It's like Dick Tracy's two-way TV wristwatch - except bigger and better. New York State United Teachers and many of its regional offices are using videoconferencing to help educators in the classroom and help union activists coordinate initiatives.

Using compact video cameras to transmit the action and a large TV to receive, members and staff in NYSUT regional offices can "meet" with people in other parts of the state and/or NYSUT headquarters in Latham.

"The union does its work best when communication is seamless, and this technology helps us to do that," said NYSUT President Tom Hobart. "Gathering groups in their home offices saves time and resources, and allows us to move quickly on many issues."

With the systems using to a high-speed ISDN connection and the Internet, up to three offices can interact simultaneously. Cameras can zoom in and out to highlight individual speakers or presentation materials.

Videoconferencing helps the union better serve its members. For example, newer members have found videoconferencing especially valuable in navigating the trouble spots of New York state teacher certification.

Cyber-seminars

While the State Education Department is backed up with certification questions, NYSUT staffer Dave Rothfuss conducts frequent cyber-seminars with members from across the state, answering questions about ambiguous aspects of provisional and permanent certification.

With 16 regional offices around the state, video conferencing is certainly more convenient for members.

NYSUT plans to install video conferencing systems in all of its 16 regional offices. Those wired so far are: Nassau County, New York City, Vestal, Elmsford, Plattsburgh, Potsdam, Watertown, Syracuse, Rochester and Buffalo.