Beyond "I Agree": Developing a Toolkit for facilitating Online Discussions
Cdl conference presentation april 2010
1. Elluminating Moments: Enhancing Student Learning & Engagement with Webconferencing in Online Only & Blended Learning Environments Northeast Center Academic Support Team Presenters: Dr. Lisa D’Adamo-Weinstein, Director Sarah Spence-Staulters, Learning Coach, Class of 2009 CDL Conference – April 2010
4. Sample of a writing sessionBenefits to Students Lessons Learned & Best Practices Q&A
5. Have you?How? Shawn: Ithink it is a good program for communication and presentation If not, would you?
6. We aren’t the only ones… Meetings NEC Office of Academic Review Outreach & Recruitment Mentors Library Others… This presentation will only focus on our experiences.
7. How are we using Elluminate? Online Only & Blended Academic Support Workshops Study Group Sessions One-On-One @ a Distance
9. Academic Support @ NEC How to Participate in the NEC Academic Support & Student Services Elluminate Web Conferencing Room First time users will need to follow online instructions carefully and download a JAVA script. This will happen on each computer that you use to access the room for the first time, and it can take 5-10 minutes to complete. All users follow this link to access the site: https://sas.elluminate.com/m.jnlp?sid=2008175&password=M.D6A048778D50BF84EDAD9DFB8B8C59 The following pages are simplified directions for how to navigate in the Elluminate environment. Additionally, Elluminate provides excellent online training materials accessible at www.elluminate.com/training. This webconferencing room provides you with live and archived access to presentations given by the Office of Academic Support at the Northeast Center. You can participate in the environment in 3 ways – an observer/listener, a text participant, or an audio participant. You do not need special equipment to participate UNLESS you want to participate by being able to speak. If you want to speak as part of your participation, you will have to have a headset and microphone. If you do not have a headset and microphone, you will still be able to listen to the presentation and to type in your questions and comments in the CHAT box. If you do want to participate by speaking, then you will need to purchase a headset. Most stores that sell electronics will have a set for about $15-$20. Due to prohibitive costs, we are not supporting telephone connections at this time.
10. Follow link to access NEC Academic Support & Student Services Elluminate Web conferencing Room: https://sas.elluminate.com/m.jnlp?sid=2008175&password=M.D6A048778D50BF84EDAD9DFB8B8 Menu/Tool Bar - Roll your cursor over each icon to see what it does – see next page for detailed view… PARTICIPANTS Where the participants will be listed. Where the content of the presentation/class will appear CHAT Space to type in comments, ask questions, etc. AUDIO - Adjust volume for receiving (everyone) & for transmitting audio (only if you have a headset). If you have a headset, push TALK when you want to speak.
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14. Each workshop topic is presented as a “piece of the academic success puzzle”
15. Students who attend feel more comfortable initiating individual appointments
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17. Ritch: Got it! Thanks! Ritch: okay, not finding the text box, can someone let me know how to do that while Lisa cleans up the page? sorry I missed that Melanie: Rich the text box is the A with the lines in it next to the box we all just wrote in click on the box in the upper left with the A on line paper Jessica: on the left of the text box there is an a then an a with line you click on that and then click a spot on the page
18. Study Groups Christine: I love taking the online courses (in Elluminate) Jess: if only i could be working out an doing this all at once
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20. Benefits to Students:Study Groups Increases range of student interaction. Easier to regulate talk time. Students participate from a comfortable space instead of physical classroom space. Access in spite of weather and health issues. Session recording available for review/absence.
27. Lessons We Have Learned PREPARATION Allow sufficient time for setup and breakdown PEOPLE Level the playing field – everyone “meets” in Elluminate Allow everyone time to “play” with the features Keep everyone engaged no matter how they access Plan regular times to check for “drop outs” TECHNOLOGY Keep your Java updated! “Maximize simultaneous talkers” to 6 for audio clarity Keep slides simple, animation won’t work in the whiteboard Be on your toes and ready to troubleshoot
28. Top Ten Habits of Highly Effective ElluminateLIVE! Moderators Make sure your participants have a great learning experience! *The following information has been adapted directly from the Elluminate website at: http://www.elluminate.com/whitepapers/Top-Ten-Habits-of-Highly-Effective-Elluminate-Moderators.pdf
29. Top Ten Habits of Highly Effective Moderators Practice, practice, practice Facilitate student orientation to the technology Engage participants Check frequently for understanding Prepare content ahead of time
30. Top Ten Habits of Highly Effective Moderators 6. Have a “producer” in your session 7. Smile and your participants will smile with you 8. Record the session 9. Run the audio wizard as soon as you join the session 10. Join the session early
31. Opening New Windows of Learning with Elluminate One-on-one and group meetings with students A convenient way to communicate with all members of the Academic Support Team Multiple workshops/tutoring sessions at the same time
Elluminating Moments: Enhancing Student Learning & Engagement with Webconferencing in OnlineOnly & Blended Learning EnvironmentsPresented by Lisa D'Adamo-Weinstein, Sarah Spence-Staulters, Kate StocktonAt the Northeast Center of Empire State College, we are experimenting with the Elluminatewebconferencingtool when offering Academic Support workshops and some study group sessions of Communication and Self-Expression in the Digital Age. We see Elluminate (or any other webconferencing tool) as a means of expandingthe outreach of our academic support services and enhancing learner engagement. Among many anticipatedbenefits to learners, we have additionally found that students in the online sessions feeling more comfortableduring discussions and on-site students who were initially nervous about technology say they were moreconfident and interested in trying sessions online after engaging in the online session in a face-to-face location.Participants in our session will learn about:• how we use Elluminate (including seeing recordings of some of the sessions),• about the mistakes and “won’t do that again” moments,• the best practices we have researched/developed, and• the unexpected benefits to students unearthed while engaging in these various learning environments.