RAITN
From TechHelp
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[edit] What is RAITN?
The Rochester Area Interactive Telecommunications Network, RAITN, is a partnership of educational institutions working cooperatively to share their resources, ideas and technologies for the enhancement of education in the Rochester area since 1993. Rochester area schools take pride in offering broad instructional programs that meet the needs of the entire range of students served. The combination of enrollment fluctuation and budgetary pressures has made it increasingly difficult for schools to maintain program breadth. Offering specialized or low enrollment courses via synchronous distance learning systems allow small groups of students from multiple districts protect program breadth. Instructional programming for the network includes high school academic courses, undergraduate and graduate level college courses, staff development workshops, teleconferencing, electronic field trips and inter-district meetings. Programming for RAITN is coordinated through Technology Services of Monroe # 1 BOCES.
[edit] How are rooms "connected"?
RAITN classrooms are connected via fiber optic cable. All RAITN classrooms are equipped with cameras and monitors that allow students to see and talk with students and teachers from other RAITN sites in real time. At any one time, multiple combinations of schools can be connected for live audio and video interaction.
[edit] What is RAITN-light?
Experiments with the integration of compressed video via ISDN (384K and 30 frames per second and continuous view into our current RAITN fiber network was so successful that we added "fiber challenged" schools to RAITN via RAITN-light! RAITN-light! connectivity is for any schools or businesses that are unable to access the fiber necessary to bring them directly into RAITN. RAITN -light! applications also will bring our RAITN members numerous interactive "field trips" or authentic learning experiences from around the world. The NASA Johnson Space Center Mock-up and Training Facility, the Indianapolis Zoo, the Henry Ford Museum and the Children's Museum of Indianapolis are just a few of many groups who offer fully interactive educational enhancements via ISDN connections that we now can incorporate into your schools directly via RAITN-light! and your RAITN room. Any school or business site that has compatible ISDN videoconferencing capabilities, anywhere in the world, can connect to our network for classes or meetings or special events.
[edit] Who should I contact for more information?
Holly Sharp is the RAITN Coordinator and can be reached via email at holly_sharp@boces.monroe.edu or by phone at 585-383-6603.
[edit] What are the primary benefits of using RAITN?
There are many benefits to using RAITN. One reason is that RAITN provides the medium for providing students with authentic learning experiences that would be impossible otherwise. For example, math students are able to work with divers from the Ocean Institute during their math class to work on dive tables. Secondly, student are able to take courses not offered in their home districts. For example, students can take Calculus III at the University of Buffalo via RAITN. Thirdly, RAITN provides a time efficient forum for teachers and administrators to meet with other schools to discuss a variety of educational topics
