Brian Abeling   
Pekin District 108   
Pekin, Illinois  

Produced by Zydacron Inc., the On WAN is a video conferencing system that allows user to communicate through 2-way interactive video.  Users can also share their computer screen, applications, and files between the two locations.  It operates at the H.320 conferencing standard and needs to be connected to an ISDN line. 

Why not just use something like Microsoft's NetMeeting?  It's true that NetMeeting (version 3) can accomplish the same exact tasks as the Zydacron system.  However, the deciding factor is the quality of the video.  While evaluating video conference systems for our district, we found the running NetMeeting across the Internet (which is known as H.323 standard) can only produce quarter screen video and found that the video and the sound have a tendency to fall 'out of sync'.  With these types of problems, we felt that using the Internet for video conferencing would be too frustrating for teachers and students.

The cost for an On WAN system ranges from $4000 to $8000.  In addition, you also need a computer in which to install the system.  The machine needs to have 2 open PCI slots, at least 32Mb of RAM and 50 Mb of free space on the hard drive.  In addition, each user needs to have an ISDN connection.

Our district currently has only one Zydacron system.  It was installed this past spring and so far it has been used for only administrative and tech support calls.  However, next fall we are establishing several junior high classrooms that will be involved in a several national projects (Congress in the Classroom and Multimedia Thinking Skills) in which students will interact with experts located across the country.  By installing one Zydacron system in each of these rooms and connecting the IDSN line to our WAN, we will enable our classrooms with the capability to video conference with those experts.
 
 

Video Access Node (VaN)
First Virtual Corporation

A step up from the Zydacron system, the VaN operates at the H.310 standard which is the best quality video conferencing on the market.  Of course, in order to produce this, there are many requirements.  The system only runs on an ATM networks that support at least 25Mb/s.  In addition, the VaN can only conference with comparable VaN systems on an ATM network. 

The cost of the VaN is also extremely high - $35,000.  However, this system does not require any specialized telephone lines or connections other than the current computer network that you are using.  The system is extremely easy to use with its simple hand held remote which can zoom in, zoom out, and can either control your camera or the remote camera.  In addition, the VaN has the capability of recording your video conference to the network server for play back at a later time. 

At this time, our district has four VaNs, one placed at each intermediate and junior high school.  During the past school year, our teachers were only able to conference with the other VaNs located in our district.  However, because of our network expansion plans we will be providing the additional conferencing locations during the next school year.  Through the civicNET project, we will provide video conferencing capabilities to Illinois Central College and 9 other school districts in our county.  We are also building a connection with Illinois State University for the purpose of developing distance learning applications for their undergraduate and graduate education programs.  In addition, we are planning a link to the local Air National Guard Base in Peoria which is connected to all the other National Guard bases in the country.  Hopefully, within the next year we will be able to provide our teachers with approximately 130 more locations for video conferencing through the VaNs.

The following is a list of possibilities that video conferencing will open up for our teachers and students…..
 

• Through the civicNET plan our students and teachers will be able to enroll in distance learning classes at Illinois Central College.
• Connections to our neighboring school districts will allow our students and teachers to both share and collaborate on various projects.
• Connections to Illinois State University will allow our staff to enroll in graduate level distance learning classes with out traveling outside of Pekin.  In addition, ISU will be able to interact with the many student teachers that they place in our district.   The video conferencing will also be used by undergraduate instructors who will provide a live and interactive look into our classrooms during undergraduate education courses.

SmartBoard
Smart Technologies

The SmartBoard is perhaps one of the hottest presentation tools available.  In its most basic form, it simply acts like a large touch screen.  Your computer must be connected to both a video projector and the SmartBoard.  Instead of having to be at the keyboard to control the computer during a presentation, you can choose to be either at the keyboard or next to the SmartBoard where the presentation is being projected.  From the SmartBoard, the user can control the mouse, left and right mouse click functions, and the keyboard of the computer.  In addition, three markers and an eraser are available for adding your own drawings or notes on the SmartBoard which will also be recorded back on to your computer screen.  For example, while working through a brainstorming activity, a teacher can use the board to record notes that could be viewed by the students and recorded to the computer at the same time.

The cost of the SmartBoard varies depending on the size of the board purchased.  The range varies from $2000 to $8000.  However, not included in the cost is computer and video projector needed.  Currently, our district has only one SmartBoard which is primarily used for staff development.  At this time we are not likely to implement this technology into our classrooms until the price comes down.