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Teleconferencing:-
Introduction:-
The word ‘tele' means distance. The word ‘conference’ means consultations, discussions.
Teleconferencing helps to connect two or more locations situated at a distance so that they can hear or
both see and hear each other. It allows the distant sites to interact with each other and with the teaching
end. The interactions occur in real time. This means that the learners/participants and the resource
persons are present at the same time in different locations and are able to communicate with each other.

Functions of teleconferencing:-
The functions of teleconferencing in education are to :-
 Impart information
 Build attitudes
 Upgrade skills
 Share experiences
 Facilitate problem solving
 Supervise/conduct/guide project work.

Uses of teleconferencing:-
It is useful for the following activities:-
 Delivery of full courses, lessons, tutoring, project work and training can b provided to the
students through teleconferencing.
 Delivery of certificate level courses for professional development.
 Introduction of short /new courses in skill development, and to address problems related to
introduction of new curriculum, and lack of teachers and facilities.
 Tutoring in difficult areas of the curriculum.
 Remedial learning and off -hours teaching can be provided.
 Enrichment, Updating, guidance to additional learning resources, extension of existing courses.
 Interaction by students with scientists, experts, decision and policy makers, etc., to obtain
multiple perspectives on an issue as in PhD Nursing.

Advantages of teleconferencing:-
 It provides learning to large groups, which are geographically dispersed.
 Cost -benefit in terms of time, traveling and spread of resources over large groups.
 It makes the best use of available resources by expanding the learning opportunity and taking the
resources to the learners.
 It overcomes time Or scheduling problems for the learners who can assemble at a learning center
for a limited period only because of their full time Or part time work, and family and community
commitments.
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 It can be designed to meet local specific requirements of training in terms of content, language
and conditions.
 It increases intrinsic motivation and curiosity in students to learn more.
 It provides opportunity for instant feedback.
 It helps to personalize learning by taking care of personal objectives, needs and abilities.
 It can be used in all the areas of education-formal Or informal which means this area is very
wide.

Types of teleconferencing:-
 One-way video two-way audio conferencing.
 Two-way video conferencing.
 Audio-graphic conferencing.
 Audio conferencing.

Video conferencing:-
Definitions:-
 According to Berge and Collins (1993) , “video conferencing offers people who are absent from
the meeting place the ability to virtually participate without commuting”.
 According to Pepper(2003), “video conferencing connects two distant locations in real time”.
 In a video conference, the participants are able to communicate in real time by exchanging image
and sound via the internet or private networks using a camera and a microphone.

Classification of video conferencing:-

According to the connection type between the distant locations and the make-up of the participants, VCs
can be divided into the following categories:
o Point-to-point VC
1. One to one
2. One to group
3. Group to group.

o Multiple video conferencing

1. One to many
2. One to group
3. Group to group.

Learning activities:-
.Start of the session:-
 Anchorperson introduces the topic and the objectives of the session; the learner should know
what are the learning tasks and what are the expected outcomes.
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 He briefly describes presentation methodology and draws on learners’ Knowledge and

Experience.
 Attendance of participants, if feasible and required.
 Previous knowledge of the learners’ is assessed.
 State the approach or the methodology of teaching the topic.
 He sets agenda for discussion and instructs Learners when and How to Call.
 He introduces panel members, experts and guests.
 Orientation is given to participants regarding activities to be employed.

.Body of the session:-

 Set agenda for the discussion; ideally, it should be just one point.
 Set time for discussion of point(s) -the decisions should be clear and reflect the groups’ views.
 Announce the focus of each expert and time schedule.
 The anchor person should direct the flow of discussion from one resource person to another as
per the time schedule.
 Resource persons presents concept and invite interactions.
 The students watch the VC, discuss with the speaker and ask questions, etc.

.End of the session:-

 Summarization of the topics is done.

 After the completion of the VC, the students discuss and draw conclusions.
 Feedback is obtained.
 Based on the above, the teacher engages the students in activities aiming at solving a real
problem.

Lay-out of venue:-
The lay-out of a VC room is an important factor for its successful implementation. It depends on the type
and the purpose of the VC, the participants’ needs and the available budget. One-to-One VCs do not
require a specific arrangement in the venue, whereas VCs with groups or bigger audience need a detailed
lay-out design of the venue.

Tips for effective use of video conferencing:-

 Microphones must not be placed within the speakers’ range, because this will result in resonance
to the distant location, which can be very annoying during a VC .
 Visual data projected to distant locations through slides using PowerPoint or Document camera
must be legible (at least at 24 Font size Arial and Tahoma), by avoiding dense text and
complicated graphics.
 All furniture in a VC room (desks, chairs) must be portable, so that every time the arrangement
meets the participants’ needs. In other words, it should not be fixed on the floor or wired.
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 Electricity wiring must be mounted and safely away from the participants’ space.
 Select soft earthly colors for furniture and walls and avoid intense contrasting colors.
 The room must be equipped with light bulbs over 125W.
 Carpeting the floor, drawing curtains made of soundproof material and limiting glass or wood
surfaces can enhance acoustics in a VC room.
 Combination of ceiling and wireless microphones can be effective for medium-sized VC rooms.
For smaller venues, an Omni-directional microphone is adequate.
 The number of participants must correspond to the capacity of the room. Also, it is advisable that
the time length of the VC does not exceed the 60-90 minutes.
 During the VC it is essential that there is access to telephone in the room. In addition, there must
be easy access to personal information (names and telephone numbers) of the technicians at the
distant locations in case of unexpected audio/visual problems.

Advantages of video conference:-

 It can make specialty care more accessible to underserved rural and urban populations.
 It eliminates expensive travel. Video consultations from a rural clinic to a specialist can alleviate
prohibitive travel and associated costs for patients.
 It makes the best use of limited time.
 It allows immediate, full two way communication of content-verbal, pictorial objects etc.
 It provides a sense of social presence.

Advantages of video conference specific to education:-

 Video conferencing also opens up new possibilities for continuing education or training for
isolated or rural health practitioners, who may not be able to leave a rural practice to take part in
professional meetings or educational opportunities.
 Rural practice to take part in professional meetings or educational opportunities.
 Faculty member keeps in touch with class while away for a week at a conference .
 Guest lecturer is brought into a class from another institution.
 Student interviews with an employer in another city.
 Teleseminar.
 Distance technology can be used to facilitate statewide teaching and sharing the delivery of
nursing learning resources.
 Technology provides efficient, safe, and effective alternatives to expand clinical teaching
opportunities. Access to central and regional clinical labs.

Disadvantages:-
o Teleconferences are somewhat formal events that need prior planning for maximum usefulness.
Although they require pre planning and careful timing.
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o A large number of people is difficult to manage in a single teleconference: with individuals

attempting to interact and present their points of view. One-of- one dialogue with a few people is
usually preferable. Widely divergent topics are also difficult to handle with a large number of
people participating in a teleconference.
o Costs can be high: costs are incurred in equipment varying sites for connections, substantial
agency staff time to co-ordinate and lead is likely.
o Teleconferences take time to organize: establishing technical links, identifying sites and
constituencies and coordinating meetings can be time-consuming Materials need to be prepared
and disseminated.
o Staffing needs can be significant: personal such as technicians and agency staff to set up and co
ordinate meetings are required. Training to conduct a conference is necessary.
o Community people are alienated if a meeting is poorly implemented: or if anticipated goals are
not met. People need to be assured that the project and planning staff is mindful of their
concerns. Technical misunderstood or not heard, result in bad feeling.
o Teleconferencing reduces opportunities for face to face contact: between participants and
proponents of plans or projects. It cannot replace a desirable contact at individual meeting
between stake holders and agency staff in local sites.

Summary:-
 Introduction.
 Functions of teleconferencing.
 Uses of teleconferencing.
 Advantages of teleconferencing.
 Types of teleconferencing.
 Video conferencing Definitions.
 Classification of video conferencing.
 Learning Activities.
 Lay out of venue.
 Tips for effective use of video conferencing.
 Advantages of video conferencing.
 Advantages of video conferencing specific to education.
 Disadvantages of video conferencing.

Bibliography:-
 SodhiKaur Jaspreet.A Textbook of Nursing Education:video tele conferencing.2 nd Ed.
JaypeeBrothers Medical Publishers.2022.Pg (165-68) .
 BhaskaraNima, Raj BhaskaraElakkuvana. D. A Textbook of Nursing Education: video
conferencing .2nd Ed. EMMESS Medical Publishers.2015.Pg (162-63).
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 Basheer P. Shebeer. Text book of Nursing Education: video conferencing .2 ndEd. EMMESS
Medical Publishers. 2018.pg(212-213).
 Dharangini N.video conferencing .2020.https://www.slideshare.net/TCPLibrary/video-
conferencing-238854079.
 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teleconference?wprov=sfla1
 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Videotelephony.