XLS Commons
Posted on July 30, 2009
Filed Under Emerging Technologies, Operational Efficiency | 2 Comments
As you can see, web conferencing has featured heavily this month. Elluminate Live! is available for faculty at The University of Montana, but would be web conferencers needn’t shell out a penny for a live, online classroom. Indeed, instant messaging systems such as Yahoo Messenger and Google Talk as well as Voice over the Internet Providers like Skype can serve a number of the functions of web conferencing.
However, for those interested in venturing into the free web conferencing tool area, perhaps it is best to use a tool designed explicitly for the purpose, and I would say that the two most useful systems in this category are WiZiQ and dimdim.
WiZIQ’s initial appearance belies its web conferencing capabilities. It appears to be a social network where individuals can teach and be taught. However, a little closer inspection reveals that WiZiQ offers more than just the possibility of making a little money on the side. In fact, there is no need to participate in this aspect of the community. It is possible to schedule a session for whatever purposes you would like as long as you have become a member of the network.
Once you’ve joined, scheduling a session is easy. At the login page, select ‘schedule new class’.
Next, choose a title for your session and complete the date and time fields. Note that if you schedule a session for the current time, there is a short delay on entering the session. All sessions are private by default. You have to request to hold a public session or upgrade to premium services to be able to hold a public class. Click schedule and continue to go to the room.
One of the nice features of WizIQ is that it has very friendly interface. You can upload PowerPoint’s, PDFs, draw on the whiteboard, and send an invitation to join the meeting from the meeting room.
Dimdim also prides itself on it ease of use. Unlike WiziQ, dimdim avoids the commercial networking and focusses on delivering on demand sessions. Rather than paying for premium networking opportunities, Dimdim looks to make money from users by having them purchase advanced features.
Once you’ve signed up for dimdim scheduling a session is simple. You have the choice of two options: host a meeting or join a meeting.
Selecting host a meeting, will give you the option to start the session. Similar to WiziQ, you can invite participants to join your session when you have entered the room. Dimdim also has an easy to use interface. One notable feature is the ability to zoom in and out on content. The whiteboard, therefore, can appear to have depth.
Both of these systems have similar affordances and it is worthwhile visiting both to see which you prefer. Of course, you get what you pay for, so these systems are not as robust as Adobe Connect or AT&T Connect. However, they provide a means to utilize the potential benefits of web conferencing on a schedule that suits you. For those who do not have access to web conferencing through the University, it would be worth looking at both of these options.
Robert
Posted on July 27, 2009
Filed Under Emerging Technologies, Engagement, Faculty and Student Support, Instructional Design | Leave a Comment
The Annual Conference on Distance Learning at the University of Wisconsin is less than two weeks away, and I’ll be attending for the first time. I’m especially looking forward to the one-half day workshop entitled Community of Inquiry Framework: Informing instructional design and learning being facilitated by Karen Swan and her project colleagues. I’ve been following their work in developing and testing a survey instrument that validates Garrison, Anderson and Archer’s Community of Inquiry (CoI) framework (2000) of online learning because I’m a firm believer in the CoI model.
When checking email on Tuesday, I was surprised to find one from Karen Swan. I was even more surprised to discover, upon reading it, that she created a Ning for workshop participants. Karen not only introduced herself on this social network (and invited us to do likewise), she also provided us with resources that will be used in the workshop and created discussion forums around them. With a few mouse clicks, my electronic library grew, I was connected to a group of professionals interested in communities of inquiry, and I was invited to deepen my understanding of the CoI framework and survey — long before the formal learning event will begin. That’s a real twofer in my book!
Now in addition to anticipating what all I will learn during the one-half day workshop, I’m wondering how the Ning community will support and extend my learning long afterwards. This is particularly relevant given our intention to use a Ning for the next annual Extended Learning Institute (XLi 2010). Check back in for a “Part 2” post sometime in mid-August.
Posted on July 20, 2009
Filed Under Emerging Technologies, Faculty and Student Support, Instructional Design | 1 Comment
Web conferencing is the process of using communication tools such as text chat, voice, video and a white board for live meetings or presentations. Web conferencing systems integrate these tools into a single meeting ‘room’. Participants can access the room from their personal computers via a URL (Internet web address). In this way, a web conference is a platform for real-time communication for individuals in different locations. In an educational setting, the key difference between web conferencing and webcasting or streaming video is that web conferencing involves participants in live sessions that provide a degree of interactivity comparable to face-to-face environments. Read more
Posted on July 15, 2009
Filed Under Emerging Technologies, Faculty and Student Support, Instructional Design | Leave a Comment
Elluminate Live! is a web conferencing system that offers synchronous (same time) communication for online learners. Its “live session” interactivity can enhance the quality of teaching and learning in online courses in numerous ways. Read more
Posted on July 13, 2009
Filed Under Faculty and Student Support, Instructional Design | Leave a Comment
Accessibility. I thought I understood the extent of this concept until last week. That was when I realized that barriers to online learning for students with disabilities can exist in numerous places: the Learning Management System, the layout of the course content, the adaptive technologies, and even in the student him/herself. That was when I realized that the little things I’ve always done, such as creating alt text for images and keeping a transcript of any audio recording I’ve made, aren’t nearly enough. That’s when the online short course on accessibility for e-learners in which I enrolled began. Read more
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