Distance learning technology demonstrated

During Thursday night's meeting of Bedford County Board of Education, school system technology coordinator Joan Gray introduced a demonstration of the distance learning technology now being implemented in the school system.

Mike Lay of Personal Computer Systems Inc. in Knoxville, the vendor which supplied the systems, conducted the demonstration, which included a remote, split-screen hookup with Lay's colleagues in Knoxville and with Shelbyville Central High School Principal Don Embry at SCHS. Two-way video connections can be used in a variety of ways. Schools can offer specialized classes (such as foreign languages) which wouldn't be feasible at one location by using distance learning technology to let a teacher at one location teach students at several different locations.

But distance learning can also be used for special events and programs, including "virtual field trips." For example, a class taking a "virtual field trip" to an out-of-town zoo or aquarium could not only see the animals live on the video screen but ask questions of the zookeeper. A history class could hear a presentation from a Holocaust survivor, including the opportunity to ask questions.

Classrooms can also communicate and collaborate with other classrooms. For example, Lay said an ecology class in Memphis will have a remote video discussion with students in Roane County about how the TVA ash spill has affected their community, with TVA officials also participating.

Distance learning equipment is now or will soon be in place at all three county high schools and at Bedford County Vocational Center, as a result of a Perkins Grant. The equipment will be placed at other schools throughout the county using additional grant funds. At SCHS, the equipment will be set up in a room dedicated as a "distance learning studio," which Lay said will be "the best in the state, bar none, period." At other schools, the equipment will be on a mobile cart which can be taken to any classroom as needed.

Joan Gray said that when the grant-funded program is complete, there will be a total of 25 distance learning setups. She said it's unusual for a single county to have gotten that much grant funding for a distance learning project.

"That puts a lot of pressure on us," she said. "We've got to use them."

Lay has been working with teachers throughout the school system this week to familiarize them with the technology.

Gray said that after the first of the year, classes will begin using the technology for collaboration and virtual field trips. Any new course offerings won't be implemented until the fall of 2010.

Board member Amy Martin, who works at Tennessee Technology Center at Shelbyville, said the video-conferencing technology has advanced rapidly. When TTCS tried to implement a similar distance learning program a decade ago, the video quality and the connection was poor. She said the technology demonstrated Thursday night was much better.