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| What courses does SVETN offer? |
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| What kinds of classes can be offered in an interactive TV classroom? |
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| Can we get ITV classes from schools other than those within our school division? |
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| If we are scheduled for a class from another school in our own division, but none of our students opt for it are we still locked in to that class? |
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| Can high schools get classes from colleges through SVETN? |
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| How do I find out what classes are available from other schools? |
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| Whom do I contact about a high school class we would like to receive or transmit? |
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| How many sites can be involved in an ITV class at any one time? |
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| What are the advantages of making an IP connection? |
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| Are there disadvantages to using an IP connection? |
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| Must schools provide proctors for classes they receive from other sites? |
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| Are high school classes scheduled as block or single-period? Colleges? |
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| What should we do when our usual schedule unexpectedly is altered? |
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| How do teachers handle altered schedules (club meetings, pep rallies, etc.) involving only one of the schools in an ITV class? |
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| What should we do if we are having technical problems during a class? |
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| How do distant students receive their grades? |
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| Are grades based on the grading scale of the school from which the class originates? |
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| When I am in an SVETN televised class, who can see me? |
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| What if I’m concerned with my privacy? |
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| Can we always connect to any of the SVETN partners? |
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| Can we schedule meetings within our school division using our SVETN sites? |
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| Can students and teachers use the ITV classroom during times other than their scheduled class times? |
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| Can our SVETN classroom be used for staff development activities? |
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| Can community groups use SVETN? |
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| How can a teacher learn to use the ITV equipment? |
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| What is Elite Learning? |
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| What is the contact information for SVETN? |
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| What is a MCU? |
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 What courses does SVETN offer? |
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 The short answer is none. SVETN facilitates the sharing of classes by the network partners. SVETN brokers information about proposed and actual classes the partners may offer and assists teachers to prepare and teach ITV and web-based classes. Schedule decisions are made by the schools and colleges. SVETN does produce teacher development workshops from time to time during each school year.
Related Link: www.svetn.org/classSchedules.asp |
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| What kinds of classes can be offered in an interactive TV classroom? |
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| Any subject can be taught through interactive television. While teaching certain courses may be more challenging than others, any class can be successfully delivered using SVETN classrooms.
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| Can we get ITV classes from schools other than those within our school division? |
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| Yes, that’s the main idea. SVETN sites currently include forty-three high schools, middle schools and career centers in twelve counties and the city of Norton. Four community colleges, Bluefield College, the Higher Education Center and UVA's College at Wise also have ITV classrooms. Your classroom can be connected to any 4 of these locations at almost any time.
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| If we are scheduled for a class from another school in our own division, but none of our students opt for it are we still locked in to that class? |
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| No, you are not locked in. The schedule can be altered to accommodate any new arrangements you might choose to serve the needs of your students.
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| Can high schools get classes from colleges through SVETN? |
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Yes, college classes are available by prior arrangement. A class taught from the SVETN classroom on a partner college campus may be linked to any four other sites. Classes also may originate from any one of the SVETN high schools using college faculty. Weekend and evening classes typically are offered to anyone who enrolls. Each term numerous college classes are available via SVETN including classes targeting teachers’ needs for professional development. SVETN classrooms can receive college classes from outside our region so long as they are transmitted by Internet protocol (H.323).
Related Link: www.svetn.org/classSchedules.asp |
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| How do I find out what classes are available from other schools? |
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Most of high schools begin by planning classes that meet specific needs within their division. These classes may be offered to schools in other divisions based on availability factors including overall number of students, matching schedules, and the number of sites already involved. To see classes now being shared by our partners, you may check the current schedule of SVETN classes on this website. Courses offered now are likely to be available in the future. To find out more about college classes, consult the college website.
Related Link: www.svetn.org/classSchedules.asp |
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| Whom do I contact about a high school class we would like to receive or transmit? |
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| Begin with your guidance counselor or principal. Or contact anyone at SVETN to discuss possible options. If your school has an unscheduled period/block available in its SVETN classroom and you desire to link with another school during that time, you may contact Dawn Hutton, SVETN program development coordinator.
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| How many sites can be involved in an ITV class at any one time? |
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| Routinely the maximum number of classrooms that can be linked with full interactivity at one time is five, although a class may be comprised of only two or three sites. Some IP-equipped (H.323) locations can handle many more than 5 sites given special arrangements. Interactivity is limited when more than 5 sites are connected.
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| What are the advantages of making an IP connection? |
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| Because the signals are transmitted over the Internet theoretically a distant site could be located anywhere in the world and not just within the SVETN region. It is always wise to test a previously unused connection several days in advance so as to correct technical problems should they occur.
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| Are there disadvantages to using an IP connection? |
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| An IP connection (H.323) requires a separate high speed (broadband) link to the Internet. Internet pictures and sound often are of lower quality, especially when displayed beside traditional SVETN signals. Occasionally IP connections disconnect unexpectedly because of an increase in competing Internet data traffic.
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| Must schools provide proctors for classes they receive from other sites? |
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| While the teacher is responsible for instruction, proctors provide a valuable service to both students and teachers. Many SVETN schools do provide full or part-time proctors for their ITV classes. These individuals record attendance, monitor behavior, send and receive materials either by courier, fax or email, handle some clerical duties, and disseminate information to students. They supervise tests and quizzes. The question of proctors is one best decided cooperatively between sending and receiving schools and determined in advance.
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| Are high school classes scheduled as block or single-period? Colleges? |
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| Class length and course calendars vary usually according to the schedule at the host site, that is, the school from which the class originates. Currently twenty-one SVETN high schools operate on a 4x4 block schedule. In 4x4 schools four classes begin in August and four different classes begin in January. Fourteen schools operate either 6- or 7-period days with classes running all year long. The remaining schools operate alternative schedules that combine aspects of the block and single-period schedules. College classes typically follow a M-W-F, TU-THR pattern.
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| What should we do when our usual schedule unexpectedly is altered? |
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| Schedule changes are not uncommon especially in winter. Prepare in advance. Announce beforehand what students are to do in the event you are unable to connect with them. Send alternate work assignments to each remote school for use in just such an instance. Be certain that an administrator has provided SVETN with a copy of your division’s or campus’s standard weather delay, early dismissal and exam schedules.
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| How do teachers handle altered schedules (club meetings, pep rallies, etc.) involving only one of the schools in an ITV class? |
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| Handling altered schedules varies with each class depending on the circumstances and the instructor. It is helpful to obtain copies of any information that might be useful in planning instruction, including calendars of special events, bell schedules, etc. from every site before the term begins. SVETN recommends that instructors continue with class when students at one school are not available due to altered schedules. Videotaping could provide students who have missed class with an opportunity to view the class later.
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| What should we do if we are having technical problems during a class? |
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| In the event of technical problems first consult your SVETN Building Facilitator. Learn the identity this individual before you teach your first class. He or she has been designated by your school or campus and trained to be responsible for the equipment and to serve as the contact person for SVETN. Help also may be found in the troubleshooting section of the equipment operating manuals. (A sentence is omitted here.) If you or the facilitator cannot correct the problem, please contact the SVETN technician whose numbers are posted in your classroom, or telephone the SVETN office.
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| How do distant students receive their grades? |
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| By prior arrangement, ITV instructors might send student grades either to the proctor or guidance department at the remote sites using mail (both USPO and intra-division), e-mail, or by fax. Grades for Elite Learning courses are e-mailed to the guidance department by SVETN. The instructor makes final determination of grades just as with on-site classes. SVETN recommends that instructors provide grades on the schedule of each school rather than on the schedule of the host school. SVETN further recommends that instructors provide only number grades allowing schools to convert the numbers to letter grades using their own grading scale. SVETN students and their parents should be made aware of grading policies at the beginning of the class just as in other classes.
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| Are grades based on the grading scale of the school from which the class originates? |
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| SVETN recommends that the grading scale of the student’s own school determine the letter grade since grading scales vary slightly among the SVETN partners.
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| When I am in an SVETN televised class, who can see me? |
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| IP connections are closed. Only the locations that have been “addressed” see one another. Students at the other participating sites will see on their monitors exactly what you see on the monitors at your site. If another site dials your location, whether purposefully or inadvertently, you will see a message on your connection monitor and you can reject the connection.
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| What if I’m concerned with my privacy? |
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| Privacy is an important concern for everyone. Each SVETN classroom is equipped with a video recorder than can in the course of instruction capture images and sound from any connected location. If your school does not require every teacher and student to sign a blanket consent to be recorded and photographed, this should be done specifically for ITV students, and in advance. See SVETN’s Survival Tips: A Handbook for Interactive Television Teaching for a sample form. Because distance learning is a fascinating and highly visible activity, what goes on in your ITV classroom often is an attractive subject for newspaper and TV news reports.
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| Can we always connect to any of the SVETN partners? |
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| The answer to this question is a qualified yes. Each classroom can link to any other IP-equipped location. However, not every site can receive a spontaneously initiated call, so advance preparation is advised. Firewalls in some school networks routinely block in-coming IP calls. Connections scheduled by TMS, the Tandberg Management System, are automatically routed so that a connection, if it is possible will be successful. The SVETN Video Bridge, or MCU, is a hardware device that can be used to overcome many connection problems.
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| Can we schedule meetings within our school division using our SVETN sites? |
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| Most definitely, yes. Schools can use the connection for conferences within their own division or with teachers and administrators in other schools. (Sentence deleted.) Ad hoc meetings before, during, and after school are encouraged by SVETN. This time provides a variety of opportunities for teachers, students, and even guests of the school or college who are members of your consstituencies. Teachers teaching in the same departments at different schools could meet to share ideas. Guidance counselors, principals, or others within schools may use SVETN facilities to confer with each other eliminating the necessity for time consuming travel.
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| Can students and teachers use the ITV classroom during times other than their scheduled class times? |
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| Teachers can use the SVETN classroom for meeting with students and/or parents at remote sites before or after school by scheduling connections with a phone call to SVETN offices. In addition, students can meet with their classmates at other sites for activities such as studying in groups, reviewing for tests, or planning class projects. An adult should initiate the schedule request.
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| Can our SVETN classroom be used for staff development activities? |
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| Unquestionably. School divisions can organize staff development activities among their own schools or in concert with other divisions for recertification activities. Colleges could be approached to provide needed courses.
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| Can community groups use SVETN? |
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SVETN encourages schools and colleges to open their classrooms for meetings to groups within the community, both public and private, whenever resources are available. This is an excellent public service and valuable community relations. SVETN recommends first making arrangements by contacting the colleges or schools and then asking one of the schools to schedule the network connections. A statement of the guidelines for non-partner access is available on this website.
Related Link: www.svetn.org/Usingnew.htm |
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| How can a teacher learn to use the ITV equipment? |
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| SVETN frequently conducts workshops to familiarize cohorts of teachers with the equipment they will encounter in an SVETN classroom. A teacher, who finds him/herself faced with teaching an interactive television class without the benefit of a workshop, should contact Dawn Hutton for the needed coaching. She will come to your school and provide training, as well as answer questions by phone or email. SVETN partners have at least one person on staff who can orient those unfamiliar with the equipment in the event an SVETN representative is not immediately available.
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| What is Elite Learning? |
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Elite Learning is a program of online courses for secondary students. The courses are home grown, developed and taught by teachers in our region, all courses are now offerd as dual enrollment. Currently, nine different advanced level courses, including three 6-hour and two 3-hour dual enrollment courses are available, with new courses added each year. The courses are asynchronous, that is, the students can do much of their work independently at a time or location most convenient to them wherever they have access to a high speed Internet connection. Use the link below to pursue more information.
Related Link: www.svetn.org/elite/ |
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| What is the contact information for SVETN? |
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| Address:
P.O. Box 1987
Abingdon, VA 24212
Fax: 276-628-9478
Phone: 276-619-4399
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| What is a MCU? |
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| SVETN’s Multipoint Control Unit sometimes is referred to as a bridge. It functions like a switchboard for video and audio. Each of its numerous ports has an IP address and the MCU will accept incoming calls. If Mrs. Smith’s unit won’t answer Mr. Jones, and vice versa, they instead arrange in advance to call the MCU and are connected indirectly. The MCU also is used when it is desirable to connect more than 5 sites. Instead of all locations being continuously present, only one site is seen at a time. The dominant site can be changed either manually by the instructor or the system can be set to switch automatically to the location with the prevailing audio.
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