GIVC Design Principles

GIVC is a total learning solution, merging technology transparently to support sound educational goals such as learner involvement, learning facilitation, respect, immediacy, teamwork, and engagement.

GIVC provides global communication, intercultural and international education in a real-time synchronous learning environment.

GIVC offers easy cost-effective access to world-class expertise.

The Professional Setup

IT Department of most institutions should be able to install the hardware and software required. The professional packages available are from vendors such as Polycom and Sony. The systems are affordable and easily installed. The requirement is that the rooms that connect to each other either install the same vendor’s equipment or else ensure that the protocols are compatible and fully tested as installed.

What Software is required?

Once the hardware has been set up with an operating system and a browser that can access the Internet through a broadband wired or wire-less connection, the system can be tested by using any of a number of software programs that utilizes microphones and cameras.

Microsoft supplies Netmeeting so loading Netmeeting and testing its voice and camera abilities could be a start. It is always good to have extra software. Load one or more of the following: Live Messenger from Microsoft, Yahoo! Messenger from Yahoo, or Skype from Skype Limited.
Follow the installation instructions and testing instructions. In order to link up with the second classroom this process must be duplicated in another room and both classrooms should load the matching software. Each room should have an account with the matching vendor and once signed in can link up by connecting to each other.

What Hardware is required?

Usually the IT department will install the equipment.

A Personal Computer is required with Internet access. A laptop with a wireless card could suffice.

A soundcard is required and a built in microphone and speaker may not have sufficient power to serve a large group, so an external speaker that is plugged in to a power source should have enough power boost to be heard by a large group. A sensitive microphone that can serve a group should be plugged in and situated in the center and toward the front of the room.
A wide angled camera should be plugged in and should have a view of the whole room. It will be helpful if it has a zoom and pan control since a fixed lens wide angle may show the room but not provide much clarity about who is speaking.

What are the difficulties that can be encountered?

The major difficulties to overcome are technophobia and curriculum adaptation. Since curricula are not generally designed to account for a technology environment they have to be revised with a technology environment taken into account. The technology proficiency of the faculty is not a requirement but the technophobia can be a barrier.Both of these issues can be and have been addressed through faulty development processes.

What are the difficulties that can be encountered?

The major difficulties to overcome are technophobia and curriculum adaptation. Since curricula are not generally designed to account for a technology environment they have to be revised with a technology environment taken into account. The technology proficiency of the faculty is not a requirement but the technophobia can be a barrier.Both of these issues can be and have been addressed through faulty development processes.

How easy is it to implement the GIVC system?

The GIVC system is easy to implement since it has been thoroughly documented. All of the implementation steps have been documented and shared with the original implementation team who tested and then conducted live online video sessions.

The GIVC team has been through the total process. This is a practical learning process.