Virtual+Colaboration

Virtual Collaboration: Can’t get everyone to the same place at the same time but need to have a meeting? Don’t like the idea of a “conference call” when you can only hear others but can share images, etc. Virtual Collaboration has helped people have easy, on-line meetings at anytime without needing to have everyone in the same spot. For education, virtual collaboration can be used to hold a class instructional session, sharing presentations and documents, or students can use it to hold their own group study/review sessions without having to leave the comfort of their own homes. Some Virtual Collaboration Sites: Skype: http://www.skype.com/ - Working through your exisiting internet connection, you can make free calls, IMs, or video calls to other Skype members. Download the free software and they have guides to help you get started. Elluminate: http://www.elluminate.com/ The free chat rooms only allow 3 users at one time. This could be useful for 2 classrooms to collaborate, with teachers in the physical classrooms controlling the use of the microphone, etc. Elluminate Live! even supports low-bandwidth users. Wimba: http://www.wimba.com/ - Used by Blended Schools. Provides synchronous and asynchronous communications for a fee. Also contains a discussion forum for users. WiZiQ http://www.wiziq.com/ - Virtual classrooms can be public or private. Uses an interactive “whiteboard” for sharing ideas. Sessions are recorded, including the “chats” and can be accessed for up 30 days, you can even search the archives for other public sessions that were recorded. WiZiQ works on any browser with no downloads needed, so you can access from any computer. DimDim: http://www.dimdim.com/ - DimDim allows you to share your desktop as well as presentations and documents. It is a free service (though they do have different levels that have a fee) and does not require downloading for users. GoToMeeting: [|http://www.GoToMeeting.com] - More geared towards business users. Free trial requires a credit card to download the software. Reading About Virtual Collaboration :

Swan, Karen. (2003). Learning Effectiveness Online: What the Research Tells US. http://www.kent.edu/rcet/Publications/upload/learning%20effectiveness4.pdf

Slowinski, Joseph. (2000.) Promoting Virtual Collaboration Via the WWW. http://www.millikin.edu/webmaster/collaboration/virtual.pdf Union County Public Schools (2007). Benton Heights students talk to NASA. http://www.ucps.k12.nc.us/communications/jump_pages/JumpBentonHeights_NASA.php Virgina Department of Education (2007). Guidelines for Effective Videoconferencing. http://www.doe.virginia.gov/VDOE/Technology/OET/videoconferencing_guide.pdf Volchok, Edward. (2006). Building Stronger Virtual Teams. http://www.elearnmag.org/subpage.cfm?section=case_studies&article=37-1