meet the Teacher

        Gerry Del Monico is a resource room teacher at McManus Middle School [http://linden.k12.nj.us] in Linden, NJ. He and his classes often use CU-SeeMe to conduct teleconferences with classes in other parts of the country and world. This unit is based on activities that Gerry and his class have done.

    (To learn more about Gerry and his work, take a look at his Teacher Case in Individualizing.) Up to Contents

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    Unit Description

        In this unit, students use Internet search engines to collect information about the topic, "Violence in the Media and How It Affects Teenagers." Students format the information they collect into survey questions that they invite classes in other schools to answer. Students invite classes that respond to the survey to participate in a CU-SeeMe video teleconference on the survey topic. Up to Contents

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    Objectives

        Students will:

    Up to Contents

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    Materials & Resources

        In developing our lessons and activities, we made some assumptions about the hardware and software that would be available in the classroom for teachers who visit the LETSNet Website. We assume that teachers using our Internet-based lessons or activities have a computer (PC or Macintosh) with the necessary hardware components (mouse, keyboard, and monitor) as well as software (operating system, TCP/IP software, networking or dial-up software, e-mail and a World Wide Web client program, preferably Netscape, but perhaps Mosaic or Lynx). In the section below, we specify any "special" hardware or software requirements for a lesson or activity (in addition to those described above) and the level of Internet access required to do the activity.

    1. Special hardware requirements: Connectix QuickCam camera; printer.
    2. Special software requirements: CU-SeeMe software downloaded from Cornell University.
    3. Internet access: High-speed (greater than 1 MBPS via network).
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    Unit Lesson Plans

    1. Lesson One: Researching and Compiling Survey Information. Students use Internet search engines to research the survey topic "Media Violence and How It Affects Teenagers." Students work in groups to compile their information into survey questions, noting recurring facts or themes that might be relevant.

    2. Lesson Two: Administering the Survey. Students administer the survey to family, friends, and students in remote locations.

    3. Lesson Three: Conducting a Video Teleconference. Students organize a video teleconference over CU-SeeMe to discuss the results of the survey with participants.
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    Relation to Standards

        We have drawn on the evolving standards for K-12 language arts from the National Council of English Teachers (NCET). We feel that these standards provide excellent guidelines for teachers on how to focus writing work in their classrooms. Up to Contents

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    One Computer vs. Many

        The plans for this unit are tailored to fit teaching situations where students have access to several computers with an Internet connection. To accommodate classrooms that do not have access to a computer lab with full Internet connections, students can work in research groups to explore Internet sites and conduct their research.

        If you have only one computer with Internet access, you may choose to do one of the following:

    Up to Contents

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