Schools Videoconferencing

UK Videoconferencing Services Project - Phase 2 (VCSP2)

(Last updated: 8 September 2006)

The UK Videoconferencing Services Project was Phase 2 of the project to pilot national-scale videoconferencing between schools' networks via the JANET Interconnects.

The project was completed on 31 July 2006, however all of the services continue to be centrally funded for all schools in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

The Phase 1 Pilot (VCSP), funded by the DfES for schools in England, built on the work already accomplished by the Regional Broadband Consortia (RBCs) in establishing videoconferencing services within their regions, and established the interoperability standards and support services required for seamless national and international use of videoconferencing by schools.

The Phase 2 Project (VCSP2) continued this work in England and extended the pilot services to Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. The Phase 2 Project was managed by JANET(UK), who also manage JANET, the UK 's education and research network.

 

Benefits to schools

IP-ISDN Gateway

A growing number of schools want to use their new Broadband (IP) connection to videoconference. Schools with Broadband (IP), that are connected to IP videoconferencing-enabled regional networks, can now videoconference with other schools using IP or ISDN, via the JANET Videoconferencing Service.

Schools without Broadband may want to videoconference using ISDN, until they are connected to the IP network. The UK Videoconferencing Services Project provides national gateway facilities to bring together all schools with IP or ISDN videoconferencing systems.

Funding for ISDN calls

For the duration of the Phase 1 Pilot in England, funding was set aside specifically for ISDN calls, so as not to disadvantage schools not yet connected to Broadband. The costs of all ISDN calls made on behalf of schools in England will continue to be met from this budget during the Phase 2 Project, up to the limit of the remaining funds. It is anticipated that this will last until the end of the project, although this will be reviewed in April 2006.

Classroom 2000 (C2K) will meet the cost of all ISDN calls made during the project on behalf of schools in Northern Ireland.

Learning and Teaching Scotland (LTS) has a similar budget available for ISDN call made on behalf of schools in Scotland.

ISDN calls made by JVCS on behalf of schools in Wales will be charged on a cost-recovery basis, with a nominal quarterly standing charge. In some cases the cost of these calls may be met by the relevant local authority.

All international ISDN calls must be agreed in advance by JANET(UK) for England and Wales, by C2K for Northern Ireland and by LTS for Scotland.

All videoconferences undertaken within the project must include at least one IP videoconferencing venue.

The JANET Videoconferencing Service (JVCS)

The JVCS is a national videoconferencing service providing high quality video-conferencing services to UK Higher and Further Education. The Phase 2 Project makes its services available to all schools throughout the UK .

The JVCS Management Centre, based at the Computing Services in the University of Edinburgh, provides management for all central resources, including the gatekeeper hierarchy and registration of organisations. The Management Centre also undertakes Quality Assurance Assessments of all registered endpoints.

The JVCS provides a simple online Booking Service for arranging videoconferences. Once a local authority or RBC or has registered a school videoconferencing venue with the JVCS, schools can arrange videoconferences with other schools, colleges, universities, museums, galleries and libraries throughout the UK and in other countries.

All videoconferences undertaken within the pilot must include at least one IP videoconferencing venue.

Videoconferences may be point-to-point, between two schools or a school and another organisation, or multipoint, involving at least one school and two or more other schools or organisations. Organisations which are not already registered with JVCS can be brought into videoconferences as guests.

The JVCS dials out to each venue at the start of every videoconference; there is no need to dial into a videoconference once it is arranged. This ensures that no uninvited venues can join a videoconference.

Registering with the JVCS

Schools wishing to participate should contact their local authority or RBC in the first instance to

• Discuss whether their equipment and connection are suitable and if so
• Register their videoconferencing equipment with JVCS.

You can Register with JVCS here. Just follow the screens and answer the questions. Your completed request will be sent to your local authority (or C2K, LTS, or relevant RBC) for authentication and authorisation.

Following the registration process, every videoconferencing system undergoes a brief quality assessment to ensure that all videoconferences provide an optimum experience. Following the quality assessment, advice and guidance on system configuration and environmental issues are provided.

A condition of registering with the JVCS and participating in the pilot is that each school completes a brief Web-based feedback form after each videoconference.

Educational Content Poviders cannot register themselves with JVCS. They must be invited to participate as a result of an authentic request from a registered school. Once authenticated, JANET(UK) will consider their authorisation and registration.

Technical support 

Videoconferencing support for schools will continue to be provided through the existing local authority or RBC support structure. Schools must liaise with their local authority or RBC in order to become registered to use the JANET Videoconferencing Service. JVCS provides operational support for all videoconferences booked via the JVCS Booking Service. JVCS is not able to deal with enquiries about the service or requests for technical support from individual schools; these should be directed to local authorities or RBCs.

Feedback 

A condition of participating in the Phase 2 Project is that each school completes a brief Web-based feedback form after each videoconference.

Workshops

JANET(UK) organises quarterly workshops for representatives of the countries, regions, authorities and content providers that are participating in the project. These focus on specific themes. The next workshop is scheduled for 16 March 2006 and the final workshop is on 8 June 2006. Check the Project Diary for further details.

Further information

To find out more about the UK Videoconferencing Services Project please visit the JVCS web site at:
www.jvcs.ja.net/schools/

or contact your local authority or RBC. Links to their contact information can be found at:
www.ja.net/community/schools/index.html.

To find out more about the JANET Collaborate Pilot Project please visit: http://www.webarchive.ja.net/development/collaboration/pilot/index.html

 

If you would like to discuss any aspect of this project, please contact:

Contacts

• Dr Robert Symberlist, Head of Schools Services
• Tim Boundy, Schools Content Co-ordinator