[senco-forum] SEN and video conferencing

In a message dated 05/06/2006 17:26:42 GMT Standard Time,  
davidritchiewilson at btinternet.com writes:

It's no  use purchasing expensive equipment without defining first what
teaching and  learning problem you intend to solve via that hardware.
Videoconferencing  is a highly labour-intensive business and initial
enthusiasm among the  school's technophiles may well pall after a fortnight
unless a serious  educational application is found. A proper needs analysis
must be conducted  first, lots of research and development done to create
follow-up work and  to establish where videoconferencing integrates best into
the curriculum.  Never introduce any new technology into a school just for
its novelty  value.

Couldn't agree more. Time and agin I am asked "Should I buy him (her) a  
computer?" and I reply "It depends what you want it to do.

VC (video conferencing) will become increasingly available and  the  tech 
problems will decrease. But what could we do with this. We might be in a  
position to advise rather than be told. Not sure about the "problem to be  solved" 
bit; more a question of facilitation.

Martin