I got to log onto Elluminate this morning and was amazed at some of the things this program does for online classes and collaboration. For example Prof. Keesee was able to bring up her desktop and walk us through how to do things and where to find them. If not for a separate meeting I had to attend this morning, I would have stayed for the entire session. In my opinion this application should be required of students for the 2nd week of training. That or 1 actual classroom class the student must attend.
The Good and the Bad
The voice chat was interesting but has a few drawbacks. 1. Only one person can talk at a time and if that one person doesn't realize they must unclick the mic button no one else can talk. Using some other voice chat applications for gaming I though this would be more up to date but I can see how in a classroom everyone shouting does not go over well.
The chat window was great you could type questions and responses while the teacher was talking. *Pass notes in class behind the teachers back is still possible!!!*
The teachers ability to show her desktop and step by step instructions was AWSUME! This application alone helps a lot. I wish I would have had longer and I'm looking forward to other sessions. It's like live Video you can interact with. The best applications I've seen online after taking 15 or more courses online have been Course Compass using My Math Lab, Blackboard, Video, now PB works and Elluminate. I'm not much on Blogging since it's much like using a Forum and I prefer a Forum. I would actually recommend the Blogging later in the course.
I'm really looking forward to using Elluminate again and hope to play around with the program on my own time some. With all these forms of technology maybe there should be more prerequisites to this course. I really wish I could have stayed longer and preplanned out some of my questions a little better. Elluminate or some prerecorded videos should be at the start of this course as well as many other blackboard courses.
I'll post the link once I can find the recorded event.
Butch,
ReplyDeleteI did not get to log onto Elluminate this morning, it has been one big frustrating week with my computer. I do hope that Dr. Keesee will do this again. From your blog I can see that I missed a lot of good information. You mentioned that you would post a link, once you could find the recorded event. I appreciate you doing that for those of us that could not get on. That is funny that you mentioned there should be more prerequisites to this course. I was saying the first week this course should be broke down into technology I and II. I feel like there is so much good information for us to learn, but 16 weeks just feels a little rush, I could not imagine doing this course on an 8 week flex.