Teleconference Definition

A teleconference is a telephone meeting among two or more participants

involving technology more sophisticated than a simple two-way phone
connection. At its simplest, a teleconference can be an audio conference
with one or both ends of the conference sharing a speaker phone. With
considerably more equipment and special arrangements, a teleconference
can be a conference, called a videoconference, in which the participants
can see still or motion video images of each other. Because of the high
bandwidth of video and the opportunity for larger and multiple display
screens, a videoconference requires special telecommunication
arrangements and a special room at each end. As equipment and highbandwidth cabling become more commonplace, it's possible that
videoconferences can be held from your own computer or even in a
mobile setting. One of the special projects of Internet2 is to explore the
possibility of having teleconferences in which all participants actually
appear to be in the same room together. Today's audio teleconferences
are sometimes arranged over dial-up phone lines using bridging services
that provide the necessary equipment for the call.
E-learning (eLearning or e-Learning) is the use of electronic educational
technology in teaching and learning.
Information and communication technology (ICT) in education, EdTech,
learning technology, multimedia learning, technology-enhanced learning
(TEL), computer-based instruction (CBI), computer managed instruction,
computer-based training (CBT), computer-assisted instruction or
computer-aided instruction (CAI), internet-based training (IBT), flexible
learning, web-based training (WBT), online education, online learning,
[1]
virtual education, virtual learning environments (VLE; which are also
called learning platforms), m-learning, and digital education.[2] In usage,
all of these terms appear in articles and reviews; the term "e-learning" is
used frequently, but is variously and imprecisely defined and applied
These alternative terms are all linguistically more restrictive than
"educational technology" in that they refer to the use of modern tools
such as computers, digital technology, electronic media, networked digital

devices, and associated software and "courseware" with learning

scenarios, worksheets, and interactive exercises that facilitate learning.
However, these alternative names individually emphasize a particular
digitization approach, component or delivery method. Accordingly, each
conflates to the broad domain of educational technology. For example, mlearning emphasizes mobility, but is otherwise indistinguishable in
principle from educational technology.
M-learning
M-learning or mobile learning is defined as "learning across multiple
contexts, through social and content interactions, using personal
electronic devices.[1]:page 4A form of e-learning distance education, mlearners can use mobile device educational technology in many locations
at their time convenience.[2]
M-learning technologies include handheld computers, MP3 players,
notebooks, mobile phones and tablets. M-learning focuses on the mobility
of the learner, interacting with portable technologies. Using mobile tools
for creating learning aids and materials becomes an important part
of informal learning.[3]
M-learning is convenient in that it is accessible from virtually anywhere.
Sharing is almost instantaneous among everyone using the same content,
which leads to the reception of instant feedback and tips. This highly
active process has proven to increase exam scores from the fiftieth to the
seventieth percentile, and cut the dropout rate in technical fields by 22
percent.[4] M-learning also brings strong portability by replacing books and
notes with small devices, filled with tailored learning contents.
Mobile learning is the delivery of learning, education or learning support
on mobile phones, PDAs or tablets. E-Learning has provided the ability for
traditional learning to break out of the classroom setting and for students
to learn at home. Mobile learning has enhanced upon e-learning by taking
it a step further and allowing students to learn virtually anywhere a mobile
signal is available. This allows students to stay connected to the
classroom while traveling, vacationing, during breaks or during any other
free time one may have. Mobile learning is in its infancy and as of
September 2011, 9.35% of apps from the iTunes App Store were in the
education category. [5]
New mobile technology, such as hand-held based devices, is playing a
large role in redefining how we receive information. The recent advances
in mobile technology are changing the primary purpose of mobile devices
from making or receiving calls to retrieving the latest information on any

subject. "Numerous agencies including the Department of Defense (DoD),

Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Intelligence community, and law
enforcement are utilizing mobile technology for information
management."

Flipped classroom is an instructional methodology and a type

of blended learning that delivers instructional content, often online,
outside of the classroom and moves activities, including those that may
have traditionally been considered homework, into the classroom. In a
flipped classroom model, students watch online lectures, collaborate in
online discussions, or carry out research at home and engage in concepts
in the classroom with the guidance of the instructor.

Traditional vs flipped teaching [edit]

In the traditional model of classroom instruction, the teacher is typically
the central focus of a lesson and the primary disseminator of information
during the class period. The teacher responds to questions while students
defer directly to the teacher for guidance and feedback. In a classroom
with a radically traditional style of instruction, individual lessons may be
didactic and entirely content oriented. Pedagogical methods, however,
evolve and in some traditional classrooms the instructional flow involves
teacher-driven lessons where content is conveyed after which students
work independently or in small groups on an application task or activity.
Class discussions are typically centered on the teacher who controls the
flow of the conversation.[2] Typically, this pattern of teaching also involves
giving students the task of reading from a textbook or practicing a
concept by working on a problem set, for example, outside school.[3]
In contrast to the traditional teacher-centered model of classroom
learning, the flipped classroom intentionally shifts instruction to a learnercentered model in which class time is dedicated to exploring topics in
greater depth and creating meaningful learning opportunities, while
educational technology such as online videos are employed to deliver
content outside of the classroom. In a flipped classroom content delivery
may take a variety of forms. Often times video lessons prepared by the

teacher or third parties are used as a content delivery mechanism, though

online collaborative discussions, digital research, or text readings may be
utilized as well.[4] [5] [6]
Just as the content delivery in a flipped classroom takes diversified forms
at home, so too do the in-class activities. In-class lessons accompanying
flipped classroom may include activity learning or more traditional
homework problems, among other practices, to engage students in the
content. In the flipped classroom, in-class activities vary by instructor and
subject but may include: using math manipulative and emerging
mathematical technologies, in-depth laboratory experiments, original
document analysis, debate or speech presentation, current event
discussions, peer reviewing, project-based learning, and skill development
or concept practice [7] [8] These types of active learning allow for highly
differentiated instruction [9] and more time can be spent in class on the
upper end of Bloom's taxonomy as students tackle difficult problems, work
in groups, research, and construct knowledge with the help of their
teacher and peers [10]
As a result a teacher's interaction with students in a flipped classroom is
more personalized and less didactic and students are actively involved in
knowledge acquisition and construction as they participate in and
evaluate their learning.

What is a Smart Classroom?

A Smart Classroom is a traditional lecture style teaching space that has
available technological equipment that can be used to aid and enhance
instruction of a course. Classrooms are categorized based on the
equipment available:

Advanced Smart Technology: Features a smart podium with a

touch panel control system, PC and laptop connection, document
camera, DVD/VCR Player, projector, and screen.
Intermediate Smart Technology: Features a smart podium with
a control panel, PC and laptop connection, projector, and screen.
May also have an overheard transparency projector.
Basic Technology: Includes a laptop connection, projector,
DVD/VCR player, and screen. May also have an overhead
transparency projector.

The Benefits of Going for Smart Classrooms in your Education Institution

We all know how helpful it is to remember something that is taught
visually to us rather than the one that is read through pages after pages.
Just imagine, how beneficial would it be for students to understand a
chapter visually in class. The concept of smart class education is indeed a
blessing to the students of the 21st Century. Technology is changing the
way life functions and if its for the good, then why not go for it!
Smart classes use all interactive modules like videos and presentations
and these visually attractive methods of teaching becomes appealing to
students who are already struggling with the traditional method of
teaching in a classroom. In fact, smart classes are almost like watching
movies as sometimes, animated visuals are used to teach a point. This
kind of visual is both eye-catching and young students can easily relate
with them. This is because the audio-visual senses of students are
targeted and it helps the students store the information fast and more
effectively. And then, there is the advantage of utilising much of the time
wasted earlier in drawing or preparing diagrams on board. Smartboards
have all these information in memory and can be presented during the
time of class lectures and thus, the time saved can be used in more
important things.
Some students and teachers have problems with chalk dust and they tend
to suffer from allergic reactions. The smartboards saves you from such
distress and wont let you develop any health issues later. Smartboards
are a lot smarter when it comes to field trips which is impossible with
textbooks. A field trip to the deserts of Sahara or the rainforests of the
Amazon basin becomes easy with visuals in the smartboards of smart
classroom. These visuals are definitely more attractive than those
descriptions in a few lines of a textbook.
One of the main reasons behind the constant increase in popularity of
smart classes is the fact that this kind of education is perfect for all kinds

of students. A classroom has students with varied power of understanding

and learning, and studying from notes and other materials becomes
difficult for some students. But the use of smart classes and modern
technology eases the learning process for all students. Moreover, this kind
of education in class promotes more interaction between teacher and
student with more participation from both sides.
When you take the negative side of this kind of smart education, there are
just a few when compared to the myriad advantages it offers to students.
Some technical fault that might arise during a class lecture is a common
concern among those lobbying against smart technologies in classroom
education. Then, there is the costing factor as well that is preventing
schools to adopt this technology. With smart education comes the problem
of high cost of education.
The possibilities or advantages of smart classrooms are endless. Although
adopting such a new concept might be a tough decision for many, but the
technology can create a new opening for the education sector. Its indeed
a blessing, all you need to do is to give it a try!
Virtual Classroom
Virtual Classroom is a wonderful application for E-Learning with over
Digital Network of National Informatics Centre, Ministry of Communication
& IT, Govt. of India. It supports Educational Institution in better mentoring
for the remote learning. The infrastructure facilitates quality Education
and Research at National Level interconnecting premier institutions and
students removing state and district boundaries.
The Faculty can do an interactive Lecture. Students can participate live
during the course of the session from a remote site.
A virtual classroom is an online learning environment. The environment
can be web-based and accessed through a portal or software-based and
require a downloadable executable file. Just like in a real-world classroom,
a student in a virtual classroom participates in synchronous instruction,
which means that the teacher and students are logged into the virtual
learning environment at the same time.

Many schools and businesses have rolled out virtual classrooms to provide
synchonrous distance education. Virtual classroom software applications
often employ multiple synchronous technologies, such as web
conferencing, video conferencing, live streaming, and web-based VoIP to
provide remote students with the ability to collaborate in real time. To
enhance the educational process, applications may also provide students
with asynchronous communication tools, such as message
boards and chat capabilities