eLearning and Networking Technologies to Mimic the In-Person Experience
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The document discusses the challenges and considerations related to educational technology, focusing on distance learning and social networking. It highlights the importance of interactivity, accessibility, and archiving in web conferencing, particularly through Adobe Connect as a solution. The text also addresses the uses and challenges of online networking tools like BuddyPress for community building and user engagement.
eLearning and Networking Technologies to Mimic the In-Person Experience
- 1. Educational Technology in Practice Distance Learning, Social Networking, and Professional Cohort Development
- 2. Who am I? Hello! I’m Janet Krenn, a Communicator with Virginia Sea Grant. • Writer/editor • Project manager • PR professional • Videographer/photographer • eLearning/Development beginner
- 3. Who am I not? • An IT professional • A computer whiz • An A/V specialist • A web designer or developer … but I know enough to be dangerous!
- 4. eLearning Considerations e Continuum of Difficulty Easy Challenging • Asynchronous • Synchronous • Few people • Lots of people • Few inputs • Many input points • Observers • Active participants
- 5. eLearning Considerations e Continuum of Difficulty DropBox Skype PolyCom Blackboard Web Conference Easy Challenging • Asynchronous • Synchronous • Few people • Lots of people • Few inputs • Many input points • Observers • Active participants
- 6. Our Considerations e Continuum of Difficulty • Synchronous class • Moderate number of Web Conference people - 8 • Many input points – 8 computers – 5 locations – 4 time zones • Active participants
- 7. Our Considerations • Interactivity “How do you promote seminar quality discussion?”
- 8. Our Considerations • Interactivity “How do you promote seminar quality discussion?” • Accessibility and Flexibility “How do you link 8 people, from 8 computers, in 5 locations with limited equipment or IT support?”
- 9. Our Considerations • Interactivity “How do you promote seminar quality discussion?” • Accessibility and Flexibility “How do you link 8 people, from 8 computers, in 5 locations with limited equipment or IT support?” • Ability to Archive “How can you easily record discussions and store more or less indefinitely?”
- 10. Web Conferencing Solution • Adobe Connect became the obvious choice – Allowed for seminar quality discussion. • Multiple webcams, microphones • Chat, hand raising backup – Accessible and flexible. • Anywhere you have internet • Minimal equipment – Ability to archive classes.
- 11. Adobe Connect
- 12. Web Conferencing Challenges • Troubleshooting • Audio • Archiving • Equipment
- 13. Web Conferencing Opportunities • Graduate-level experience • Invite, engage remote presenters • Students develop familiarity • Technology is improving
- 14. eNetworking Considerations e Continuum of Difficulty Existing Ning BuddyPress, DIY eNetworks • Do we need a private, closed space? • How experienced are our users in social media? • What kind of functions would users like? • What kind of functions do users need? • What do we expect users to do in the social space?
- 15. eNetworking Considerations e Continuum of Difficulty BuddyPress, DIY • BuddyPress – Students didn’t already have a favorite social network – BuddyPress is self-hosted and completely modular
- 16. BuddyPress
- 17. eNetworking Challenges • Customization • Training • Hosting • Planning – “Community Building on the Web” by Amy Jo Kim • Leading
- 18. eNetworking Opportunities • Customization • Relationship building • Information/experience sharing • Future mentoring
- 19. Thank you!