Dr. Ernst:
I actually like the calliflower conference line as I can help multiple students in one call.
If there is an individual call that needs to be done I use calliflower and/or my home phone.
We always follow up with any "outside" conversations with an e-mail sent within our LMS (Blackboard) so that there is an audit trail of all information related to the course.
Kim
Very thorough response Kim with great suggestions! Is there one that you like to use more than the others?
Dr. Ernst:
I have used the following technologies:
1) Skype
2) Blackboard chat
3) Calliflower
4) Tegrity
They all have useful components.
Skype is useful when students need to ask you a quick question and/or you would like to hold a conference call in which multiple students can join and can also be used for a small groups of students.
Blackboard chat is useful when meeting with a couple of students to go over a subject matter that they are not undestanding.
Calliflower is a conferencing system that can be used for small groups of students as well as larger groups when introducing an assignment in which all would benefit from attending the call.
Tegrity is an excellent software in that you can record your virtual lecture and can be uploaded with an LMS. Students can then download the recordings and listen on their I-pods or other storage device. It also captures your screen so you can talk about a power point slide and also "write" on the slide to bring to light an important subject.
Our institution recommends that any "outside" LMS communication also be documented within the LMS so if I hold a call outside of the LMS I will keep minutes and distribute to all students so those with time zone issues or just cannot attend the call still have access to the information discussed.
Kim
Those are great ideas David. Do you have the tools needed to create the videos?
In my next online class, I want to use skype to develop a more direct and meaningful connection with the student. I also want to improve the amount of video content available. I want to provide video introductions to chapters, and provide the lecture in video format for subsequent discussion.
