technology taster: synchronous communication

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Synchronous Communication in Blackboard

Tim Neumann

Learning Technologies Unit

Sub-brand to go here

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Contents

1 Synchronous Communication – some remarks

2 Blackboard: Lightweight Chat

3 Blackboard: Virtual Classroom

4 Elluminate

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Synchronous Communication

Why?

• Bridging distance• Social aspects: fun, bonding• Bringing in outsiders• Activating quieter students• Rich tasks: collaboration, brainstorming, q and a, chat games• Recording transcripts

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Synchronous Communication

Issue: Technology

Java required (not JavaScript!)

http://www.java.com

Are you an IOE Staff Member and a Windows PC user?• Your computer may not have the correct version of Java installed• If the tools don’t work, call Computer Helpdesk: x6696

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Synchronous Communication

Issue: Time Zones

Time Zone Converter:

http://www.timeanddate.com

Meeting Planner:

http://www.meetomatic.com

http://www.doodle.com

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Synchronous Communication

Issue: Online Behaviour

Chatiquette:

http://education.qld.gov.au/learningplace/communication/chat/chatiquette.html

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Blackboard: Lightweight Chat

Simple Chat ToolCommunication > Collaboration > join Chat tool• basic text chat• permission control

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Blackboard: Virtual Classroom

Advanced Text-Based Chat ToolCommunication > Collaboration > join Virtual Classroom tool• all features of the lightweight chat• whiteboard• group browser• moderated q & a• course map• breakout rooms

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Elluminate

Full Audio-Visual Desktop Conferencing ToolCommunication > Elluminate Live!• all features of the Bb Virtual Classroom (except moderated q & a)• six-way audio for voice communication• six-way video for video conferencing• fine-grained permission system• instant feedback with statistics• quizzes/tests with statistics • application sharing and many more features

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Elluminate

Access to Elluminate

By default, access to the Elluminate Live! Session Manager is hidden.

Blackboard Instructors can activate Elluminate at:• Control Panel > Manage Tools > Building Block Tool Availability• Check Elluminate Live! Manager and press Submit

You can now schedule/access sessions under Communication.

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Further Information

Literature• Jonathan Finkelstein: Learning in Real Time (Jossey-Bass)• Jennifer Hofmann: The Synchronous Trainer’s Survival Guide (Pfeiffer)

Other• http://www.elluminate.com/training

Templates for Elluminate scenarios are currently being prepared

and should be available by mid-February 2009 on the LTU Website.

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Contact

Learning Technologies Unit

020 7763 2183

www.lkl.ac.uk/LTU

LTU@ioe.ac.uk

Institute of EducationUniversity of London20 Bedford WayLondon WC1H 0AL

Tel +44 (0)20 7612 6000Fax +44 (0)20 7612 6126Email info@ioe.ac.ukWeb www.ioe.ac.uk