The biggest classroom in the world
XMA's video conferencing solution 'punches holes through classroom walls' in Birmingham
Pupils in Birmingham schools are now able to have lessons together with children sitting in classrooms across the world, thanks to a unique solution from XMA.
The video conferencing project, which was funded by the Excellence in Cities scheme and supported by Birmingham EdIT, involved the installation of equipment in 75 schools and the configuration of 6 City Learning Centres.
The project consisted of firstly upgrading the Birmingham Grid for Learning core network infrastructure with the addition of a video conference gateway, video conference gatekeeper and a multi-point conference unit into the network. The existing resilient core switch network, based on Cisco 5500 core switches and Cisco 7200 Series routers were upgraded to provide quality of service for multimedia network traffic.
At the 75 schools, a Cisco 2620 router and 2950 switch provides quality of service network connectivity back into the Birmingham Grid for Learning, allowing each school to gain access to BGfL's extensive learning resources and internet connectivity. Using a Polyspan view station SP128 at each school, high quality video conferencing is possible from school to school, school to CLC and worldwide. This is a twoway facility, giving any educational establishment with VC capabilities the
opportunity to communicate with any of the 75 schools or 6 CLC's.As the biggest private VC network in the country currently, the BGfL project has the ability to deliver the promise that video conferencing can expand pupils' minds out of the four walls of the classroom and help to change their perspective on life by experiencing different attitudes and cultures.
Geoff Turrell, Director of ATHENA in Birmingham, believes that the technology opens up countless new educational opportunities: "With video conferencing, teachers and pupils can join in with educational activities over vast distances, interacting with schools, museums and other education providers throughout the world. The possibilities of opening up a corridor from one classroom; one staff room; one school to another. What new and powerful educational tools does this give us?"
Schools in Birmingham are already working together on joint projects such as remotely operating a computer controlled train set. From their schools, children can view the train set through the video conferencing equipment and can write the control programs for moving the trains, collecting passengers and changing the rolling stock and signals. There are also numeracy and literacy lessons that are being broadcast to the Birmingham schools on a weekly basis and plans are afoot to broadcast an interactive soap opera in March, where the children can write scripts and actually take part in the soap!
"Video conferencing will play a big part in education in the future," adds John Blankley from XMA. "It means that children and teachers can make contact with establishments throughout the world to enrich the educational experience."