Tameside LEA installed video conferencing equipment in nine local schools and buildings as part of a national pilot program. The next steps include: 1) Developing web resources to support schools' use of video conferencing and provide teacher training. 2) Setting up a video conferencing facility in a town hall and developing projects between pilot schools and other organizations. 3) Establishing centers of excellence for video conferencing at select schools.

1. Tameside LEA National Video Conferencing Services Pilot

2. The Pilot Group Tameside LEA have installed Video conferencing equipment in nine schools (six secondary, two primary and one special school.) Five Schools have the Polycom V500 units and four have the Polycom Via videos A via video VC unit has been installed at the council building so that testing of the equipment in schools can take place.

3. The Next Stages Develop web pages on the Schools’ Grid dedicated to providing information and supporting schools on video conferencing Deliver whole school presentations for the pilot schools on the potential of video conferencing to enhance the curriculum Provide training for teachers on how to video conference Produce how-to guides on video conferencing aimed at teachers. Set-up a bookable video conferencing facility at Dukinfield Town Hall

4. The Next Stages Develop projects and case studies with the pilot schools. Make other organisations aware of the potential of VC. (Libraries, learning centers, Portland Basin museum etc.) Identify enthusiastic teachers and train them to be leading practitioners in using VC in the classroom. These teachers could lead training sessions for other schools and promote the use of video conferencing across Tameside. Establish Tameside ‘centers of excellence’ for video conferencing at a secondary and primary school. (Ultimately VC will be driven by the schools)

5. Website and VLE Explanation of what VC is and what schools need to do to start video conferencing over IP-including minimum requirements A guide to the Video conferencing units that schools can purchase with the benefits of each model together with a price list Examples of how video conferencing can enhance the curriculum Details of the ‘National Video Conferencing Services Pilot’ and the ‘JVCS’ Information on the likely call costs for ISDN calls An online form for schools to register their equipment so that it can be configured with Tameside’s gateway. Information on video conferencing in schools will be added to the Tameside’s Website and Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) These pages will include the following:

6. Website and VLE Good practice guide – Tips to consider when video conferencing in the classroom, e.g. room layout, quality of sound, practicalities of making a call, test call etc Information on the video conferencing facilities available to book at Dukinfield Town Hall Acceptable use policy and security issues Useful links (Global leap, museums etc) Write-up of successful video conferencing events/projects Information on video conferencing in schools will be added to the Tameside’s Website and Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) These pages will include the following:

7. Projects to be developed with the pilot schools Transition project between Mossley Hollins school and Linden Road Primary School for Yr6 and Yr7 Gifted and Talented pupils SEN project involving hearing impaired pupils at Hyde Technology School and Linden Road primary school. Longdendale Languages College to develop a MFL project with a school in Germany or France. This will tie in with their languages specialist status Pupils at Longdendale High School will have ICT revision lessons delivered via video conferencing by a leading ICT teacher A poetry reciting project organised by the English departments at Littlemoss High school and Alder community college.

8. Projects to be developed with the pilot schools A raising awareness of Islamic culture event between Stamford High school and Stalyhill Juniors where pupils at Stamford will explain ‘ A day in the life of a Muslim’ and answer questions raised by pupils at Stalyhill juniors. Aim Higher project to encourage kids to get into further education as part of the project the school will develop links to universities, businesses etc for mock interviews via video conferencing. All participating schools will be encouraged to book video conferencing events with museums/other content providers as a way of enhancing their curriculum delivery.