Technological Constraints and Implementation Barriers of Using Videoconferencing for Virtual Teaching in New Zealand Secondary Schools

Source: Journal of Technology and Teacher Education, 17(4), 505-522. (October 2009).

Nine New Zealand secondary schools participated in the OtagoNet project, using videoconferencing technologies to deliver courses to multiple sites.

This article reports findings from a study conducted between 2001 and 2004 to evaluate the effectiveness of OtagoNet. It was found that videoconferencing technology had a significant impact on pedagogy and teaching styles.
Furthermore, it was found that the use of videoconferencing in and of itself did not necessarily increase teacher-student or student-student interaction.

The importance of the teacher in implementing and integrating technology into the learning environment was highlighted in this project.