Video conferencing allows for two-way video and audio communication between multiple locations. It can be used to deliver high-quality teaching and learning, enable collaborative learning across distances, and provide live support for remote students. Key benefits include maintaining focus through video and non-verbal communication cues, breaking down cultural barriers, and streamlining meetings. However, video conferencing also faces limitations such as high setup costs, technical issues, lack of in-person interaction, and constraints on group sizes. The University of Alaska uses video conferencing to facilitate thesis defenses, e-learning, interviews, accessing outside expertise, and collaborating with other institutions and worldwide sites.

1. Sultan Qaboos University
Collage of education
Instructional and technology department
My name: Mariya Mohammed Albakri
ID: 92465
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2. Definition of video conferencing:
Videoconferencing is a set of telecommunicationtechnologies which allow two or more locations
to communicate by simultaneous two-way video and audio transmissions. It has also been called
'visual collaboration' and is a type of groupware.
Objectives of using the video conferencing in DE:
- Assist the teacher to deliver high quality of teaching and learning.
-Open up possibilities of collaborative learning and teaching to make best use of recourses.
-Provide live support for students at remote sites.
-Give access to expertise not available within the institution.
Features of video conferencing:
1. Increased focus: Video draws people in, keeps their attention, and promotes instantaneous,
impromptu interactions.
2. Full communication: Albert Mehrabian, professor emeritus of psychology at UCLA and a top
researcher on the importance of body language in communication, found that words alone account
for only 7 percent of the communication of attitudes and feelings. Tone of voice accounts for 38
percent, and facial expressions another 55 percent.
3. Break down cultural barriers: Video conferencing can remove barriers to cross-cultural
communications, helping with dialect, accent, and cadence of speech.
4. Find talent: video conferencing to interview talent from around the world.
5. Shorten meetings: Video meetings tend to be more to the point—like a quick standup meeting—
instead of a more formal conference call."
6. Improve team cohesion: Video provides immediacy to collaboration that’s focused and drives
faster results.
Advantages of video conferencing:
- Allows everyone to meet at the same time regardless of the time zone without a penny spent on
travel
-it is easier to have interactive communications between teacher to teacher, teacher to classroom, or
classroom to classroom with students in different places.
-groups of students from different parts of the world can work as a team and share more ideas with
one another.
-Field trips out of the country
-Visitors - virtual live interactions
-Sharing Information is Easy

3. -Facilitates Long-distance Programs
Limitations of video conferencing:
✘High Price
✘Limited to a certain number of users at the same time (depending on the system/program you use
✘Audio quality with large groups
✘ Technical Problems: The major disadvantages are the technical difficulties associated with
smooth transmissions that could result from software, hardware or network failure. Remote
connections are sometimes known to be hampered by environmental changes. On some occasions,
the absence of technical support personnel creates difficulty for participants who are unfamiliar
with the videoconferencing technological concepts
✘ Lack of Personal Interaction
Another major drawback is the lack of personal interaction, that sets the tone for many business
meetings in highly cultural societies. A handshake and an eye contact are essential aspects of many
business meetings. Some meetings require a personal touch to be successful.
✘ High Cost of Setup
setting up video conferencing in an office can be a bit expensive for small-sized companies. Simple
features can fit into the budget, but if advanced features are required, and then a substantial amount
of expenditure must be done.
How this technology is used to deliver and support learning:
- Videoconferencing is an exciting technology for education. Teachers and students are able to see
each other, share documents and discuss topics together in a situation similar to a traditional
classroom setting. The main difference being that the teachers and the students may be in different
states or even countries.
-Many schools are currently using videoconferencing systems for a variety of purposes, including:
Traditional courses.
Connecting with guest speakers and experts.
Multi-school project collaboration.
Enabling teachers to share information and team-up with teachers in remote sites.
Virtual field trips to museums, zoos, aquariums, institutions and other interesting locations
that are geographically distant from the school.
-Video Conferencing facilitates learning by allowing remote or distant learners to meet regardless
of their location.

4. - Students can take classes at multiple universities. In essence classes that are not available at one
location may be available at another through Videoconferencing.
- Videoconferencing can also benefit nontraditional students who are not able to attend classes
during normal hours.
Concerns raised by researchers and distance students/tutors about this technology:
-The development concernsabout multilingual proceedings, meaning that there is a need to integrate
interpreters into such video links.
-A recommendation from a number of studies is that tutors and students should meet face-to face at
least once before lectures/tutorials via video conferencing begin
-Tutors also report that video conferencing requires much greater levels concentration thanface-toface teaching
-How do they deal with remote students who say that they feel isolated from the rest of the class?
Provide some case studies/examples:
University of Alaska:
OIT's Video Conferencing Services group (OIT/VCS), manages the University of Alaska's system
wide video conferencing network, which allows conferencing hardware and software systems to
communicate and collaborate using voice, video, and content. Some examples of how video
conferencing may be of use to you are; thesis defenses, e-learning, interviews, alternative expertise,
and collaboration with other institutions. OIT/VCS can bridge you to health organizations, state and
federal governments, K-12 institutions, universities and other video sites around the world. With
connectivity to statewide, nationwide, and worldwide conferencing locations, OIT/VCS are
available to help you meet your goals.
The reference:
http://lerablog.org/business/it/where-is-video-conferencing-used
http://insights.wired.com/profiles/blogs/7-reasons-top-tech-teams-are-flocking-to-videoconferencing
http://www.video-conferencing-guide.org/benefits-of-video-conferencing.html

5. http://www.video-conferencing-guide.org/disadvantages-of-video-conferencing.html
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-video-conferencing.html
http://picturephone.com/learn/uses.html
http://www.alaska.edu/oit/services/video-conferencing