Unit 4: Web Conferencing
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Unit Objective
This unit examines web conferencing as a tool to foster collaboration. There are many different types of web conferencing tools, each with unique advantages and disadvantages. Through careful reading and your participation in the learning activity, you will work towards building a deeper understanding of how web conferencing tools work and what they can do for your class(es).
At the end of this unit, students will be able to:
- Identify types of synchronous web conferencing tools
- Hold online meetings using a variety of tools and programs
Lesson 1: What types of web conferencing technologies are there?
There are a variety of different web conferencing technologies on the market, and each one has unique attributes that can be used in and out of the classroom. This part of the unit will cover the basic attributes of four different web conferencing technologies.
Adobe Connect
Adobe Connect is a web conferencing application created by Adobe, and has a lot of features that set it apart from the other programs we will cover. Adobe Connect, in addition to allowing users to hold audio and video conferences, Adobe Connect has a lot of collaborative features such as screen and document sharing capabilities. As an added bonus, Adobe Connect allows users to record their meetings, and the recordings can be shared with others.
Click here to learn more about Adobe Connect.
FaceTime
FaceTime is an audio and video conferencing application created by Apple. Although it gives users the freedom to start video conferences from a variety of different devices (Mac, Macbook, iPad, iPhone and iPod devices), the number of features is limited.
Click here to learn more about FaceTime.
Google Hangouts
Google Hangouts is a web conferencing application created by Google, and it includes a lot of features that make it ideal for education. Google Hangouts allows users to hold online meetings, share Google Drive documents for editing, screen sharing and more. One feature that makes Google Hangouts great is that anyone with an account can initiate a meeting.
Click here to learn more about Google Hangouts.
Skype
Skype is a web conferencing tool that allows users to initiate video conferences with anyone, share screens and documents. Although Skype has a lot of the same features as Adobe Connect or Google Hangouts, it is limited by its licensing model. Each student in your course will need to set up a personal account and use it for educational purposes, whereas Adobe Connect and Google Hangouts can be accessed using a university license.
Click here to learn more about Skype.
Comparison
To make your lives easier, I have created a chart that compares the features of Adobe Connect, FaceTime, Google Hangouts and Skype. The check mark on the chart lets you know that, that feature is available using the web conferencing tool in the column header.
Click here to view the web conferencing tool comparison chart.
What are some features of web conferencing technologies?
The following are some features of different web conferencing tools:
- Audio Conferencing: Allows you to talk to collaborators in real-time. This feature is similar to a telephone call, but can be done with multiple participants (with or without video).
- Video Conferencing: Allows you to see and talk to collaborators in real-time. Video conferencing requires a webcam be attached to your computer.
- Real-Time Polling: Allows you to take polls and surveys inside the web conferencing "room."
- Text Chat: Allows you and other collaborators to chat using your keyboard.
- Virtual Whiteboard: Allows you to draw on a virtual whiteboard inside the web conferencing "room."
- Screen Sharing: Allows other participants to see one of your screens.
- Break Out Rooms: Allows participants to enter smaller "rooms" as part of the larger web conference.
- Recording: Allows you to record the contents of the meeting for future use.
- Authentication: Provides the option to require participants to sign into your school's specific account.
- University Licenses Available: Provides the option to create one account for each student and faculty member at your school.
- Student Can Initiate Meetings: Allows students to start a web conference without the instructor's approval.
Why are web conferencing tools good for collaboration?
Web conferencing tools have a lot of potential in the educational world, and give instructors access to features that can enhance their courses. The following are some reasons why web conferencing tools are great for classes:
- One problem with instruction outside of the classroom is that feedback for students cannot be given right away. If students can't get timely feedback from the instructor or from other students, they won't get their questions answered and you run the risk of students building their knowledge incorrectly. Web conferencing tools can help because "advantages of using a synchronous learning environment include real time sharing of knowledge and learning and immediate access to the instructor to ask questions and receive answers" (Skylar, 2009, p. 71). This allows instructors to address misconceptions before they cause further problems.
- Although web conference tools are not exclusively for online courses, they are very helpful in creating student engagement and interaction in online courses. In online courses, students and faculty are separated by distance, time or both, but web conferencing tools can help bridge the gap. Using a variety of features, "web-conferencing tools such as those that enable online presentations, video, screen-sharing, sharing of resources, polling, and chat can be used to enhance online engagement, and research has indicated that such increased levels of interaction in web-conferencing environments correlate with student satisfaction with online classes" (Bower, 2011, p. 66)
Lesson 2: Exploring Potential Uses for Web Conferencing
Web conferencing technology offers teachers a lot of potential for their courses, and by increasing student engagement and interaction, teachers can boost student learning by fully engaging students in the learning process. The following are some ways of incorporating web conferencing technology into a class:
- Depending on the subject, teachers can use web conferencing technology to have guest speakers "come" to their class and talk to students. Students can talk to subject matter experts from around the world, and get insight into real-life applications for the concepts and abstract ideas they are learning.
- Web conferencing technology can be used hold online discussions where students can further refine their ideas and work together to construct their knowledge. Using tools like Google Hangouts and Adobe Connect, students can "meet" online after doing required readings and/or assignments to brainstorm new ideas and work together to solve problems.
- Part of being an educator is being a lifelong learner, and in order to do so, sometimes teachers have to leave the classroom to attend meetings, conferences and more. These events don't always coincide with school calendars, so rather than cancelling class, teachers an use web conferencing tools to hold class even if you're on the other side of the world. As previously mentioned, teaching in a synchronous environment requires extra planning, but it is a good alternative to cancelling class.
- In addition to replacing face-to-face instruction, web conferencing tools can be used by students to supplement their learning experiences. Although not all of the web conferencing platforms allow students to initiate meetings, there are many that do. If students can start their own meetings between their peers, they can use this as an online space to collaboratively study, work on group assignments, and to discuss topics that they learned in class.
Things to Consider
In Lesson 1, you learned how web conferencing improves collaboration, and earlier in this lesson, you learned about some ways to implement it. While there are numerous benefits and uses for web conferencing tools in your class(es), please keep in mind that as with any technology, there are some things you should be conscious of when using it.
- Preparing lessons in a synchronous online environment takes careful planning and consideration. Generally, the teaching methods you implement in your face-to-face classes won't necessarily be effective in an online environment. In fact, "teaching in a virtual classroom can be more demanding than face-to-face teaching," and "more time is needed to prepare materials and that there is a need to multitask, monitor learner's progress and allay anxieties" (Cornelius, 2014, p. 268).
- Teaching using web conferencing tools requires a working knowledge of technology. Teachers who choose to implement web conferencing technology in their courses need to understand that their responsibilities as facilitators becomes critical, and that technology does not always work according to plan. As a result, teachers using web conferencing tools should always prepare for the worst, but hope for the best.
- In order to utilize web conferencing tools to it's fullest potential, both the teacher and the students need things like a webcam to participate in video conferences, headphones/speakers to listen to their peers, a microphone (or keyboard) to communicate with the class, and a high-speed Internet connection to stay connected.
Activity
Read
Read the following article about using virtual spaces to facilitate student engagement, and think about the possible implication for your class(es):
Write
Based on the article provided above, please post your answers to the following questions in a well-written discussion board post. Be sure to include any relevant information from your personal or professional experiences to enhance this activity. Take this activity as an opportunity to reflect on your current teaching practices and think about how web conferencing technologies can be used to enhance your class(es). To access the discussion board, please click the Discussion tab at the top of this window.
- Why is student engagement important, especially in online courses?
- How does synchronous communication help improve students' experiences and learning?
- Thinking about your current class', can learning activities be supplemented with or replaced by web conferencing?
- If so, how?
- What are some things that hinder the adoption of web conferencing technologies?
Do
Now that you have learned about various web conferencing technologies and features, it's time to put that knowledge to practice. Please sign up for a FREE Google or Skype account (or use an existing Google/Skype account if applicable) and create start an online meeting with a colleague. Try to use as many features as possible, such as the audio/video conference, text-based chat, screen sharing options and more.
Reflect
Having initiated an online meeting using one of the tools specified above, think about your experiences and how these translate to your course. Think about the following questions and the implications it can have for your class:
- How easy is it to start an online meeting? Is this something my students can do?
- What obstacles will my students have with this?
- Do my students have access to all the tools they need to use web conferencing to it's fullest potential?
- Am I comfortable enough with web conferencing technologies to implement this?
- If not, how can I learn?
What's Next
Now that you have an understanding of how you can use web conferencing technologies in your class(es), let's move onto the next unit!
Please note that Unit 2 through Unit 5 can be completed in any sequence. Click the link below to access the following unit of your choice:
If you have completed Unit 1 through Unit 5 (in any order), click here to access Unit 6: Implement and Evaluate.
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References
Bower, M. (2011). Synchronous collaboration competencies in web-conferencing environments- Their Impact on the learning process. Distance Education, 32(1), 63-83.
Cornelius, S. (2014). Facilitating in a demanding environment: Experiences of teaching in virtual classrooms using web conferencing. British Journal of Educational Technology, 45(2), 260-271.
Skylar, A. A. (2009). A comparison of asynchronous online text-based lectures and synchronous interactive web conferencing lectures. Issues in Teacher Education, 18(2), 69-84.