Interactive Video Conference

Interactive video conferencing involves the use of specialized equipment to see and hear people at multiple sites in real time.  To schedule an interactive video conference, the requesting party must complete the following steps:

1. Check the availability of the Education Technology Video Conference Room/Studio at http://www.ndhealth.gov/et/DisplayStudioCalendar.asp.
    
2. Check availability of each remote location to be included in the video conference. Remote locations can be connected in three ways.

 
1. Some of the sites reside on the North Dakota State System. These sites should be the first choice. A list of sites can be viewed at http://www.ndhealth.gov/et/CertifiedVideoSites.htm. These sites are controlled by the local governmental agency that owns the equipment. Many of the sites take care of their own scheduling, but some sites will refer you to the North Dakota Interactive Video Network (IVN) scheduling system for scheduling. If you are referred to the IVN Scheduling system, tell them that you are only scheduling the remote room location and not the video conference bridge.
    
2. Some sites use a special phone connection called ISDN. The quality of these sites is good, but long distance phone charges will apply. Connection from Bismarck to Denver, for example, is about $55 per hour.  Please do not make contact with the IVN bridge to schedule ISDN services. The Division of Education Technology will make this contact if use of the IVN bridge becomes necessary. ISDN sites usually can be found by speaking with the remote site participants to see who may have video conferencing equipment. You must obtain the ISDN phone number and schedule the use of the remote video conference room.
    
3. Some sites use the Internet. These sites use a connection called Internet Protocol (IP). The quality of these sites is not as good as the other forms of video conferencing. There is no central listing of these sites. These sites usually can be found by speaking with the remote site participants to see who may have video conferencing equipment. You must obtain an IP address (example 10.348.43.453) and make sure that the remote site can receive a call from an outside source. You must then schedule the use of the remote video conference room and obtain the IP address.
    
3. Complete the video conference request form; provide the date and time of the video conference, remote site locations, connection type (i.e. IP, ISDN) and phone number or IP address information; and indicate about how many people will be attending the meeting at each of the sites. Please also advise if you plan on using any audio/video support materials during the video conference (i.e. PowerPoint slides, video clips).

Web Casting

Web casting involves the distribution of live or recorded video from one site to multiple personal computers connected to the Internet. No specialized equipment is needed by the web cast recipients other than a personal computer with sound card, speakers and a current version of the free Windows Media Player software. 

1. Check the availability of the Education Technology Video Conference Room/Studio at http://www.ndhealth.gov/et/DisplayStudioCalendar.asp.
    
2. Contact the Division of Education Technology by email; provide the date and time of the web cast and the number of people involved in presenting the material; and advise if you plan on using any audio/video support materials during the web cast (i.e. PowerPoint slides, video clips).

Video Production

Video production involves the creation of broadcast quality programs to be distributed on VHS video tape, DVDs, CD-ROMs and other media.

1.      Check the availability of the Education Technology Video Conference Room/Studio at http://www.ndhealth.gov/et/DisplayStudioCalendar.asp.

2.      Contact the Division of Education Technology by email and schedule a preproduction meeting.

3.      Finalize the date or dates that the audio/video program will be recorded with the Division of Education Technology.

Teleconferencing

Teleconferencing involves the interconnection of multiple telephones using telephone bridging equipment from IVN or other sources, including commercial vendors.

1.      Schedule the use of a telephone bridge. If the IVN telephone bridge is to be used, you must schedule use of the bridge through them. Please call the IVN office at 701.777.6486 and select option #3 for audio conferencing scheduling. The Division of Education Technology also has access to a telephone bridge from a commercial vendor. Contact the Division of Education Technology by email to schedule use of this bridge.