Videodidact-Select Options:
Help Buttons
The Videodidact Help Button option was designed for two reasons: 1) to give computer instructors the advantage of assisting students in need of help quickly and more efficiently 2) the ability for instructors to allow any student in the classroom to gain “screen access” to their monitor at anytime. Both of these functions operate literally at the push of a button. The Help Button option even enables you to eliminate the need of a projector in the classroom.
Scenario #1: If a student has a question during independent work time, they simply have to push the Videodidact Help Button that is located at their computer workstation. When this button is pushed, the instructor will hear a high-pitched tone from the Videodidact keyboard and will see a blinking green light showing the student that is requesting help. At this time, the instructor would then push the appropriate student key and proceed to remote control and key lock as necessary. The advantages of this feature is that each student may request help without turning attention to themselves as well as avoiding the distraction of the others around them.
Scenario #2: By pushing the Screen Access button on the Videodidact keyboard, as well as the appropriate student buttons, the instructor can allow any student to “toggle” between their screen and the teacher’s screen. For instance, an instructor could display questions to a quiz on their screen and enable the students to view these questions at anytime while allowing the them to “flip” back to their own screen in order to answer the questions. Students simply have to push the Help Button in order to “flip” between the instructor’s screen and their own as many times as necessary. During this “toggle” period, the student is limited only to viewing what they see on the teacher’s computer they are restricted from actually operating the teacher’s keyboard and mouse.
Remote Control
The instructor can remote control every computer in the classroom. For instance, if the instructor sees that a student has run into a problem and needs help, they can “jump” into the student’s screen and show them how to solve the problem. They can take control of that student’s computer from their own workstation at the front of the classroom by operating both mouse and keyboard. Instructors can assist students from their workstation like they would sit in front of the student’s computer. Most importantly, the instructor can remain at the front of the class and still keep an eye on the rest of the students.
The remote control feature gives instructors possibilities they have never had before. For instance, when the instructor sees that a student has run into a software problem they can use this problem instantly. By explaining this situation to the rest of the class as it happens, a instructor can help others avoid or even solve these problems in the future without having to waste time constantly repeating the steps every time the situation arises. The instructor simply needs to remote control the student with the problem and send his/her screen to the rest of the class and explain exactly how to avoid or solve this problem down the road. Ultimately, the instructor can take situations in everyday class life (that would otherwise be hard to recreate) and build off of them during their lessons.
Notebook Connection
The Notebook Connection of the Videodidact system, allows instructors to utilize a personal laptop hand-in-hand with the main system. By simply connecting one cable to the VGA port, an instructor may conduct a lesson using the programs running from the laptop. This feature is most useful if an instructor wants to develop a lesson outside of the classroom (e.g. Power Point presentations). Simply finish your work, connect the laptop to the VGA-cable, press the “Notebook” button located on the Videodidact keyboard, then send to all. Students will receive the signal from the laptop instantly and in real time as you conduct your lesson. Another useful way to use the Notebook Connection is to show educational DVD movies. Student computers do not require the ability to run DVD video. Just put the DVD into your laptop, press the “Notebook” button and send to all. Instantly, every student receives the movie as if it had been running from his or her own computer. Outside teachers just have to bring their Laptop and they are right away FULLY compatible with Videodidact. No software has to be loaded onto the instructors computer. No files have to be transferred from notebook to the instructors computer.
Projector Connection
The LCD / Projector option allows Videodidact users to incorporate a screen projector with the rest of the system’s main functions. This option allows the instructor to send either their screen or any student screen to the projector. In addition, while instructing a lesson a teacher can send their screen to the projector while simultaneously sending the screen to all the students. The key advantage in sending the screen to the students as well as the projector is that it allows for complete attention of all the students while also giving them a main display to look at. If the instructor were to only transmit their signal to the projector the students would have the freedom of surfing the Internet, checking their email, etc. Similarly, in the event that the instructor wants to use a student’s work as an example, they may send the student’s screen to the projector and/or to the rest of the class.
Advanced Projection System
The Advanced System has the capability to send the instructors screen as well as the Notebooks screen to the Projector LCD / Projector (like above projector connection) AND at the same time the instructor can monitor the Student’s work or help a individual without loosing / switching the screen on the LCD / Projector.
Video Link
The Video Link gives to instructors the flexibility of adding any hardware equipment with a “video out” signal (NTSC, Pal) to the Videodidact system. As with the other add-on features, the Video Link is very simple to use. This feature also allows instructors to utilize the technological teaching tools they have surrounding them more efficiently. In the past, instructors have chosen to use this option by connecting a variety of equipment such as
• Elmo projectors
• Digital microscopes
• DVD players
• VCR
After the video source has been installed onto the system, the instructor simply pushes the “Video Send” button on the Videodidact keyboard and then sends to all. Instantly, the students receive the signal in real time.
