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Designing for the Virtual Interactive Classroom
4/29/2005
www.centra.com; and WebEx, www.webex.com) focus on a high-bandwidth video downstream, and audio channels from the participants. The expectation is that the faculty or presenter is in the “lecture” knowledge-transmission mode, with limited expectation of students asking questions or dialoging with the presenter. This software can support interactive communication flow with large groups of students with help from an assistant who might serve to filter and sequence questions. In this mode, these very large class meetings become similar to Webcasts and talk shows. Again, microphones are a key quality feature; any person asking a live question in a collaborative environment needs to be confident that the audio is of high quality. Synchronous tools can return spontaneous interaction even to very large lecture groups; meetings can be recorded and archived for later viewing and reviews via videostreaming.
“Knowing” Synchronous Collaboration
Today, synchronous collaboration software creates a virtual space for real-time events. The ready availability of these tools means that we have synchronous interaction between faculty and students in the design kit for online learning programs. The capabilities of these new tools bring us to a new place that shares many of the capabilities of the old, familiar classroom. We are transforming what we can do online, enabling again the intimacy and spontaneity of Socratic dialog, case-study discussions, and presentations. Yes, we have come a long way from the constraints of text-based-only online courses, and our explorations will be continuous.
Postscript - Added by the author on 6/7/05:
It should be noted that all of the interactive classroom products and services that
were listed in the large group scenarios - Horizon Wimba's Live Classroom,
Elluminate Live, and Centra Symposium, etc. are also very effective as
"interactive classrooms" by smaller groups of 25-35, etc. and for other
larger groups under 100 as well. The amount of interactivity is generally
most closely associated with the number of people in a class or an event,
rather than any particular tool.
Judith V. Boettcher (judith@designingforlearning.info) is an independent consultant specializing
in distance learning and the applications of new media.
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