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Designing for the Virtual Interactive Classroom
4/29/2005
Harvard University (MA), and the participants simply downloaded the client software. In addition to the basic computer and high-bandwidth access, for greatest satisfaction these tools do require a good microphone for each participant. Solutions are very cost effective, however. For example, the latest iSight camera from Apple (www.apple.com) includes a high-quality microphone, integrating both the audio and video capabilities.Interactive class meetings (10 to 30; under 100). This scenario describes the majority of online higher ed classes that share the same time space, but not the same physical space. The kinds of instructional experiences that this type of synchronous tool can support include a live videofeed that enables learners to hear and see a faculty member leading a discussion, performing short concept demonstrations, conducting review sessions, or hosting live interactions with guest experts. In all of these instances, there might be more than one video stream and many audio streams. All of the students in the interactive “classroom” are at their computers in their own homes or offices, or wherever they have high-bandwidth access to the Internet (for now, high bandwidth is a requirement for the full-collaboration and interactive classroom experiences). The basic features mentioned for the small group meeting are also requirements for this type of collaboration. It is particularly important to have the feature of “presence” (the software shows the names of those who are present), plus the ability for participants to “raise their hand” (usually via a hand icon). Other important features include interoperability (suitable for mixed environments of Linux, PC, and Macintosh OS), ease of use, great customer support, and the ability to pilot a tool before making a long-term commitment. This “interactive classroom” category of software often has features that go beyond what is normally available in a campus classroom, highlighting additional communication possibilities in new online environments. In these interactive classrooms, students can “backchannel” talk to each other, engaging each other in processing the lecture content, preparing questions, and even planning after-class meetings. Another tool in this category, Elluminate Live! ( www.elluminate.com) has been selected by the Illinois Online Network consortium (www.ion.illinois.edu), to provide synchronous faculty lectures, for virtual office hours, and for archived recordings. The Illinois Virtual Campus (www.ivc .illinois.edu) is planning to use it with their IVCTutor program. Large class meetings (more than 100). Very large class meetings share many of the features desired for a national or global broadcast presentation. The well-known collaborative tools supporting this type of interaction (e.g., HorizonWimba, www.horizonwimba.com; Centra,
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