CEP812: Web Conferencing

I checked out three of the web conference tools that were listed on our Web/Video Conferencing Lab.  Here’s what I found out:

• DimDim is no longer accepting new registrations, it was acquired by salesforce.com.
• Yugma needs Java to be installed and a free account allows a user to have an unlimited number of meetings per day with the user and two other people. There is a limit up to 15 minutes per meeting.
• WebHuddle has a very simple interface compared to Adobe Connect.

I searched for another web conferencing tool called WizIq.  I created a free 30-day account in WizIq and this free account will allow a user to have three 60-min recordings for up to 10 users.  I scheduled a conference with my teammate, Sharlene, to test the technology and to start brainstorming for our professional development project.  When I created the session, I chose the option to have the conference recorded. After I scheduled the meeting, WizIq gave me three links to use to join the conference: one for the presenter, one for the attendee, and one to where the recorded session will be stored.

We both agreed to meet on Friday, April 1, 6:45 pm EST.  As soon as the session started, it automatically recorded our conference.  It was both our first time to use it and we found WizIq very easy and intuitive to use as we explored the different features like screen sharing, whiteboard with editing tools, screen snapshot (a presenter-only feature), chat, video, and audio broadcasting.  During the session, I was the presenter, and Sharlene was the attendee.  We both agreed to use WizIq again the next time we schedule another conference, and we will trade roles so we can experience both user views.  For our next session, there are two things I would do differently: to have both plan an outline that will help us focus on what we should be covering during the conference because we had too much fun that we almost exceeded our one-hour session; and to use the upload file feature.   It was a fun and productive conference and it was a great way to get to know Sharlene.

This tool can be a useful technology in my classroom.  Its features may not be as robust as Adobe Connect but it could still be a great add-on tool for online courses.  Combining both synchronous and asynchronous approaches for learning in an online class enables a student to complete the coursework at his own pace with the convenience of receiving real-time interactions among other classmates and/or teachers.