Videoconferencing Expands The Classroom Experience

Students within Sunderland are entering a new era of learning with the benefits of the latest videoconferencing technology provided by Direct Visual.

Schools across the city are now regularly participating in virtual lessons through the use of a high broadband link. The lessons are presented with such high quality bandwidth that the students participating remotely feel like they are there in person.

By implementing the latest communications technology project leaders are excited about the new prospects ahead.

A spokesman explains: "One of the main purposes is to help join up ICT developments across the city by providing the kind of electronic equipment and expertise necessary for students to enjoy, and benefit from, the latest advances in technology.

We are constantly striving for new initiatives and have recently gone ahead with the implementation of an ISDN gateway. This will allow us to break out of the city and connect to places all over the world. This new development provides endless possibilities for the sharing of modern language teaching across Europe."

Direct Visual is always keen to hold awareness events and encourage teachers and pupils alike to use the technology to its full potential. At the launch of the Sunderland project, students were put to the test when stars from the hit BBC TV children's soap Byker Grove offered their comments and opinions on the student's media studies project. Students broadcast their work live over the video link while actress Sammy Dobson and script editor Brian Johnson looked on.  

The Deputy Lord Mayor of Sunderland and many of the region's headteachers also attended the event.

The benefits of this event within Sunderland were immense, allowing the promotion of a wide range of videoconferencing technologies and more importantly enabling students and teachers alike to discuss and witness the benefits of such technology within education.

The spokesman concludes,   " The videoconferencing solution will enable all schools to become involved in activities being delivered on a 'live' or 'request' basis. This introduces a massive potential for raising standards in teaching and learning across the city."