Korean Job Discussion Forums

[thegadfly]

I am starting to teach some classes via Skype video conferencing. Currently, I am simply trying to modify what I would do in the classroom to make it fit the new format, and that is going ok so far.

I realize that there is a lot of untapped (by me, so far) potential in this new format, and I am curious to hear from anyone doing online teaching or Skype teaching -- what do you do, and how do you do it?

In addition to the screen sharing and file sending capabilities of Skype itself, I use a shared whiteboard program:

http://www.dabbleboard.com/draw

If you know of or use a better program, or if you like a different one more, I would love to hear about it.

I've only just gotten started -- I've taught about 7 hours of classes this way, and only the first class meeting of each different class. In some ways, I feel quite hindered -- I'm a talking head instead of a physical presence sweeping around the classroom -- but I have the sense that I might be able to make up for this in other ways...off the top of my head, there is the matter of typed writing being easier for students to read, and the fact that I can upload pictures to the whiteboard, rather than (or probably in addition to) my own crude drawings....

Anyway, if anyone is doing this type of teaching, I would really appreciate it if you could share the information you have, the resources you like, and offer up any advice or insight you have garnered from your own endeavors.

Cheers!

[YTMND]

Try Wiziq www.wiziq.com

There isn't much support unless you keep asking for it. However, I think they have the best online teaching classroom.

[thegadfly]

Thanks YTMND -- that's something I may move to if these online classes take off. I haven't tried it yet, but being able to record the class sessions could be quite useful, if for no other reason than to let other students see what class would be like.

Anyone else have anything else they use or might use?

[ddeubel]

I've used Wiziq. Made my own conferencing suite customizing big blue button, helped with Scribblar and know my way around this market. My conclusion sadly for most is that they will be disappearing soon.

Skype has the audio and the movement and focus for the visual side is now on desktop sharing. This will eliminate a lot of these services unless they can diversify. I use http://join.me and share my desktop with students/clients. I can pull up anything on my computer, in my browser or not and use it, they see it and we are off to the races. This is the future and best way for skype teaching. Share the link with as many as you wish on skype and everyone can see it.

DD
http://eflclassroom.com

[YTMND]

http://join.me looks like it is just a screen sharing utility. I have found this feature to be rather invasive on ones privacy. I am not sure how many people like this.

There isn't much else to conclude because they don't show any screenshots of anything else, and they require you to download an .exe file which I doubt is the way things will migrate to in the future.

The Wiziq platform allows you to import text files such as .doc and .pdf

They also have a tabbed window setting so you can present material on one whiteboard and skip to another without erasing previous whiteboards.

In addition to this, there are breakout rooms which allow students to work on separate projects. The teacher can go to any of them.