Web Conferencing

1. Web Conferencing Rosebud Cluster Day February 2010 Emma Schafer

2. What is Web Conferencing? • Web conferencing software allows groups of people to meet and collaborate online from their own computer. • Presenters and participants interact using a variety of features such as: audio, video, instant messaging, shared interactive whiteboard, polling, file sharing and application sharing. • Web Conferencing is used to: conduct live meetings, train people or give presentations via the Internet. • Participants have either a downloaded application on their PC’s or take part in a web based meeting by following a link sent to them to enter the conference.

3. Features of Web conferencing • Slide show presentations: Powerpoint and keynote slides are presented while the presenter discusses the slides. • Live or streaming video; Webcam, digital camera or multimedia files are presented to the audience. • VoIP: Real time audio communication • Meeting recording: Presentation activity is recorded for future reference • Whiteboard, Annotation: Highlight or mark items on the slide presentation and/ or make notes on a blank whiteboard. • Text chat: Love question and answer sessions for people in the conference. • Polls and Surveys: Presenter directs multiple choice questions to the audience. • Screen, Desktop & Application sharing: Participants can view the presenters screen.

4. Some ideas for how web conferencing may be useful in your classroom: • Have an expert visit your classroom • Contact an author or poet • Connect with other schools around the world • Use to support transition work between primary and secondary schools. • Story Telling • Web Conference as part of a ‘Book Day’ • Have a conference with a historical character

5. Examples of Web Conferencing providers: • Communicator: Provided free for edumail to edumail accounts (No whiteboard)https://www.edumail.vic.gov.au/EduMailOnline/cquickguides.htm • Skype: Free download (No whiteboard) http://skype.com/intl/en/ • Dimdim: online, open source. No installation of software required. Can host meetings for up to 20 people free of charge (more with a premium acct)http://www.dimdim.com • Elluminate: Online Conference space provided by DEECD for many participants, Vroom for up to 3 participants free through elluminatehttp://www.elluminate.com/

6. What is Elluminate? Elluminate is: • the software currently used by the Department to provide web conferencing to staff and educators around Victoria. The diagram below displays the main features of an Elluminate web conference. • easy to install and use – you don’t need to download any large software files • easy to join – all you have to do is click on a link in an email or website to enter a web conference • cross platform - it supports Windows PC, Mac, Solaris, or Linux • optimised for low bandwidth - you can interact with little lag time, regardless of internet connection speed, even at 28.8.kbps • recordable – even if you miss a session, you can view it online at a later stage.

7. Elluminate session link: https://sas.elluminate.com/m.jnlp?sid=2007026&password=M.C2548966E58836EF14D9099452E684

8. Checking your Connection

9. Introduction to the elluminate interface

10. Elluminate Tools

11. Participants Window • Raise/Lower Hand • Emoticons • Polling • Step Away

12. Audio • Permission to use Microphone • Audio Setup Utility • Tools  Audio  Audio Setup Wizard • Optimal Microphone Setting

13. Chat Window • Permission to use Chat • Send a Text Message • Public • Private

14. Selection Eraser Pen Highlighter Text Editor Text Ellipse Filled Ellipse Filled Rectangle Rectangle Line Laser Pointer Import an Image Clip Art Screen Capture Whiteboard Tools • Permission to use the Whiteboard • Tools

15. Polling • Types • Yes/No • Multiple Choice • Slowdown/Speedup Class Pace • Responses will appear in the Participants window if the moderator has selected to show them

16. So, let’s get interactive & find out about each other Secondary Teacher Primary Teacher Education Support Principal/Leadership Role

17. Brainstorm – How might you use web conferencing in your classroom?

18. 15 Tips for successful web conferencing • Develop a Web Conferencing Mindset • Clearly identify objective for the WC. • Prepare your materials ahead of time. • Log into session ahead of time to check settings and pre load files. • Ensure you allow time for ‘social interaction’ in each WC • Plan your questions ahead of time... Because you cant see the body language. • Remember , you can accomplish many different objectives during your WC. • Share responsibilities during your WC (it is often useful to have more than one moderator). • Use WC for short “ad hoc” virtual meetings as required. • Use WC “typing” feature to record key points of a discussion. • Remember to ask questions and use polls to maintain interactivity of WC. • Get input from participants on “things that are new”. • Build comfort and confidence through practice. • Don’t be afraid to try things. • Have fun!

19. Where to from here? • Click on the link below to watch a recording of this session: https://sas.elluminate.com/mrtbl?suid=M.8C1DF3BC1F62069EF678021E5B17E1 • Don’t forget to visit the Virtual Conference Centre to check for DEECD Session: http://www.education.vic.gov.au/researchinnovation/virtualconferencecentre/default.htm

20. Elluminate Resource Materials • Visit www.elluminate.com/training for: • User Guides • Quick Reference Guides • Recorded Training Sessions • Register for Live Training Sessions • Elluminate Technical Support http://www.elluminate.com/support/ • The Elluminate User Group available from www.learncentral.com • 3 for Free vRoomwww.elluminate.com/vroom/