K-20 librarians interactive video conferencing

[James Werle <>]

All,

The Internet2 K20 Initiative will be webcasting a very interesting
presentation on the California State Park's videoconferening program
called PORTS on Monday 10/1 from 11:30-noon Eastern Daylight Time.

10/1 11:30-Noon - Parks Online Resources for Teachers and Students:
Bringing State Parks to Students Everywhere -
http://www.ports.parks.ca.gov
Connect to the webcast here:  http://bit.ly/UybolD

Speaker: Joe von Herrmann, 
,
 Program Manager,
Interpretation and Education Division, California State Parks; Shawn
Brown, 
,
 Senior Information Systems Analyst,
California State Parks; Brad Krey, 
,
 Program
Coordinator, Interpretation and Education Division, California State
Parks; Luis Wong, Chief Technology Officer, 
,
 Imperial
County Office of Education; (all remote speakers)

Description: The Parks Online Resources for Teachers and Students
(PORTS) program is a distance learning partnership between California
K-12 Education and California State Parks. This series of units of
study combines the power of California's K-12 High Speed Network
(K12HSN) and the educational potential of videoconferencing. By
delivering FREE interactive presentations to classrooms throughout
California and the nation, PORTS advances the goals of both public
education and California State Parks. More information can be found at
http://www.ports.parks.ca.gov. Joe von Herrmann has worked for
California State Parks in various capacities for nearly forty years.
He is the originator and manager of the PORTS program. Shawn Brown is
a Senior Information Systems Analyst for California State Parks. He is
the employee primarily responsible for the technical aspects of PORTS.
Brad Krey is the PORTS Coordinator for southern California. He is
largely responsible for PORTS mobile solutions such as satellite
vehicle videoconferences and roaming videoconferences from California
tide pools. He also coordinates activities with Los Angeles Unified
School District and the Los Angeles PORTS program featured in this
presentation.

This is a great example of how videconferencing is being used to bring
the beauty and wonder of our state parks to students (and lifelong
learners) everywhere via high performance R&E networks.   PORTS
program have developed some very cool technology solutions that allow
Park Rangers to rove deep into the remote areas of a park to broadcast
live to students.  It'll also be interesting to learn whether this
program is available to public library audiences as well.

Feel free to tune into this free webcast here http://bit.ly/UybolD on 10/1.

Best,
James