Student Reading Benefits from Polycom's Video Conferencing

Polycom, the global provider of innovative telepresence, video, and voice solutions, has announced it is sponsoring an international video conferencing event that involves more than 1,750 classrooms and 52,000 students from five different countries.

 

As part of a collaborative effort with Michigan's K-12 video conference organization, Two-Way Interactive Connections in Education (TWICE), Read Around the Planet 2009 will promote reading and the opportunities for classroom collaborations in education.

 

The program kicked-off on Monday, February 23rd and will run through Friday, March 6^th. It is timed to run in conjunction with NEA's Read Across America Day on March 2-- the birthday of children's author Dr. Seuss -- and World Book Day on March 5.

 

After a class registers for the Read Around the Planet program, they are matched up with a class from another state or country based on student age and curriculum interests.

 

Thanks to recent innovations in online collaboration tools, the two classes are able to then connect by video conferencing where each call is unique with pre-determined content and activities selected by the teachers.

 

According to Linda McConville, a fourth grade teacher for E. P. Clarke Elementary School located St. Joseph, Michigan, her school has been an active program participant for six years now. Since becoming involved, the students and their teachers have been able to communicate with schools located all over the globe.

 

"The students love the interaction and think it is a 'cool' way to learn. During our collaborations, each class shares special things about their community, then we participate in an activity where we read and act out stories or silly poetry, and then students get a chance to ask each other questions and learn what they have in common. It's a great activity to enhance our curriculum and we look forward to more participation in years ahead,” said McConville.

 

"Since launching the Read Around the Planet program eight years ago in conjunction with NEA's 'Read Across America,' the project has grown from less than 200 U.S. classes to nearly 1,800 classes from five countries," stated Michael Maison, president of TWICE. "TWICE embraces this project as it continues to grow every year and Polycom's (News - Alert) investment in the CAPspace program has been instrumental in our ability to scale the program. Seeing students unite, share, collaborate and learn from each other is a wonderful experience for everyone involved."

 

NEA President Dennis Van Roekel stresses the importance of reading in schools and says that “reading is key to academic success.”

 

"NEA's Read Across America brings students and adults together to share the company of good books and experience the exciting places that reading can take us,” Van Roekel added.

 

Schools are getting involved in Read Around the Planet through a free networking tool for educators called CAPspace (Collaborations Around the Planet). Sponsored by Polycom and managed by TWICE, CAPspace allows teachers to find colleagues with similar curriculum needs who also have access to video conferencing equipment.

 

By connecting through CAPspace, teachers can sign up for events like Read Around the Planet or organize a collaboration with other classes in the U.S. or other countries at anytime. As a result, schools are able to enhance the learning experience and spread cultural awareness. Currently, more than 2,500 teachers from 15 countries participate in CAPspace and according to Polycom and TWICE, use continues to grow at a steady pace.

 

"CAPspace is a wonderful tool for teachers interested in enhancing the classroom experience through distance learning," said Elaine Shuck, global market director of primary and secondary schools for Polycom. "It makes it simple for teachers to find colleagues with common curriculum interests, share ideas and then collaborate. Use of video conferencing within schools is expanding from popular virtual field trips with great content providers like NASA and museums to include more direct collaboration between classrooms. Programs like Read Around the Planet are a wonderful way to engage students and expand the possibilities for classroom education."

 

Click here to learn more about Read Around the Planet and to view photos from previous events.