Sultanate of OmanSultan Qaboos university

Learning &teaching technology departmentTech4101

Nwal said alghfriU

082932

Videoconferencing

This new world of geographical togetherness has been brought about, to a great extent, by man's scientific and technological genius. Man has been able to dwarf distance, place time in chains and carve highways through the stratosphere.

Through our scientific genius, we have made the world a neighborhood”…

Video conferencing became one of the most popular technologies used in distance learning , videoconferencing is Video conferencing in its most basic form is the transmission of image (video) and speech (audio) back and forth between two or more physically separate locations.

Videoconferencing is a complex process which includes many components such as: Cameras (to capture and send video from your local endpoint), Video displays (to display video received from remote endpoints), Microphones (to capture and send audio from your local endpoint), Speakers (to play audio received from remote endpoints), Codec - "compressor/de-compressor“ - makes the audio/video data "small enough" to be practical for sending over expensive network connections. A codec takes analog signals, compresses and digitizes them, and transmits the signals over digital phone lines and finally The Supporting System and the Network Connection.

Videoconferencing is not only a video it could be a computer presentation, other mediaCDs, DVDs, Or ELMO visual presenter (hardcopies, photos)

Videoconferencing can be used in different fields and situation for example we can use it in Presentations, Virtual meetings, Videoconference-based learning, JIT (just in time) events, Recruitment/search committeesAnd General meetings, also we can use it in Project coordination, Informal work sessions, Alumni relations and Question and answer sessions.

Traditional videoconferencing was about audio-video communications to facilitate meetings without the burden of travel, but Visual collaboration is much more; it is the combination of audio and video and data in both real-time and store-and-forward applications, It’s not just about meetings anymore.

Videoconferencing Can improve work quality of learning, Increase productivity, Reduce costs, Improves communication, Groups can meet more frequently, Critical meetings can be convened in less time, More faculty and staff can be involved, Closely resembles traditional classroom-based education; permits learners to be active participants in the process, Faculty and staff needs can be met more quickly through just-in-time training, More faculty and staff can be trained faster without increasing training resources, Guest lecturers can be easily integrated into the course , Enables any site to be the provider of the learning activities, Videoconferencing is cost-effective, when you consider the traveling costs for traditional training, also Videoconference-based learning exploits the already acquired videoconferencing technologies and network infrastructure.

Videoconferencing is anew technology which has too many features helps learners & teachers to have a better learning environment , even though we should aware of the limitation of this technology which includes:

The initial cost of the equipment and leasing the lines to transmit conferences may be prohibitive

Unless a strong effort is made by the instructor, students not located with the instructor may remain uninvolved in the course.

If visuals, like handwritten or copied materials, are not properly prepared, students may have a difficult time reading them.

If the “pipe” that carries the transmission among sites is not large enough, the students may observe “ghost images” when rapid movement occurs in “real time”

If the system is not properly configured, class members may observe an audio “echo” effect. The result is audio interference that detracts from the learning environment.

The absence of QOS (Quality of Service) provides virtually no guarantee of a satisfying and successful experience.

Though the technology is improving, a successful videoconference is dependent upon the connections and technologies at all of the participating sites, AND the network infrastructure

Security issues

A videoconferencing-based learning strategy aims to: Establish Class Expectations

• It ain’t MTV• At the begging of the session, prepare the preparing learners for

an active experience Reduce Distractions

Engage Students with Variety and Interaction

Encourage Dialogue

Using videoconferencing in Open University in UK is something becomes important as instructional tool.In Open University there courses are uploaded within the website using several types of delivery system including videoconferencing , they use this technology within there website for many reasons but over all they try to deliver there learning materials to learners as easy as possible and enhancing communication and interaction among participants.