Overview
The Purpose of the Videoconference System
The Hawaii Department of Education videoconference system is helping to transform education for student achievement by assisting in the following areas of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) and the reinvention of the Hawaii Department of Education.
- Facilitating the provision of timely, quality staff development activities in spite of geographic challenges.
- Delivering sustained and focused support services to schools.
- Providing students with quality enrichment programs.
- Reducing the time lost in traveling to workshop or meeting sites.
The Technology
The videoconference system is comprised of IP based units located at schools and offices throughout the state linked together by Multi-Point Conferencing Units (MCU) on each island. ISDN connectivity is available through the MCUs.
A typical videoconference system consists of a television and videoconference device that includes a microphone and camera.
The system is managed by the Office of Curriculum, Instruction and Student Support, and the Network Support Services Branch of the Office of Information Technology Services.
Videoconference system defined
Any employee of the Hawaii Department of Education may use the videoconference system. The "videoconference system" is defined as the technical infrastructure components that connect and manage the end points within the Hawaii DOE. This is the responsibility of the Office of Curriculum, Instruction and Student Support, and the Network Support Services Branch of the Office of Information Technology Services.
There is no department or branch in the DOE that performs centralized scheduling for all videoconference equipped sites. Each site is responsible for managing access to their equipment.
Accessing end point equipment in your school or office
If you have access to an endpoint in your school or office building, it is the responsibility of the school or office staff to schedule access to the unit.
End point equipment not available at your location
If you are a DOE employee but do not have a videoconference unit in your school or office, there are a few options on Oahu. OCISS has two sites that are available for use, as well as one site at OCISS Annex.
To find out more about reserving VC sites or OCISS Annex room 127, contact Videoconferencing at: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 808-837-8004.
Here are some other suggestions but availability is determined by each school or office.