Videoconference Language Classes

A Virtual Classroom....

Web Interface: Virtual Conference Classroom

The Hannahville Potawatomi Indian Community's Online Distance Learning Classes are facilitated through a web interface that offers real-time video conferencing in a virtual conference room with desktop sharing, internet voice, and a client teleconferencing hub for enhanced audio.

Long-distance language classes meet one of our immediate objectives to increase the number of Potawatomi speaking community members, as well as to increase the degree of language fluency. This is especially important for individuals who assist and/or teach in the Potawatomi language program provided through the Hannahville Tribal School.

Another long-term value of the video conferencing classes is the ability to record (video/audio) class sessions for our Potawatomi language resource archives. This will allow us to meet one of our Tribe's comprehensive strategic plan objectives to create an archived repository for multi-formatted electronic documentation and multimedia language resources collected from several fluent speakers.

Online video conferencing classes began in Fall 2005 with Jim Thunder (Fluent Speaking Language Instructor, FCP Crandon, WI) teaching the Old Potawatomi Language three evenings a week. When the Forest County Potawatomi began full production on their Interactive Language DVD - Gte Ga Nes - Jim's time and energies were refocused to the DVD project. Therefore, in Fall 2007, Justin Neely (Language Director, CPN Shawnee, OK) began facilitation of the online video conferencing classes one afternoon per week during Jim's absence. Ed Pigeon (Language Director, Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band, Dorr, MI) has assisted with class facilitation as well.

The video conferencing is accompanied by teleconference for consistently clear audio presentation. The online Potawatomi language classes are videotaped.

Justin Neely, Language Director, Citizen Potawatomi Nation

Ed Pigeon, Language Director, Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Potawatomi