Oaks Park High School use Video Conferencing (VC) to promote reading for pleasure
Oaks Park High School (OPHS), in the London borough of Redbridge, has been using video conferencing to host children’s author events, allowing its local primary and secondary schools to take part in and promote reading for pleasure. OPHS is a National Janet (UK) award-winning school (2012) for its exemplar use of VC in teaching and learning.
Linda Hayes, Learning Resource Centre Manager at OPHS, has been organising authors to attend her school. She has used a secure and interoperable VC connection, using JVCS (Janet VC Services) booking, and AVer ClassHD. This has enabled the school to connect to other local schools all using VC hardware and share author costs.
Conrad Mason, a children’s author who took part in his first multipoint VC on November 13th, said “The quality of audio and video was excellent, which was great for me to experience because I was able to speak and interact clearly with five schools at once, without having to travel to each of them. It saved me a lot of time and is something I would definitely like to do again.”
Year eight pupils at OPHS school who have taken part in VC sessions, meeting a number of authors including Michael Morpurgo, Anthony Horowitz, Anne Cassidy and Sally Gardner, said “Video conferencing is a great way to meet the authors of books you read and find out about why they wrote the book and ask them questions. Meeting the authors by video conference lets you meet other schools too, and hear what other pupils from other schools think.”
Authors can cost up to £350.00 per half-day to visit a school, though some do offer promotional sessions through their publishers which are at a lower cost or free. OPHS were able to share the cost of one author with four other schools. Manford Primary School, Redbridge Primary, Ilford County High School, and Highlands Primary were all able to meet Conrad Mason and ask him questions about writing, his books and his career. OPHS has connected with over 10 authors over the past year and each time they have been able to share costs with three or four other schools – an excellent way to save money and bring experts into multiple classrooms.
Linda Hayes said “Reading for pleasure is proven to raise a child’s reading level far quicker than just reading to learn. This is why the Redbridge VC Network was established and we are now aiming to bring authors into our classrooms through secure multipoint conference calls on a regular basis using AVer ClassHD. At OPHS we have used a number of different VC hardware products and have found AVer ClassHD to be easily comparable system to other, more expensive units.”
Benefits to the Curriculum:
Encouraging reading for pleasure – what are the benefits?
- Children who say they enjoy reading for pleasure are more likely to score well on reading assessments compared to pupils who said they enjoyed reading less
- There is evidence to show that reading for pleasure is a more important determinant of a child’s educational success than their family’s socio-economic status
- It can have a positive impact on pupils’ emotional and social behaviour
- It can have a positive impact on text comprehension and grammar
What OPHS did to connect to share authors with local schools
The school wanted to video conference using a secure, interoperable, high-quality video link – one that they could use regularly and reliably to connect with schools locally to bring experts (authors) into classrooms. The solution had to meet safeguarding regulations and offer high-quality audio and video for speaking and listening.
1. They used an affordable VC codec (for the cost of only three iPads) – the AVer ClassHD
2. With installation support from AVer and the school’s IT unit, the school installed the hardware quickly and easily on their network
3. With support from VCfL (Video Conferencing for Learning), the school registered with Janet VC services and booked conferences to local schools via JVCS booking system
4. OPHS contacted publishers and arranged for authors to attend their school
5. OPHS were able to share the costs of authors with other participating schools
What your school needs to connect securely to other schools via video conference
1. VC hardware – affordable, secure and providing a high-quality, reliable connection (see AVer ClassHD from VCfL)
2. A broadband connection that supports VC (see DfE guidelines)
3. Registration on JVCS
Useful links/ Contacts
Janet VC Services: www.ja.net/video
DfE Broadband Guidelines for VC: http://media.education.gov.uk/assets/files/pdf/w/school%20broadband.pdf
AVer ClassHD from Video Conferencing for Learning: www.vcfl.net
Aver Information Inc: www.aver.com
AVer ClassHD: www.AVer ClassHD
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About AVer
AVer Information Inc. is a global provider of video surveillance, presentation and HD video conferencing solutions that integrate video & audio technology, electronics, optics, software applications and industrial design capabilities. AVer, an international award-winner, has become a successful creator of smart solutions for enterprise and education by aiming to satisfy the design concepts of clients through technological innovation and quality excellence. The company promotes one single goal for all three of its divisions: to provide efficient and easy-to-use solutions that incorporate the latest technologies and exceed the basic needs, requirements and expectations of customers in the business and education sectors. AVer has already carved out leading positions in the global marketplace for its presentation and video surveillance divisions, and the company is rapidly increasing the global market share of its recently introduced HD video conferencing division.
For further information on AVer’s Visualiser, Video Conferencing and Surveillance products, please visit www.aver.com/uk.