Remote Teaching 2014

1. Remote Teaching 2014 TEALS – Lester Jackson

2. Agenda • Goals • Landscape • How it works • Prerequisites • Video Conferencing • Bandwidth • Best Practices • Case Study • Lync Setup • Diagnostics • Travel

3. Purpose • Use of Microsoft LYNC or equivalent video conferencing to remotely deliver teaching curriculum through rich audio, video, presentation and white board content • Address TEALS mission to provide access and exposure to computer science courses for students who otherwise do not have a pathway to study CS • Intended primarily for schools in rural communities where tech industry volunteers are lacking

4. 2014/15 Remote Teaching Teams

5. How it works (Example) TEALS Volunteers Redmond, WA Lab ModeBidirectional Communications Lecture Mode TEALS Partner School Warrenton, NC TEALS Classroom (Lecture, 1 to Many) TEALS Students (Lab, 1-on-1 with TA)

6. Classroom Recommendations Classroom Logitech BCC950 Conference Cam Microsoft LYNC Projection Surface (Wall, Screen) Business Grade Cable/DSL Internet Classroom Teacher IT Support Optional Hands-free telephone Students Microsoft LifeChat LX-3000 Headset Microsoft LYNC Microsoft LifeCam Webcam

7. Volunteer Recommendations Volunteer Teacher Microsoft LifeChat LX-3000 Headset * Microsoft LYNC Microsoft LifeCam Webcam * Pen input device (example Surface Pro or Wacom Intuos tablet) Optional BCC950 cloud based remote Hands-free telephone Volunteer TA Microsoft LifeChat LX-3000 Headset * Microsoft LYNC Microsoft LifeCam Webcam * Pen input device * *Or equivalent hardware

8. Video Conferencing • Recommended software - Microsoft Lync • Native and web client • OS support for Windows 8 & Mac OS X • Supports voice, video, text, screen sharing, whiteboard • Recommended Hardware • Microsoft LifeChat headset – combines headphones with mic • Microsoft LifeCam for student-to-volunteer communications • Logitech BCC950 deployed in classroom to read students

9. Video Conferencing Best Practices • Test the tech setup thoroughly before school year starts • Prepare for multiple backup lines of communication (Phone, SKYPE) • Engage classroom teacher as eyes into classroom • Prepare for internet disconnections • Name cards visible at students stations • Responsive school tech support with mobile contact • TAs & Teachers split class to watch all student stations • Expect long transition times between talking to students • Understand classroom setup; if applicable apply name cards on monitors • Obtain classroom roster with seating chart from classroom teacher • Ensure all students see the same screen or log into lecture session

10. Bandwidth • Video conferencing effectiveness is highly dependent on bandwidth • Best used with corporate grade cable/DSL internet connection • Varying technical constraints • Prioritize lecture video presentation from volunteer to classroom • Minimize 1:1 interactions if suffering bandwidth sluggishness • Fluctuating video and audio quality with poor bandwidth(If having bandwidth problems, first kill video, then try audio through a phone instead) • Request school district IT to prioritize packets for period zero class or throttle others

11. Students • It’s important to make sure the students recognize you’re in charge of the class, even if you’re not physically present • Visit in person as soon as possible • Learn names ASAP • Students trust you more once they know you know who they are • Make sure your face is visible, even when you’re using PowerPoint(Make "eye contact", which means looking into the camera when possible) • Track the position and status of each student • Remoteness increases disconnection and miscommunication • Call on students constantly so they know you’re watching • Establish a clear procedure for HOW you know which students need attention • Establish a presence in the class

12. Best practices • Use interactive activities • More difficult to set up and organize remotely • However, VASTLY improved retention for students • For example, have students act out parts in nested for loops • Use visuals as much as possible • Bullet points on PPT are easy to create and teach • Their retention is not nearly as good as a good visual • Can use whiteboard for impromptu discussion • Structured PPT animations for more detailed visuals • Be prepared to repeat yourself • In addition to difficulty understanding the material, extra layer of miscommunication via the remote connection

13. Lessons Learned From LCHS • Harder to tell when a student is disengaging from the class • Slow computers? Students log-in before lecture. Turn on before class starts • Clearly specify technology practices. Make them habits • No commute time to rehash the day, so recap on Lync after class • Only use “this” and “that” when you can visually indicate • Software upgrades will cause problems

14. Support • remotehelp@tealsk12.org Resources • Video Conferencing with Microsoft Lync • YouTube • Product Page • Hardware • Logitech BCC950 ConferenceCam • Cloud-Controlled Remote for BCC950 • Microsoft LifeChat LX-3000 Headset • Microsoft LifeCam Webcams • Wacom Intuos Pen Tablet ORMicrosoft Surface Pro 2 • Services • http://portal.microsoftonline.com • https://sched.lync.com

15. Lync Setup Remote Teaching in Action

16. Provisioning TEALS Create LYNC Accounts • Format = {firstname}{lastname}@TEALS.onmicrosoft.com • Initial Password = unique for each volunteer • Display Name: 2014 TEALS {role} at {assigned HS} ({firstname}.{lastname}) VOLUNTEERS • Login @ http://portal.microsoftonline.com • Update Password • Install Client • Schedule Lectures https://sched.lync.com STUDENTS • Client download required • Web client to unique sessions per volunteer • Optional SKYPE with limitations

17. Sign In and change your password

18. Download Lync 2013 Client, sign in

19. Schedule Lectures

20. Lync Licenses • Generated for all volunteers • Assign main session a specific session link • Assign each student to a specific session link • Configure recurring meeting for the school year to ensure links don’t expire • Add session link to class page where students and staff can access and link

21. Diagnostics • MAC OS • LWAPluginInstaller.PKG June 4, 2014 • General • Override Video Device Settings • Detach docked video pane to size for class viewing • Toggle displays with “Manage Presentable Content”

22. Remote Teaching in Action

27. Travel

28. Travel • Remote teams can visit class rooms twice a semester • Teachers can visit class a maximum of twice a semester • TAs can visit class a maximum of once a semester • Recommended visits is 3rd-4th and 9th-10th week after start of semester • Coordinate classroom visits with classroom teacher and school building administrators in advance to arrange entry, expectations, etc. • Budget allocated for flight, hotel, car rental, and meal allowance only • Send travel plans to regional manager to obtain direct bill reimbursement authorization

29. Travel Reimbursement • MSFT Employees • Schedule travel through internal sitehttps://www.concursolutions.com/travelhome.asp • Expense trip through internal http://msexpense • Use TEALS I/O code: 1396213 • Non MSFT Employees • Direct Bill established for flight and auto rental only • Must obtain travel authorization from Regional Manager using http://trips/directBill/ • Once approved, Regional Manager submits travel request using http://trips/directBillTravel/ • Volunteers must submit travel reimbursement invoice after trip, include scanned original receipts • All original receipts must be kept throughout trip; no exceptions; expenses denied without receipts • Budget limited to hotel $150/day; meals $75/day; mileage $0.56/mile

30. Appendix