This week I chose to focus on web conferencing programs that allow users to communicate live even at great distances. This is something I really want to try to incorporate into one of my classes this year and have brought up with others at my school as a potential tool (though I would have to get administrative permission). These programs appeal to me because teachers can set up virtual classroom discussions while incorporating multimedia elements. In addition, you can set up meetings with other teachers and staff or allow others to participate in meetings with permission. (I actually signed up for a trial of one program and created a virtual meeting room which I invited family and friends to. It was very neat getting to talk to relatives out of state and getting to catch up with them.)
It also has a lot of potential for the classroom environment. It could be used both in class or as an extension outside of school. It could potentially allow students to experience and explore topics in-depth. One great feature of the program I looked at was that the program allowed students to see the presenter and presentation, while being able to take notes and ask questions through a live chat feature. Here is a screenshot of the meeting room I set up, showing how the browser window is organized into several clear and easy to use sections.
Another great feature of these programs is that students can potentially connect with experts in the fields they are studying. As long as it is prearranged by the teacher they could communicate with anyone in the world. Also students could benefit by learning more about different cultures and interacting with individuals of all different backgrounds and nationalities. Finally, these programs could benefit teachers by allowing them to communicate with other educators and professionals in the field to collaborate and share ideas. It can also allow staff to hold meetings, collaborate on documents, and create projects for students that span the curriculum.
Here is the link to the trial software I used as well as some others if you want to check them out
http://www.anymeeting.com/ (free but limited to 6 people at a time)
http://tomuse.com/top-10-free-web-conference-services/ (this site provides a list of the top 10 free web conferencing software)
Michelle,
ReplyDeleteI think web conferencing is great, too. Last year, I really wanted to use Wimba Live classroom--which is offered by UMUC. I eventually changed my mind, for it seemed to be pretty clunky and I didn't have anyone to experiment with.
Would you be willing to login sometime with me and try it? Write me a personal e-mail and lets talk more about this. Thanks!
Michelle,
ReplyDeleteThis does look like a great tool. Thanks for sharing it with us, as with all of these tools they seem to take an investment of time in order to really get a feel for them. Is the person on the other end of the communication also required to have the same software in place? Can you still talk to each other with different web conferencing software?
I really like the idea of the students being able to commmunicate with an "expert" or with other classes around the world.
Thanks for the inspiration!
This looks like a great tool to use in the classroom. Thank you for sharing. I have heard about classrooms using tools like these to talk to others around the world.
ReplyDelete