Technical Information

Our state-of-the-art virtual classroom makes engaging, collaborative and inclusive learning available to all students - regardless of their geographic location or socio-economic situation.

Equipping students for Learning in the virtual classroom

All that is required for students to participate in courses from Emerging Sciences Victoria is:

  • access to a computer (laptop or desktop), preferably with a built-in camera;
  • a stable internet connection; and,
  • a ‘gaming’ headset with a microphone.*
    *Please note that this is different from the earplugs/ear buds with a built-in microphone that can be used with mobile phones and other similar devices

We use a combination of different free software and online services to facilitate teaching and learning, and can work with school ICT staff to ensure that students are able to connect to, and participate in lessons.

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Connecting and Collaborating: A step-by-step guide

Connecting students to the virtual classroom and fostering collaborating across large geographic distances is what we do best. Here’s how a typical ESV session works:

1. Broadcast

Lights! Camera! Action!

The lesson broadcast begins from our dedicated studio.

Cameras and microphones start transmitting the video and audio from the studio into our video conferencing platform (currently Cisco WebEx).

Our presenters open up the session, ready for students to join.

A link is emailed to each of the students enrolled in the subject for the semester, inviting them to join the session.

2. Real-Time Login

Students login and join the session, from wherever they happen to be.

Each student powers-up and opens their laptop, and connects their headset.

Opening an internet browser (Google Chrome, Safari, Internet Explorer or Microsoft Edge), each student signs in to their Emerging Sciences Victoria (emsci) email account. We use Google’s free Gmail service to provide this access to all enrolled students.

Each student locates the link sent out by our presenters, and clicks to join the session.

The video conferencing application begins automatically, connecting the students to our presenters in a live video conference. Students can now see and hear the action taking place in our studio.

3. Virtual Classroom

Connected to our presenters and connected to each other in real-time.

After joining the video conference, students will also be able to broadcast their own video and audio, using a camera (if their laptop is equipped with one) and the microphone that is attached to their headset.

Students can choose not to broadcast their video if they wish.

  • Inside the video conference, students can:
  • Listen to, and observe, what our presenters are doing in the studio;
  • View the camera feeds of other students in the session;
  • Hear the audio from other students in the session;
  • Use their microphone to ask questions, participate in discussions and make comments on the material being presented;*
  • Use a built-in chat feed to type messages, and ask questions to the presenters;*
  • Use a built in chat feed to type messages and ask questions to other students in the session (as a collective group);*

4. Collaborative Learning

Documents, discussion and deeper learning with Google Classroom.

During each session, and between sessions, students use Google Classroom to work together. All the content from each session is made available to each student.

Using Google Classroom, students can:

  • Access slides, documents and other course materials;
  • Be arranged into small groups for collaborative assignment work;
  • Write notes and comments on slides and documents;
  • Create new documents and work on them with other students in real-time — allowing groups of students to participate in, and record, collaborative learning activities, such as brainstorming;
  • Revise existing documents and slides, adding to them over time.

After each session, a recording of the session is uploaded to a private YouTube channel — allowing each student to revisit and re-watch any of the material covered.

How-To Videos

 

How to log in to ESV

Learn how to log into your Emerging Sciences Victoria email account with this simple video.

Watch

How to log in to Cisco WebEx

Learn how to install and log into Cisco WebEx to join ESV Classes.

Watch

How to use Google Apps

Learn how to use Google Apps and other tools that we use to deliver the ESV program.

Watch

Equipment Required for ESV

Ensure you have the right equipment set-up and ready to go!

Watch

Interested in a particular ESV course?

Get in touch with our team today!

Whether you have a question about our courses or looking for any additional information you can’t find. Complete the short form below and our friendly team will get back to you as soon as possible.