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An interactive classroom

How might ICT learning tools and interactive technologies have a positive impact on student engagement and learning?

Videoconferencing is a powerful technology that can bring the world into the classroom engaging students in real-world, mearningful learning. In October 2008, several NSW public schools used videoconferening equipment to have a conversation with some of the world's leaders in urban planning for the 21st century who were gathered in Sydney for the Metropolis conference. Read all about this event and the potentials of videoconferencing in TV to VC: an amazing journey (246 kb pdf)

The Interactive Classrooms Project

The Interactive Classrooms Project is part of the Connected Classrooms Program to provide enhanced technology facilities in all NSW public schools. The Interactive Classrooms Project will equip every school with an interactive whiteboard, videoconferencing facility and data collaboration technology.

To find out what an interactive classroom looks like and resource to support implementation, go to the 3D model.

Want to know more about procurement of interactive classrooms equipment? Go to Educated buying, DET procurement’s e-magazine.

Curriculum K-12 support for Interactive Classrooms Project

Curriculum K-12 Directorate is providing a range of professional learning events (some via videoconference) to support the Interactive Classrooms Project.

Many of the professional learning activities are for DET schools only. For more details, go to Curriculum Directorate’s professional learning 2009 website. Here is a selection:

·	Music: Count us in via videoconference K-6 Teaching primary drama via videoconference Multimedia in music: Years 7-12

One-day conferences for languages teachers K-12, with a range of sessions e.g. Quality Teaching, technology, IWB content, assessment and reporting in a number of regions:

Investigating the new Stage 6 Mathematics syllabus workshops via videoconference Geogebra workshops for beginners via videoconference or face-to-face

The rediscovering science initiative brings practising NSW scientists into contact with students via videoconference. Interactive HSC advice workshops for senior science, biology, chemistry, EES via videoconference Here’s how we do it workshops in physics, biology and chemistry

Advanced multimedia: digital media in technology subjects workshops

School libraries in a Web 2.0 world workshops Blogs are now used to host the discussion for the raps. Some wiki activities are also being included.

Consistency of teacher judgement workshops are available via videoconference with further support material for assessment available on the website.

Professional reading

• The University of Newcastle in the United Kingdom condicted a project to investigate aspects of classroom interaction with interactive whiteboard use. The final report, Embedding ICT in the literacy and numeracy strategies, was published in 2005
• NSWDET’s Teaching and Learning Exchange, TaLe provides access to many resources for use on interactive whiteboards
• The Becta ICT research report (2004), Evaluation for the DfES video conferencing in the classroom project, outlines a project that aimed to identify the factors impacting on teaching and learning using videoconferencing to enhance curriculum.
• A report from the Student Representative Council conference in 2008, Videoconferencing and students: listening to State School Representative Council voices in NSW reports on students ideas for using videoconferencing
• The article in Scan (2008), Connected Classrooms creating learning communities using video conferencing technology and Quality Teaching examines the potential of videoconferencing in enhancing and enriching teaching and learning