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The Power of Video Collaboration in Education

Acknowledgements
Education Networks of America (ENA) sponsored and developed this white paper in
collaboration with Wainhouse Research. Alan D. Greenberg, Senior Analyst and Partner
with Wainhouse Research, served as principal analyst. Mr. Greenberg is an expert on distance
education and e-Learning, edits the Wainhouse Research Bulletin, and is a past winner of the
U.S. Distance Learning Association Outstanding Leadership Award. We thank Mr. Greenberg
for his contributions as well as Wainhouse Research for providing pertinent data and insight
that helped to inform the white paper.

ENA would also like to extend a special thanks to the professional experts, administrators,
and educators who provided their in-depth insights about video conferencing and video
collaboration. Their leadership and vision provide inspiration and tangible action steps for
school districts that are considering or planning on integrating video collaboration into their
district technology roadmap.

Finally, we would like to thank the industry and education luminaries who contributed
valuable time, information, and guidance on the current best practices and future potential of
video collaboration as a vital tool for education.

table of conten ts
Introduction.................................................................................... 4
The Changing Face of Video....................................................................... 7
Establishing a Connection in the K-12 Landscape
The Growth of Video Conferencing......................................................................... 7
The Mobile Movement.......................................................................................... 7

Drivers of Change for Video Collaboration....................................... 9

The Cultural and Digital ShiftHow Mobile Video Technologies
are Impacting Education............................................................... 10
The Evolving Learning Landscape........................................................................ 10
Videos Expanding Presence in Education............................................................ 12
Personalized Instruction and Distance Learning................................................ 12
Flipped Instruction......................................................................................... 14
Content Creation............................................................................................ 15
Virtual Field Trips........................................................................................... 16
Professional Development............................................................................... 18
Efficiencies................................................................................................... 20
Community Outreach...................................................................................... 20

Moving Beyond a ConnectionUsing Mobile Video Applications

to Create Collaborative Learning Spaces........................................ 22
Looking AheadWhats Next for Video Collaboration in Education...24
Getting Started.............................................................................. 24
Summary and Conclusion.............................................................. 27
Resources and Contributors.......................................................... 28
About............................................................................................ 30
Endnotes...................................................................................... 31

Introduction
Not since the invention of the printing press has
education witnessed such a rapid transformation in
the way instruction is delivered to students. The influx
of new devices and technology has forever altered the
traditional classroom learning dynamic, creating endless
new opportunities for collaboration, communication, and
personalized learning. In just 25 years, weve moved from
textbooks, workbooks, photocopiers, and VHS tapes to
computers, tablets, robust Internet connectivity, online
content and curriculum, whiteboards, and mobile video
conferencing.
That latter technologyvideo conferencingwas initially
used to neutralize the distance between students and
educators and deliver content. In its early stages, video
conferencing was facilitated through large, cumbersome
equipment and hardware.
Fast forward to today, and the face of video conferencing
has changed dramatically. The proliferation of new desktop
and mobile video collaboration solutions enables educators
and learners, as end-users, to engage in anytime/anywhere
video communications via their smartphones, tablets, and/
or computers.
The ubiquitous experience offered by these new mobile
video services is challenging the perception of what video
conferencing is. In fact, the term video conferencing
is quickly becoming antiquated with the infiltration of
robust mobile video collaboration, visual annotation
tools, and chatting solutions. No longer forced to
rely upon large, proprietary machines to establish
connections, educators have had their eyes opened
to a new world of untethered communication and
collaborative opportunities.

CONNECT

COLLABORATE

As evidenced in a recent report published by Wainhouse

Research, mobile video technologys popularity is on the
rise. And, according to the firm, the overall global market
for video systems and services is expected to reach 8.4
billion dollars by 2018.1 The explosive growth of video as
a collaborative communication tool will have a significant
impact upon education.
Education is undergoing unprecedented change as
school districts shift away from traditional classroom and
administrative support models and transition to digital
and flexible learning environments. This white paper
analyzes and shares how school systems that vary in size,
student demographics, and implementation strategies
are creating effective and meaningful collaborative
learning and communication spaces for their students,
educators, and administrators. The companion resources
to this white paper (available at http://www.ena.
com/videocollab) include case studies of three school
districtsMetropolitan School District of Decatur
Township (IN), Franklin West Supervisory Union (VT),
and Monroe County Schools (TN)that have been using
video collaboration to expand their students learning
opportunities.
As demonstrated by these three districts, todays digital
schools are using mobile video collaboration as one of
their tools, adding an entirely new dimension to teaching,
learning, and administrative policy. In this white paper,
we examine videos expanding role in education and how
it has evolved from a costly, complex, and cumbersome
tool to a personalized learning and communication tool
employed by school systems to connect, collaborate,
educate, and optimize.

EDUCATE

OPTIMIZE

In the last few years, Id estimate that only five percent of the schools in the United States
have participated in video conferencing, and there are two primary reasons for that. First,
connectivity. School districts, especially those in the rural areas, didnt have the bandwidth
to support the video conferencing technology. Second, schools couldnt afford the equipment
and hardware. Those large room-based systems were expensive, and educators didnt have
room in their budgets for the units.
CILC Executive Director Jan Zanetis, citing two major obstacles that have prevented video conferencing from becoming a
widely-adopted teaching tool.

The Changing Face of Video

Establishing a Connection in the
K-12 LandscapeThe Growth of
Video Conferencing
Video conferencing is defined by Merriam Webster as a
method of holding meetings that allows people who are in
different cities, countries, etc. to hear each other and see
each other on computer or televised screens. Somewhat
limiting in its scope, this definition reflects the connection
that is established via this form of communication, but it
fails to capture the range and versatility offered by todays
mobile video conferencing solutions. With the proliferation
of new, user-friendly video technologies, the term video
conferencing is quickly disappearing from the conversation,
and a new perception of what video communication is and
what it looks like is beginning to take hold.
Although primitive video conferencing technologies
first emerged in the 1960s,2 this innovative form of
communication didnt begin to gain ground in education
until the 1990s, a decade that saw K-12 schools embracing
and integrating new affordable technologies into their
districts. As part of this new technology wave, some schools
began installing large, classroom standard-definition video
conferencing systems. These systems were typically equipped
with teacher/student monitors, cameras, microphones,
speakers, software, large pieces of hardware, and a computer.
With equipment housed in dedicated conference rooms or
classrooms, students and teachers had to travel to designated
areas within the school building to communicate via video
conference.
As the technologys popularity grew, international video
conferencing interoperability standards were developed
and agreed upon in the early 1990s. Higher education
institutions were the first to take notice of this new mode
of communication for teaching and learning and began
integrating video conferencing units into their facilities.
The idea of the virtual field trip was born when educators
realized they could connect students within their own
school buildings to content experts around the globe.
Trailblazing organizations like the Center for Interactive
Learning and Collaboration (CILC) emerged during this
time to support the growing video conferencing movement.
Through the facilitation and organization of video learning
connections, CILC streamlined the communication
pathways among educators and content providers, making
it easy for them to establish connections and engage in
meaningful learning experiences.

The Mobile Movement

Despite video conferencings early and growing popularity
in education, limitations and challenges surrounding the
technology itself prevented it from being wholly embraced
and integrated into the K-12 landscape.
In addition to bandwidth constraints and costs, other
factors such as lack of dedicated space, complexity of use,
inability to integrate with curriculum, and challenges with
bell schedules also hindered broader use of this technology.
As education has moved into the 21st century, the desire
for new and engaging technologies has increased, with the
trend in educational technology moving toward that of
mobility and personalization. This decade has delivered
faster computing, the availability of affordable personal
devices, and sophisticated online instructional and
administrative applications. One-to-one and bring your
own device (BYOD) initiatives have become realities for
many school districts. Approximately one-third of United
States schools reportedly have some type of one-to-one
initiative in place, providing students access to an expanded
universe of digital content, course materials, textbooks, and
online resources.3
Video conferencing technology has evolved to meet
educators and students increasing mobile demands.
Although room-based units are still used by some
school districts to deliver content to students, video
conferencing technology has downsized and become a
mobile means for collaboration. As equipment costs have
fallen and more cloud-based services become available, the
cost of delivering video services has been sharply reduced
even as more fixed and mobile endpoints appear.
Recent studies published by Wainhouse Research confirm
that the shift from classroom-based video conferencing
systems to mobile video solutions has begun. Based
on data accumulated over the past several years, this
independent market research firm reports that in excess
of 30,000 public, primary/secondary school classrooms
or administrative offices in the United States have been
outfitted with classroom-based video conferencing units.
Recent data shows, however, that the trend of investing
in group classroom systems has shifted with the influx of
personal devices.
Wainhouse Research recently surveyed K-12 educators and
discovered that the percentage of schools using group video
conferencing technology in 2013 was down 12 percent
7

from the previous year, whereas desktop or mobile video conferencing was up 6 percent. More telling, 21
percent of the surveyed educators indicated that 61-100 percent of their learners were using real-time video
and web conferencing technologies to socialize. Seven percent of educators said a similar percentage of their
learners were using these technologies for peer-to-peer collaborating and teaming.4
As more advanced mobile technologies enter the market, these numbers will likely increase over time.
No longer satisfied with establishing just a connection, educators and students are pushing the envelope
and using video as a means of facilitating conversations, creating and
curating content, expanding distance learning opportunities, and
personalizing learning experiences. Through advancements in
mobile technology, end users have essentially transformed
themselves into walking endpoints, possessing the ability to
receive and transmit video content anytime or anywhere with
the mere click of a button.
As the availability of high-speed bandwidth has grown in recent
years, the video collaboration space has been enhanced by next
generation platforms that leverage a variety of technologies to
deliver cost-effective desktop or mobile solutions. Gone are the
days of costly and bulky hardware investments or dedicated ISDN
circuits to deliver an immersive and collaborative experience.
What used to take a six-figure-plus hardware investment,
pricey IT support, dedicated conference rooms, and significant
bandwidth has, in many cases, been reduced to webcams on
laptops or desktop computers, front-facing mobile device cameras,
and software clients that deliver high-definition, full-featured
experiences across a combination of wired and wireless networks
offering fully hosted and managed video solutions. Such anytime/
anywhere mobile accessibility to effective and valuable video
collaboration tools is changing the face of education and creating
collaborative and connected learning environments.

Drivers of Change
for Video Collaboration
While broad access to mobile technologies has drastically changed the face of video conferencing and the
role it plays in learning, we have identified the following eight key drivers of change that we consider to be
responsible for the shift from video conferencing to video collaboration:
1 Proliferation of Personal and Mobile Devices
2 InfrastructureIncreasing Broadband Speeds Across More Locations
3 Consumerization of Educational Technologies
4 Widespread Adoption of Cloud Computing and Hosted Services by the K-12 Sector
5 Ubiquitous Access to High-Quality and Affordable Mobile Technologies
6 Interoperability
7 Enhanced Virtual Collaboration Tools
8 Transition to Digital Age Learning Environments

The Cultural and Digital Shift

How Mobile Video Technologies
are Impacting Education
The Evolving Learning Landscape
The arrival of affordable and mobile technologies combined with increased accessibility to reliable, highspeed Internet has opened the door to an entirely new world of instructional strategies in education,
creating a new culture for teaching and learning and driving a digital shift.
These highly-used, technology-driven instructional strategies and concepts have emerged
just within the last decade:
Mobile and Flexible Learning Spaces. The concept of mobility may be as transformative as the
Gutenberg press and the processor-based computer. Mobility and its untethered possibilities mean that
education is no longer a function of a walled-off classroom. Instead, the educator and learner alike are
free to teach and learn anytime and anywhere.
Blended Learning and the Flipped Classroom. Blended learning consists of formal education that
combines what a student learns through the delivery of content and instruction via digital and/or
online media with some element of student control over time, place, path, and pace. Flipping the
classroom simply places more emphasis on the learner reviewing content (the equivalent of a recorded
lecture) prior to class time and then using class time for working on assigned problems, guided
instruction, and team/problem/project-based learning.
Interactivity and Constructivist Models. Constructivism focuses on keeping learners active and gives
interactivity a more prominent and valuable role. Learners benefit from interaction between their
experiences and their ideas. One of the benefits of the evolution of distance and online learning over the
past several decades is that educators now understand the value of interactivity as a means of ensuring
learner progress.
Data-Driven Instruction Using Assessments and Analytics. The use of technology to promote
improved outcomes via more rigorous and accurate assessment data is only the beginning of the story.
Data can be used in many ways, from an institutional and instructor level, where preventative steps can
be taken when learners may be faltering, to actually improving teaching through feedback cycles that
monitor learner behavior during and after class.
Dynamic and Student/Educator-Based Content. Access to digital content resources for the classroom
continue to grow at a rapid pace. Educators now have the ability to build their own set of content
resources beyond the static textbook. Students and educators alike are using technology to create
individualized content resources for the classroom.
21st Century Learning. The idea of 21st century learning is predicated on a new type of model, one
that places more emphasis on process and learner skills, placing the student at the center of learning and
building instructional opportunities to promote critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and
creativity within the classroom. With increased globalization, a faster pace of life, and a rapidly evolving
workplace, education is now experiencing fundamental shifts.5

10

Th e D igital Shift in Educ ation

P21 Framework for 21st Century Learning

21s t C e ntu ry Stude nt Outc ome s an d Supp or t S ys tem s

To help practitioners integrate skills into the teaching of core academic

subjects, the Partnership for 21st Century Skills (P21) has developed a
unified vision for learning known as the Framework for 21st Century
learning. Within the context of core knowledge instruction, students must
also learn the essential skills for success in todays world such as critical
thinking, problem solving, communication and collaboration.
See www.P21.org for more information.

11

Videos Expanding Presence in Education

P ersonal iz ed Ins tr ucti on an d D i s tan ce Learning
The most popular and sustainable use of video conferencing from the
1990s through today has been shared classes and distance instruction.
Often, students come to a video conference classroom to participate and
connect to other students within their own or another district. Budget
restrictions and geographical locations of some districts have necessitated
use of video conferencing as a tool for shared classes and instruction.
Some states mandate offering distance learning classes for students in order
to meet learner equity issues, while others have been forced to create shared
classes as a result of consolidation efforts or low enrollment numbers.
Sustainability of these programs has varied from state to state and among
school districts. Leadership changes, school consolidations, and online
course access have impacted this practice in education.
The advent of mobile technologies, such as ENA Live, has only further
cemented videos role as a learning-at-a-distance instructional tool. While
some distance learning programs have continued to integrate legacy devices
into the classroom to connect students with instruction, many schools
are exploring the use of desktop and mobile video solutions to replace,
supplement, or create new opportunities for students.
The flexibility provided by todays mobile video applications has opened
the door to a plethora of distance learning opportunities. For example,
homebound students can now easily connect to their classrooms from
home using their PCs, phones, and/or tablets. Special needs students or
students needing advanced classes may connect from anywhere in a school
district to a remote classroom and actively participate in that class.

This type of technology is

great for Decatur because every
year we have kids in sixth
grade that qualify for Algebra
1 or Pre-Algebra. Here at the
elementary school, we just
dont have access to that kind
of curriculum. This technology
enables our elementary students
to participate in higher-level
courses at our middle and high
schools without having to leave
the building. Its been wonderful
because theres no instructional
time lost.
Tim Werner, instructional coach at West
Newton Elementary School in Decatur
Township, Indiana reflecting on the
opportunity mobile video applications like
ENA Live open for personalized learning for
his students.

There is a growing shift in education to meet student instructional needs

on a more personal level. Todays students have many options to customize
their learning schedules. One way is by choosing online classes that are
asynchronous and that allow them to connect and complete their course
work as their schedules permit.
Mobile video technologies are supporting the cultural shift to
personalized learning by providing students anytime/anywhere access
to their coursework and/or instructors. The use of video in online
class environments supports the personal learning model by creating
personalized and collaborative learning spaces and facilitating valuable
face-to-face connections.

ENA Live is a fully managed and hosted video collaboration solution that utilizes many
of your existing hardware and network investments. ENA Live is easily accessed via
your computer, smartphone or tablet with anytime/anywhere access via a LAN, Wi-Fi, or
mobile network, giving you and your community the power to connect and collaborate face-to-face, even while
youre on the go. ENA Live is affordable, versatile, easy to use and very quickly deployed, giving you enormous
video collaboration possibilities and the peace of mind that comes with a fully managed and secure solution.
Learn more at http://www.ena.com/ena-live.

12

Creating Personal Learning Pathways

Quick Facts:
6,200 Students
9 Schools
64.5 Percent Free and Reduced Lunch Rate
89.3 Percent Graduation Rate

c as e s tud y vig n ette

The Metropolitan School District of Decatur Township, Indiana

Challenge(s) Remedied by Mobile and Desktop Video Solution:

Creating Personal Learning Pathways for Students: The school corporation is using video
technology to meet the academic needs of an elementary school student. The student is
academically advanced, but Decatur Townships instructional team and the students parents
felt the student should remain within his current school environment. The tech-savvy sixth
grader is using Decaturs desktop video solution, ENA Live, to participate in an Algebra I class
at Decaturs middle school.
Address Resource Shortages: Although this sixth grade student tested into Algebra I, the
school corporation didnt have a qualified teacher available at the elementary school to
lead his instruction. Decatur Township used video conferencing to connect the student to a
qualified math teacher at the middle school.

Collaboration and Connection in Action:

Decatur Township envisions using video collaboration tools to:
Stream holiday programs to Decatur Townships parents and community members.
Create personal learning pathways for its students.
Investigate the power of personal learning environments for all students.
Foster and enhance communications and peer networks among Decatur Townships
administrators and teachers.
Integrate recording tools to facilitate and archive classroom lessons and student-created
content.
Connect students with subject-matter experts on a global scale and extend the learning
process beyond the classroom walls.
Learn more about how Decatur Township is using video collaboration to create personal
learning pathways for its students in the companion case studies.
http://www.ena.com/videocollab

13

F lipped Ins tr ucti on

Educators are using video communication and collaboration tools to create flipped instruction for their students, allowing
them to explore content created by their teachers or other experts. Students can view instructional videos, explore online
content, and research a variety of content resources prior to class.
The flipped learning model moves direct instruction from the group learning space to the individual learning space. This
type of innovative instruction allows the classroom to be transformed into an interactive learning environment where
students are at the center of dynamic, creative explorations within the content.
Todays video communication and collaboration tools often have built-in recording and streaming tools that allow students
and teachers to create, record, and archive content for future viewings.

ENA Live, our hosted and managed video collaboration service, has enabled us to connect to
a live classroom in Korea. The great thing about ENA Live as opposed to a solution like Skype
is that we are able to record and archive our live sessions. Sometimes, when our students
are participating in a live session, its difficult for them to see the big picture. Now, they
can review the recordings to examine the themes and ideas that came out of these valuable
conversations as well as analyze their own public speaking and presentation skills. Its also
a great way for individuals who werent able to be there, such as parents or grandparents, to
view these interactions at a later date.
Angelique Fairbrother, digital learning specialist for Franklin West Supervisory Union in Vermont, reflecting on the value of this
tool in her district.

14

Con te n t Cr e ati on
The integration of advanced technologies into the
classroom has altered the education landscape by
placing the power of content creation in the hands
of educators and students. Instead of relying upon
textbooks, teachers and students can now generate
their own lessons and materials with resources theyve
found on the Internet or information theyve captured
via video chats with subject-matter experts.
Two national programs emerged and created models to
support these valuable student-to-student connections
as well as student-created content. Mega Conference
Junior, sponsored by MAGPI, and the Kids Creating
Community Content program (KC3), supported by
CILC, connected students around the world to share
songs, content, dances, community, and cultural
landmarks with peers via live video.

In my perfect world, I want

our students and teachers to
be the individuals producing
the information. I want people
connecting to us because we
are a source of information.
Ultimately, the best way for
students to demonstrate their
learning is for them to create
video content that is shared
globally and viewed as a source
for digital learning.
Angelique Fairbrother summing up her vision
for supporting 21st century student learning.

With KC3 specifically, students created content

programs about topics of interest to their own
communities and shared these with other students
around the globe.

Mob ile vide o soluti ons a re ena bling todays students to collect, communicate,
and sh are their knowled ge and content with a much broader audience

Student content creation is a great application that has been gaining popularity
in the last few years. Teachers assign their students topics to create content
around and pair students with their peers to create a presentation. With projectbased learning, part of that model requires students to present their findings to
an audience. Video is a great tool for facilitating these presentations because
it enables students to communicate and share their discoveries with a larger
audience. For example, students can connect with a neighboring school, or even
a school in another state or country, and use video to present their content to that
other class of students. The community of learners becomes so much larger when
you have a tool like video at your disposal.
Kecia Ray, Ed.D., Executive Director, Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools Learning Technology and Library
Services and Chair, International Society of Technology in Education (ISTE)

15

V ir tu al Fie l d Tr ip s
The idea of the virtual field trip emerged in the early
2000s with the rise of video conferencing. Nationwide,
schools struggling with tight budgets and concerns over
liability saw the value of taking students on fun, safe, and
impactful virtual field trips. These trips are still used as a
supplemental instructional tool, and the advent of cloudbased and mobile video technologies has only made these
experiences more accessible.
Using video, students can
explore museums, science
centers, art galleries, and
cultural centers around
the globe. Presenters
lead students through
interactive discussions and
demonstrations, providing
students with unique
opportunities to engage and
converse with true subjectmatter experts. While some
schools have been forced to
discontinue their use of these
programs due to budget
cuts, time limitations, or
curriculum changes, the
virtual field trip remains
a viable and common
approach to opening the
classroom walls.

into medical centers based in the Amazon. Students work

in teams to diagnose patients, interpreting data from their
laptops. Diagnoses are shared via video with a live Chief
Medical Officer as students work collaboratively to save
the lives of the native population. Similarly, programs
offered by The Mote Marine Institute in Sarasota, Florida
and The Alaska Sea Life Center in Seward, Alaska allow
students to connect with
research scientists who
specialize in marine life
rescue, animal husbandry,
want to open doors
and shark research.

As an educator, you
for your students, even if those doors
are just virtual. My students are from
rural Appalachia, and many of them
have never left Monroe County. When an
attorney used a mobile video solution
to show them the Nashville skyline from
his office, it was one of those special
moments because so many of my
students have never been to the state
capitol. It just opened a door for those
kids, and they are still motivated by that
presentation a year later.

Connecting students to
content experts in the field
allows students to experience
careers in action, explore
locations they may not have
the opportunity to visit in
person, and build mentor
connections to real-life
working professionals.

Some content providers

are linking students to
scientific research via
remote instrumentation and
lab access. Northwestern
Universitys iLab Network
Shannon Harris, Middle School Reading and
allows students to connect
Literacy Teacher from Monroe County Schools
to its remote online
in rural Appalachia, Tennessee, reflecting on the
Today, many museums,
laboratories and access real
power of connecting her middle school students to
science centers, and cultural
lab devices. Remote online
professionals in the broader community.
organizations are exploring
laboratories (iLabs) http://
opportunities to create
osep.northwestern.edu
more versatile learning
are experimental facilities
opportunities for students that include expert connections
that can be accessed through the Internet, allowing
to scientists, historians, and field experts. These types of
students and educators to conduct experiments from
interactions support todays instructional best practice of
anywhere at any time. Remote instrumentation access
allowing students to learn through research and inquiry.
to real-time data coupled with the opportunity to easily
connect with research experts enables students to conduct
As one example of how these connections play out, staff
experiments and test out hypotheses in a simulated and
at the Challenger Learning Center in West Virginia
safe environment and experience the real world in a
collaborates with students to transform their classrooms
meaningful, relevant, and impactful way.

16

Shrinking Distance and Costs

Quick Facts:
5,535 Students
13 Schools
68.4 Percent Free and Reduced Lunch Rate
95.2 Percent Graduation Rate

c as e s tud y vig n ette

Monroe County Schools, Tennessee

Located in the sixth largest county in Tennessee (635.57 square miles)

Challenge(s) Remedied by Mobile and Desktop Video Solution:

Distance: Monroe County Schools (MCS) is surrounded by mountains in rural East Tennessee,
making in-person collaboration a challenge for MCS administrators, teachers, and students.
The districts furthest school is 56 miles away from the central office.
Costs: MCS Director of Technology, Gary Sharp, opted to integrate ENA Live, a more affordable
cloud-based, fully-managed video collaboration solution, rather than purchase additional roombased video conferencing units because of the solutions low cost, mobility, and ease of use.

Collaboration and Connection in Action:

MCS uses video collaboration tools to:
Stream graduation ceremonies and board meetings to the general public.
Connect MCS students with remotely-located nurse practitioners who can diagnose and
write prescriptions for the districts ailing students and faculty.
Create cross-classroom collaborative learning experiences.
Connect students with subject-matter experts around the globe.
Embark upon virtual field trips.
Facilitate meetings, professional learning communities, and professional development
opportunities.
Foster mentor-mentee relationships between students and members of Tennessees
workforce.
Discover more about the innovative and diverse ways MCS is using video collaboration to meet
its students and staffs needs in the companion case studies.
http://www.ena.com/videocollab

17

Prof e ss i onal D eve lo pme n t

Todays educational and technology drivers are not only impacting how students learn, but also
simultaneously shifting professional development practices for teachers and leaders in our schools. A
small number of schools are beginning to utilize video collaboration solutions to support professional
development opportunities for educators. From bringing in experts to recording and archiving classroom
lessons to facilitating long-distance professional learning communities (PLCs), video is opening up new
avenues for professional growth within education.
Current professional development programs have moved beyond the traditional stand and deliver
mode of instruction to a more project-based approach, where teachers work within teams to explore new
classroom learning models, define improved curricular strategies, and refine assessment practices. These
programs require shared work and discussion. When distance is a factor, remote connection is made simple
with video collaboration.
In Indiana, state-run Education Service Centers (ESCs) have integrated video technology into their
professional development delivery format. ESC staff uses the technology to connect and collaborate with
teachers throughout the state. Video enables the service centers leaders and coaches to deliver professional
development in a more flexible learning environment that includes access to live and recorded professional
development via ENA Live.
Educators across the spectrum are coming together to jointly work on the development and sustainability
of effective leadership in districts and schools. Video technology supports peer mentoring and leadership
training. The creation of regional cohorts is becoming a popular trend in education, particularly in
rural areas of the country. Video eliminates the distance hurdle that often hinders the development and
sustainability of these types of peer groups.

18

K-12 districts are also utilizing video collaboration tools to monitor teaching practices and integrate
peer coaching opportunities. In Tennessee, mobile video technology was used to support a regional
cohort focused upon building leadership within rural Tennessee school districts. Five Tennessee school
districts participated in the leadership program, which was conducted by The National Institute of
School Leadership during the 2013-2014 academic year. This program was designed to explore and build
mentorship opportunities and relationships among the participating districts current and aspiring leaders.
Monthly face-to-face meetings were supplemented by video collaboration opportunities via ENA Live,
a fully managed, cloud-based video collaboration solution. Leaders were able to share and discuss the
challenges they faced and debate their views on instructional changes moving forward.
The collaborative nature of Tennessees district leadership program allowed school administrators and
aspiring leaders to share best practices and institute positive change within their school communities. By
connecting from their own district offices, they effectively leveraged video collaboration solutions to bridge
the distance, saving valuable time and money. Such strong collaborative partnerships allowed participants
to create and maintain ubiquitous instructional practices and learning strategies.
Finally, flipped professional development is another trend that has emerged with the proliferation of video
collaboration tools. School updates, professional development trainings, and administrative announcements
are being recorded, archived, and shared through cloud-based video libraries. Superintendents, principals,
professional development directors, curriculum directors, technology staff, school transportation personnel
and food staff now have the ability to sit in front of their laptops or tablets and record their content,
lectures, and/or lessons.

Todays teachers have a lot of demands, stresses, and pressures in their workflow
and require flexibility in how and when they access professional development. Our
video collaboration solution allows us to share an online library of professional
development. Educators can save videos, engage in live video sessions, or review
missed meetings. With this technology, our trainers can be anywhere and connect
to their trainees. We are also using video collaboration tools to facilitate internal
communications among administrators and teachers. PLCs and professional learning
networks effectively unite district leadership and educators in planning, dialogue,
and the implementation of instructional changes. Regional learning networks
enable educators to share resources and engage in valuable best practices
strategy discussions. Distance is typically the stumbling block in the formation of
these valuable learning communities. Video eliminates this challenge and enables
educators to engage in personal and meaningful conversations without the travel.
Josh Wenning, Indianas Region 8 Education Service Center Executive Director, recognizing the value of this
technology for educators and administrators.

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Eff icie n cie s

In addition to employing video technology as an instructional support,
some school districts are using these tools to reduce transportation
costs and increase efficiencies. Meetings are an essential component
of education, but unfortunately the travel required between district
campuses is a significant time investment for most administrators and
teachers. With mobile video collaboration tools, superintendents and
district administrative teams can engage in private and secure face-to-face
meetings without leaving their offices.
Indianas Crawford County Community Schools administrators have
been using video technology to conduct one-on-one and grade-level
meetings for the last two years.
Todays video technology enables participants to collaborate and
communicate in simulated meeting environments. Unlike standard
conference calls where attendees can multi-task on several different
projects during the call without notice, video calls require attendees to be
fully engaged because they are visually accountable.
Video conferences also create a sense of familiarity and camaraderie
among peers that is difficult to establish with a traditional phone call.

Commun ity Outreach

I was at the east end of the

county, and a colleague I
frequently worked with was at
the west end of the county, and
we just needed an hour of time
together to meet. By the time we
drove back and forth, a large
portion of the day had been
spent on that one-hour meeting.
Video conferencing enabled
us to visually share documents
and still maintain that personal
connection, making it much
easier for us to have our one-onone meetings.
Tami Geltmaker, a former principal at
Indianas Crawford County Community
Schools, explaining how video enhanced
Crawford County Community Schools
collaborative efforts.

Many schools are using video technologys recording and webcasting

features to broadcast school graduations, football games, spelling
bees, and board meetings to parents and community stakeholders.
Superintendents and state level organizations now have the ability to
stream messages out to their entire staff or membership groups. Other
schools are exploring the idea of conducting parent-teacher conferences
using video technology in order to accommodate parents busy work
schedules and make parent-teacher communication as accessible as
possible. Video collaboration tools like recording, archiving, and
streaming enable districts to share important content with the greater
community in an efficient and cost-effective manner.

Video is more tangible than a phone call or e-mail. When I was a principal, I used
video to collaborate with PLCs composed of other principals across the southeast
region of Tennessee. I could literally be sitting in my office talking to principals
all over that state, and it was as if we were in a conference room together. I cant
emphasize the benefits enough.
Dr. Jared Bigham, the Director of College and Career Readiness for Tennessees State Collaborative on Reforming
Education (SCORE), who has been a proponent of the integration of video solutions in education.

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21

Moving Beyond a ConnectionUsing

Mobile Video Applications to Create
Collaborative Learning Spaces
Although larger, room-based video conferencing systems promote important connections in instruction, content, and
professional development, todays mobile and dynamic video technology enables educators and learners to transcend static
connections and construct immersive and collaborative learning environments. The word collaboration is often repeated
in education because it is such a prevalent element in todays business practices and working environments. Employers
consider this skill a critical requirement in their hiring process because collaboration is required to achieve common
goals. Independent research conducted in 2014 shows that collaborative skills are one of the top skills that schools should
be focused upon. Educators, parents, and students have found that collaborative learning environments promote active
participation and encourage students to take ownership of their education.6
Our students must be given the opportunity to develop their collaborative skills so that they can efficiently and effectively
communicate and work with the diverse group of personalities they will encounter in the workplace. Organizations like
the Partnership for 21st Century Skills (P21) are helping educators and students embrace a cultural shift in education
that places a greater emphasis on collaboration in the instructional and learning process. As new technologies influence
classroom practices and foster flexible learning environments, the demand for anytime/anywhere collaborative suites of
services is rapidly growing. Mobile video collaboration applications are among the technologies paving the way for this new
collaborative and flexible learning environment.
Todays students have the flexibility to collaborate and communicate via video from their classrooms, homes, or any remote
location. Building learning opportunities that involve cultural, economic, environmental, and educational diversity allows
our students to share their ideas and passions while developing an understanding of and respect for others.
Mobile access to video is also impacting the physical layouts of todays classrooms and schools. Many school campuses
are transforming their libraries into collaborative learning centers where students can brainstorm and map out their ideas
on the buildings floors or walls or use their devices to create dynamic presentations. Flexible schedules and learning
environments are part of the future in K-12 education, particularly in the middle and secondary levels of education.
Ultimately, we need to help todays students understand that collaboration doesnt come at the expense of their
autonomy or individuality; it is about embracing and sharing their gifts and talents for the greater good of the
team. When students collaborate on a lesson or presentation, they discover how to effectively bring their voice, ideas, and
best efforts to the table. More importantly, they develop the ability to listen to and discern their peers ideas in order to
formulate a collective vision.

Our students have to engage in personalized learning. Education has to be different.

The students have to have more of a voice and be more personally involved in what they are
learning, and we have to help them do that. Video conferencing is one tool we can use to
personalize each students learning experience.
Superintendent Ned Kirsch from Franklin West Supervisory Union, where students engage with peers in Korea, speaks to the
value of connecting with others.

22

Establishing Global Awareness

Quick Facts:
1,700 students
3 Schools
24 Percent Free and Reduced Lunch Rate
1:1 District-wide

c as e s tud y vig n ette

Franklin West Supervisory Union, Vermont

Challenge(s) Remedied by Mobile and Desktop Video Solution:

Distance: Franklin West Supervisory Union (FWSU) is located in rural Vermont, making inperson collaborations a challenge for FWSUs administrators, teachers, and students. The
districts schools are approximately 20 miles apart from each other.
Geography: Because of its rural location, FWSUs students are limited in their exposure to the
various careers that exist in todays global marketplace. FWSU is using video conferencing
tools to engage the global community and provide its students with the opportunity to
collaborate and communicate with students around the world.

Collaboration and Connection in Action:

FWSU uses video collaboration tools to:
Stream student events and presentations to FWSUs parents.
Foster collaborative learning experiences between FWSUs students and students in Korea.
Host a national youth conference that included students and teachers from Puerto Rico,
Nova Scotia, and Senegal.
Embark upon virtual field trips to destinations around the globe.
Facilitate meetings among FWSUs staff members.
Personalize the learning experience and transform FWSUs students into producers of
content.
Record and archive student-created content and classroom lessons.
Learn more about how FWSU is creating global communities within its classrooms with the
help of video collaboration tools in the companion case studies.
http://www.ena.com/videocollab

23

Looking AheadWhats Next

for Video Collaboration in Education
A large number of technology drivers will continue to shape the digital learning space and further drive new
approaches to teaching and learning.

Cloud-based learning tools will automate educator processes to create collaborative workspaces, giving the educator
more time to spend with learners.

New and improved compression algorithms and standards, such as the WebRTC video standard, will allow simple
web browsers to send and receive interoperable video communications with the millions of industry-standard and
proprietary endpoints located throughout the world.

New and improved user interfaces (UIs) will simplify user experiences for visual collaboration technologies.

Games and gamification will enter education, not as games per se, but with elements of games (questions, experience
points, leader boards, milestones, and badging) introduced into other technologies.7

Learning analytics will take the next step in enabling educators to assess learner behaviors. Predictive analytics will
allow institutions to gather data and accurately assess possible learner outcomes, resulting in prescriptive insights to
drive personalized and adaptive learning.

The Internet of Things (IoT) will utilize technologies like beacons to increase efficiencies and advance support for
special needs students and school security.

Consumerization of Education will continue, and ubiquitous access to curriculum will be dynamic and personal.

Video collaboration tool integration into many existing applications will allow learners to communicate with live
video sources and enhance workflow operations in our schools.

Getting Started
This white paper addresses why video collaboration is a must-have tool that is here to stay in education.
However, the idea of implementing an effective and sustainable district-wide video platform can be
overwhelming. Whether you are just getting started in video collaboration, or youre looking to expand your
presence in this space, weve included the resources and references you need in the companion case studies
and toolkit to seamlessly integrate video technology into your districts instructional toolbox.
Discover how three districts across the country are using video to deliver healthcare to their students, expand
their global presence, establish internal professional development networks, and create personal learning
pathways for their students.
Additionally, explore the toolkits collective resources for effective video collaboration strategies and
implementation designs.
The toolkit and case studies are available for download at http://www.ena.com/videocollab.

24

Powered by

We Are Connected
The Power of Video Collaboration in Education

Powered by

We Are Connected
The Power of Video Collaboration in Education
C A S E S TU D I ES

25

While video collaboration may just be one tool educators are currently
employing to facilitate their 21st century digital learning initiatives, the
increasing demand for just in time learning will likely transform video
technology from a nice to have to a must have in education. In order to
meet their students ever-evolving needs and demands, its imperative that
districts take the steps now to evaluate and integrate a robust and supported
video collaboration suite of services.

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Summary and Conclusion

Interactivity and collaboration have existed since time
immemorialthey are essential components of what it
means to be human and of how we thrive and learn. But
they take place in a continuum, and how and even when
they take place are in constant flux.
We have relied upon a variety of toolscave walls, letters,
books, blackboards, and eventually electronic media
to accomplish interactivity in the past. Advancements
in technology and the proliferation of personal mobile
devices have paved the way for a new continuum of
collaborative opportunities. With todays desktop and
mobile video collaboration solutions, we are all literally
only a click away from one another.
At its core, video conferencing has been two things: a
medium for transmitting bits and bytes across networks to
let people connect and see one another, and a medium for
promoting the notion of all things interactive.
There is a reason that from the outset of the availability of
commercial video conferencing, education has been one
of the most diverse and innovative markets for this mode
of communication. Educators are creative by nature and
continuously seek to provide their students with authentic
and engaging learning opportunities. As technology has
evolved, it is unsurprising that many of todays engaging
and innovative use cases for video collaboration originated
from within the education community.
The evolution of video conferencing to video
collaboration is fueled by the quest to build
communicative and collaborative learning environments.
Todays students must be prepared for an increasingly
remote and mobile workforce. Fortunately, with the
advent of mobile technologies, teachers now have the
ability to create the types of flexible learning opportunities
that will prepare their students for the modern workplace.
While video collaboration may just be one tool educators
are currently employing to facilitate their 21st century
digital learning initiatives, the increasing demand for just
in time learning will likely transform video technology
from a nice to have to a must have in education. In
order to meet their students ever-evolving needs and
demands, its imperative that districts take the steps now
to evaluate and integrate a robust and supported video
collaboration suite of services.

If this white paper has convinced you of anything, we

hope it is that video collaboration is here to stay as a
value-add tool to the educational process. The benefits,
from improved outcomes, reduced costs, greater teacher
and learner productivity, and more engaged learners,
are irrefutable. The case studies weve discussed and the
opinions of the adherents included in this publication
demonstrate this.
The previously identified drivers of changepersonal
endpoints, ever-increasing bandwidth, consumerization
of educational technologies, cloud computing, mobile
video, interoperability, and the steady transition to
digitized educationportend continued evolution. But it
is the students themselves who will continue to be the
ultimate drivers of change, demanding and expecting
that the technologies they use outside of school be
integrated into their classrooms.
As evidenced by the shift from video conferencing to
video collaboration, educators are responding to their
students needs by leveraging new solutions to personalize
their students learning experience. From creating valuable
anytime/anywhere learning opportunities, to empowering
students with the ability to create and share their own
content, to facilitating collaborations with experts and
students located around the globe, video technology
is providing educators with the means to engage their
students in personal, meaningful and relevant ways.
What will be the result of all of this technology use? It
truly will depend on the school, district, state or federal
policy, or individual educators or administrators to wisely
and intelligently deploy the right technologies for the
purpose at hand. Schools will be confronted by a large
quantity of technology options, some of which will be
more effective and useful than others. The future is bright
for video conferencing as one of those more effective and
useful technologies, a platform that can adapt to what
technology makes possible, while retaining the human
element essential to fostering meaningful 21st century
teaching and learning.

27

Resources and Contributors

For school districts and educators wishing to learn more about video collaboration, there is a sizeable
amount of information available through various organizations and their websites. Organizations or
websites marked with an asterisk (*) have the most relevant information for K-12.

White Paper Collaborators

Education Networks of America (ENA)*
http://www.ena.com
ENA has a section of their website dedicated to this white paper where you can find resources and video
interviews with practitioners, students and industry luminaries at http://www.ena.com/videocollab.
Monica Cougan, Senior Product Marketing Professional
mcougan@ena.com

Wainhouse Research*
http://www.wainhouse.com
Alan D. Greenberg, Senior Analyst and Partner

Jan Zanetis
Executive Director, Center for Interactive Learning and Collaboration (CILC)
http://www.cilc.org

Kecia Ray, Ed.D.

Executive Director of Learning Technology and Library Services, Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools
http://mnps.idlearningtech.org/
Chair, International Society of Technology in Education (ISTE)
http://www.iste.org

Mark Noble
Vice President of Strategic Marketing, Vidyo
http://blog.vidyo.com/author/mark-noble/

Case Study School Districts

Monroe County Schools, Tennessee
Gary Sharp, Director of Technology, SSMS Director
http://www.monroe.k12.tn.us

Metropolitan School District of Decatur Township, Indiana

Jeff McMahon, Chief Information Officer
http://www.msddecatur.k12.in.us/

Franklin West Supervisory Union, Vermont

Ned Kirsch, Superintendent
http://fwsu.schoolfusion.us/

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Associations and Organizations

International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE)*
The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) is the premier nonprofit
organization serving educators and education leaders committed to empowering connected
learners in a connected world. ISTE serves more than 100,000 education stakeholders
throughout the world. http://www.iste.org

ISTE SIGIVC Community*

A special interest group within ISTE that promotes an understanding of Interactive
Videoconferencing (IVC) and related virtual learning technologies.
http://sigivc.iste.wikispaces.net/

United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA) *

The United States Distance Learning Association was the first nonprofit Distance Learning
association in the United States to support Distance Learning research, development and
praxis across the complete arena of education, training and communications.
http://www.usdla.org/

Education Media
Center for Interactive Learning and Collaboration (CILC)*
CILC is a not-for-profit, specializing in the access to applications and the utilization of
video conferencing for live interactive content and professional development, as well as web
based collaborative learning environments for K-20 education. http://www.cilc.org

Internet2 K20 Initiative*

The K20 Initiative brings together innovators from the formal and informal education
community in the United States and around the world to explore the advanced
applications and resources enabled by high performance broadband networks.
https://k20.internet2.edu/

iLab at Northwestern University*

The iLab network creates experimental facilities via remote online laboratories that enable
students and educators to use real instruments, rather than simulations, to carry out
experiments from anywhere at any time.
http://osep.northwestern.edu/projects/ilab

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ENA is the leading provider of managed Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) solutions to

schools, libraries and governments. In 1996, ENA created one of the first statewide K-12
networks in the U.S. and has earned a reputation as experts in the design, deployment and
management of data, voice and video solutions. Today, ENA manages multiple statewide
and district-wide networks, including 16 of the largest school systems in the country,
successfully serving approximately 6,000 sites, 535 school districts, 3.3 million students,
educators and administrators, 290 libraries and 3.5 million librarians and patrons.
For more information, please visit http://www.ena.com or call 866-615-1101.

ENA Live is a fully managed and hosted video collaboration solution that utilizes many
of your existing hardware and network investments. ENA Live is designed for ubiquitous
video conferencing to fill the gap between unmanaged, less robust, unsecure free solutions
and expensive, inflexible H.323 solutions. Whether your administrators, educators,
students and staff are connecting using a desktop or laptop computer (PC/Mac), legacy
H.323 system, smartphone or tablet (iOS/Android/Windows 7), ENA Live seamlessly
and securely integrates with them all, allowing everyone to enjoy a high-quality video
conferencing experience.
With ENA Live, youll expand learning, expedite meetings, personalize connections
and cut costs with the resources you already have. ENA Live is easily accessed via your
computer, smartphone or tablet with anytime/anywhere access via a LAN, Wi-Fi, or
mobile network, giving you and your community the power to connect and collaborate
face-to-face, even while youre on the go. ENA Live is affordable, versatile, easy to use and
very quickly deployed, giving you enormous video collaboration possibilities and the peace
of mind that comes with a fully managed and secure solution.
Learn more at http://www.ena.com/ena-live.

Wainhouse Research is an independent market research firm that focuses on critical

issues in the unified communications and collaboration (UC&C) market and the topics
of distance education and e-Learning within that market. The company conducts multiclient as well as custom research studies for industry vendors and consults with end users
on key implementation issues. The firm also publishes a free news bulletin, white papers
and market statistics, and delivers public and private seminars as well as presentations at
educator and industry meetings.
For more information, please visit http://www.cp.wainhouse.com.

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Endnotes
1

Video Conferencing Endpoints, Infrastructure, and Services Market Sizing & 5-Year
Forecast2014 December Update, Wainhouse Research, 2014,
http://cp.wainhouse.com/content/video-conferencing-forecast-2014-december-update

The Legacy of the 1964 Worlds Fair, 50 Years Later, Christopher Klein, 2014,
http://www.history.com/news/the-legacy-of-the-1964-worlds-fair-50-years-later

Keys to Successful 1:1 and BYOD Implementations in Education, Wainhouse Research, 2014,
http://cp.wainhouse.com/content/keys-successful-1-1-and-byod-implementations-education

Distance Education and e-Learning Metrics Survey 2013, Wainhouse Research, 2013,
http://cp.wainhouse.com/content/edu-detech-metrics-survey-2013

The Role of Education in Building Soft Skills, Wainhouse Research, 2014,

http://cp.wainhouse.com/content/role-education-building-soft-skills

Framework for 21st Century Learning, Partnership for 21st Century Skills, 2014,
http://www.p21.org/our-work/p21-framework

NMC Horizon Report: 2014 K-12 Edition, New Media Consortium and the Consortium
for School Networking, 2014,
http://cdn.nmc.org/media/2014-nmc-horizon-report-k12-EN.pdf