Video Satellite Communication

A

A021


Résumé, summary

An overview of the activities within the last three years: During the International Space Year 1992 a number of activities were organised in Britain to promote the awareness of the impact of space activities on our society. Among these were Schools Satellite Links between the UK and Europe, namely France and Austria. The aim of the satellite video conferences is to demonstrate the wide, day to day use of satellites, to demonstrate how their use will continue to increase, and to show how to communicate on a global scale. The technology involved in "video conferencing" allows meetings to be conducted as if both parties were in the same room. Slides and videos can be shown and charts can be presented to give visual information during the presentation of the topic. Conversation is conducted with the help of microphones placed on the table in front of the pupils, with only a very short time-delay detracting from the "same room" impression. As Matra Marconi with its main transmission centres in Portsmouth, Stevenage and Toulouse have been cooperating with the University of Technology in Graz before, the British project manager looked for a school near the Styrian capital which would accept the challenge of using modern technology. So, the first Austrian partners to be linked were from Hauptschule I in Birkfeld. The main difficulties in Birkfeld concerned the topic, "Environmental Issues" in view of a large age and language gap since Austrian students in their second year of English were to communicate with British 14-year-olds, dealing with alternative energy, litter disposal and forests affected by air pollution. However, the video conference turned out to be a natural starting point for the use of English as medium of instruction. Following the outlines of a working party at the Centre for School development in Graz, appropriate parts of the curriculum had to be selected, the language used had to be simplified without losing the core message of the topic. This work could only be done with the help of a foreign language assistant. After only six weeks of preparation the first transmission successfully took place in November 1992. The link did not only help to inform both parties about environmental problems but also covered parts of the new National Curriculum especially the European dimension. Publicity surrounding the link up aroused interest and several more schools got involved. The project is supported by the Ministry of Education (Department V/12) and the Styrian Schoolboard. In spring 1993 the project was officially established at thecentre for School Dvelopment, Dept. III, in Graz. July 1995 marks the end of the project. 1

Discipline, subject :

anglais Englisch English Inglese telematics télématique english language

Public :

enseignement spécialisé Sonderschulen specialized training insegnamento speziale cycle d'orientation Sek I, BWK lower high school ciclo d'orientamento postobligatoire Weiterführende Schulen upper high school postobligatorio

Contacts :

Pojer, Wolfgang

Hans-Sachs-Gasse 3
A-8010
GRAZ

Tel : 43/316-824150
Mail :
Fax : 43/316-824150-6


Pédagogie, pedagogy :

The Centre for School Development has been promoting all kinds of innovations in education within Austria. The division for modern languages in particular deals with languages focussing on methodology and didactics. Modern technology is constantly opening new ways of communication which will be part of young people's future. Teaching institutions have to prepare their students for a global exchange of information and experiences. Austria's recent entry into the EU necessitates an increasing awareness of the European dimension on the side of the growing generation. The current trend towards a growing united Europe makes it even more important for young people to adopt an "European" outlook. It is therefore of great interest to develop and encourage international partnerships and exchanges. When Britain offered a regular link with Austrian schools via satellite the Centre for School Development accepted to act as a coordinator on the Austrian side in a project including various types of schools within the Graz area.

Apprentissage, learning :

Using modern technology, namely "video conferencing", Austrian children can be shown the importance of English as an international means of communication. Pupils find it highly motivating to converse with their British counterparts and are interested in the exchange of information, putting a lot of effort into the preparation of the topic selected. In this preparation English functions as the medium of instruction, a fact which later enables the students to communicate effectively on ecological , historical or geographical issues .

Enseignement, teaching :

Once they have agreed to take part in a video conference pupils need not be pushed to work. On the contrary, the pupils display high level of interest, motivation and even excitement at the prospect of a satellite link-up. As the outcome is not subject to any assessment, teachers can take the project as an opportunity to offer student-centred teaching during preparation and to benefit fully from the enthusiasm of the pupils.

Technique :

The technology involved in "video conferencing" allows meetings to be conducted as if both parties were in the same room. Slides and videos can be shown and charts can be presented as visual stimuli during the presentation of the topic. Conversation is conducted with the help of microphones placed on the table in front of the pupils, with only a very short time-delay detracting from the "same room" impression. A video conference requires high tech equipment which can only be found at particular places. The ground stations in Britain are situated in Portsmouth and Stevenage, the one in Austria is at the University of Technology in Graz.

Société, society :

A valuable experience which is both rewarding and long lasting as it helps to strengthen both teacher/pupil and teacher/teacher relationships.

Culture :

After the presentation of their chosen topic (e.g. tourism) the students are given the chance to communicate on a more informal level. Mostly they are interested in hobbies, fashion and sports as these are topics both familiar to them linguistically and also close to their hearts. The value of speaking "freely" in this way with children from another country is immeasurable. Some conferences have even dealt with cultural issues such as "British and Austrian traditions and customs at Christmas time". The importance of such issues should not be underestimated as the children on both sides learn to appreciate, understand or at least tolerate traditions and lifestyles which are foreign to them. In this way, an important step can be taken in breaking down prejudices and preconceived ideas.

Institution :

The Austrian side of the project was entirely coordinated by two employees of the Centre for School Development who organized staff meetings, booked satellite times in accordance with the English coordinator, and kept in touch with all institutions and teachers involved. In addition, they were in charge of the management of the transmissions and produced a written documentary and a videofilm about the project.

Logistique :

The project was supported and funded by the Ministry of Education and Cultural Affairs, section V/12 . As the satellite transmission itself was free of charge by courtesy of Matra Marconi, Portsmouth, only the cost for the studio and technical staff and of the transport of the pupils to the site had to be covered.

Remarques, remarks :

In spite of initial difficulties, the project proved a great success and was extended to a two year programme. It helped to improve already existing partnerships between Austrian and British schools and to establish new ones. Most of the participants ("players") visited each other in the last two years. Further contacts will not be restricted to transmissions via satellite but will also use traditional means of communication. An overview of the activities within the last three years: During the International Space Year 1992 a number of activities were organised in Britain to promote the awareness of the impact of space activities on our society. Among these were Schools Satellite Links between the UK and Europe, namely France and Austria. The aim of the satellite video conferences is to demonstrate the wide, day to day use of satellites, to demonstrate how their use will continue to increase, and to show how to communicate on a global scale. The technology involved in "video conferencing" allows meetings to be conducted as if both parties were in the same room. Slides and videos can be shown and charts can be presented to give visual information during the presentation of the topic. Conversation is conducted with the help of microphones placed on the table in front of the pupils, with only a very short time-delay detracting from the "same room" impression. As Matra Marconi with its main transmission centres in Portsmouth, Stevenage and Toulouse have been cooperating with the University of Technology in Graz before, the British project manager looked for a school near the Styrian capital which would accept the challenge of using modern technology. So, the first Austrian partners to be linked were from Hauptschule I in Birkfeld. The main difficulties in Birkfeld concerned the topic, "Environmental Issues" in view of a large age and language gap since Austrian students in their second year of English were to communicate with British 14-year-olds, dealing with alternative energy, litter disposal and forests affected by air pollution. However, the video conference turned out to be a natural starting point for the use of English as medium of instruction. Following the outlines of a working party at the Centre for School development in Graz, appropriate parts of the curriculum had to be selected, the language used had to be simplified without losing the core message of the topic. This work could only be done with the help of a foreign language assistant. After only six weeks of preparation the first transmission successfully took place in November 1992. The link did not only help to inform both parties about environmental problems but also covered parts of the new National Curriculum especially the European dimension. Publicity surrounding the link up aroused interest and several more schools got involved. The project is supported by the Ministry of Education (Department V/12) and the Styrian Schoolboard. In spring 1993 the project was officially established at thecentre for School Dvelopment, Dept. III, in Graz. July 1995 marks the end of the project. 1