Keller Building Suite 12
P.O. Box 64
Fayette, MO 65248
phone    660 248-1148
fax    660 248-2268

Network

About the Network

MIT-E's I-TV facilities are primarily used for the delivery of advanced high school and dual credit courses to college bound juniors and seniors. In 2005 the Network completed an upgrade to each of our videoconferencing facilities. The consortium converted to IP based connectivity (H.323) utilizing the internet. The consortium uses each school's existing internet connectivity to either call directly to other sites, or dial into a video bridge maintained by MOREnet, the statewide public education bandwidth provider. Connecting through a video bridge enables multiple sites to connect for a class and also allows for standardized dialing for students and instructors.

H.323 connections using the internet allow for a more flexible, decentralized network, and keeps MIT-E on pace with current trends in the videoconferencing industry. A major part of the upgrade focused on updating the hardware in each room. The network installed Polycom VSX 7000 codecs with Visual Concert in each school's primary I-TV room. This gives each member the ability to send or receive two video streams during their connections. The result is an increase student-to-teacher contact and enhanced ability to share information between locations. Primary network rooms are fully integrated and standardized, with the main components including AMX controllers, instructor and student cameras, Knox video switchers, document cameras, DVD and VCRs, and the codec with streaming capabilities. Instructors at network schools use the same interface and have identical components available for sending or receiving audio and video between sites.

In 2007 MIT-E installed a Codian IPVCR that will allow events to be streamed or recorded for playback at a later time. Video files can be played online, saved for later use, or played directly into a videoconference. Uses include recording for home bound students, professional development presentations, review sessions, playback of lectures, and recording for groups when students are gone for extended periods of time.

Several schools elected to set up additional I-TV rooms in order to offer more classes through videoconferencing. These rooms have one camera and are receive only. They include a Lifesize Express HD codec and a variety of Polycom Viewstation endpoints.