Far-reaching Impact

The proposed videoconferencing project is itself a model encouraging others to emulate the successful strategies that this venture will develop.  Thus, its ultimate impact will extend far beyond the scope of activities proposed for funding.

The potential range of partnerships among educational organizations, non-profit agencies, and others who could benefit from this project is almost unlimited, because nearly all contemporary organizations have needs for communication that could be met via multimedia videoconferencing.

Project Goals and Objectives

This project helps fulfill several goals of XYZ by responding directly to achievement of the following aims:

1.        This project is readily replicable elsewhere, and in fact is forecast to be emulated by many other organizations of the cost-effectiveness it provides for meeting and training.

2.        This project will serve to impart knowledge and skills as it meets a demonstrated need for staff training and conference services.

3.        The proposed project promotes effective use of the telecommunications infrastructure by demonstrating at widespread locations the value and quality associated with current technology.

4.        The proposed project will inform educators, students, and academic institutions about the application of advanced technologies by providing model sites where this technology may be used, inspected, and observed. 

The first objective is for XYZ to join with 12 other Christian and non-profit educational agencies to provide training for staff and students.  This includes 500 hours of training per year for distance education.  These training and activities will be recorded in activities log, signed in, and participant clockhours.  The second objective of this project is to provide 12 advanced courses for students around the country. 

Through our supplementary services, we provide medical care, orthopedic aids, and training for 99,000 orthopedic, polio, and leprosy patients.  We extend nurturing support to 12,900 mentally disabled and multi-handicapped people as we provide counseling through our Loving Support Network.

Project Description

Conduct Research and Experimentation

Following successful testing of the newly acquired videoconferencing technology, the first year will be devoted to research and experimentation with varied formats, a range of multimedia tools, and networking designs for conference events.  Project manager will make a special effort to vary the schedules and types of activities for participants, integrate documents within videoconferences for collaborative review to facilitate the project’s replication elsewhere as successful implementation is demonstrated.  At the conclusion of the proposed project, a detailed report of its results and recommendations will be published in print and on our website for the benefit of interested schools.

Cross-Disciplinary Teamwork and Training

The proposed project will help to build a sense of teamwork among all staff because of its cross-disciplinary nature.  Project activities also will build teamwork among staff from other educational agencies.  This teamwork will set a foundation and establish a climate that will preserve the integrity of the project design and will help to assure success of the videoconferencing service.  Staff training and development will be significantly facilitated when compressed videoconferencing equipment becomes available.  First, all appropriate personnel will be trained to utilize the conference facilities then those who will be workshop presenters and meeting leaders will hone their skills to adapt their techniques to the advantages of the video medium.  Finally, the circle of trained users will be widened to encompass visitors to our demonstration sites who will be able to operate most of the equipment by themselves after a reasonable period of training and experience, without assistance from professional engineering staff.

Professional Development

Today the State of Texas faces the challenge of training and staff development, which cannot be achieved rapidly and cost-effectively through in-service events, presented in traditional settings.  The proposed videoconferencing project represents a promising two-fold strategy that exhibits technology at work while simultaneously training teachers and staff in basic skills for utilization of the technology being demonstrated.  Videoconferencing technology will help to move educators and staff toward familiarity and comfort with telecommunications through demonstration and application of videoconferencing, exposing them to a broad array of instructional opportunities that are impossible to deliver to their students by any other cost-effective means.

Live Interactive Network Classroom

The videoconferencing laboratory will be used as an alternative to costly, time-consuming face-to-face teaching and live interactive classroom sections.  The videoconferencing equipment described will enable XYZ and PCS to offer facilities for long-distance interactive work groups in the education field, whose members can work together simultaneously at several locations utilizing a variety of media sources.  Videoconferencing will enable academic institutions to provide courses through regional education networks as well as compressed video sites.  In addition, videoconferencing will enable XYZ and Christian schools and college to receive training courses from other educational institutions through the live interactive network classroom.