11/27 Notes from Face-to-Face Session - Blended Interactions

I'll be adding my notes from what I remember of the session. Feel free to edit the page and add your own.

Blackboard Collaborate

I wanted to record the session, but also show the class a tool for interactions. I used Blackboard Collaborate within the Canvas course shell. Because I'd already removed it from the course navigation, I had to go back into my course settings and move it back into the navigation. I demonstrated how to set it up. We're trying to see of other colleges in the system have created instructions for that. If not, we'll make them in the eLearning department.

Once you get it set up in the course, it's pretty easy to use. Blackboard has some nice resources for moderators and participants at http://www.blackboard.com/Platforms/Collaborate/Services/On-Demand-Learning-Center/Web-Conferencing.aspx

Collaborate is a Web Conferencing tool, but we talked about many potential uses. Here are some of the tips I shared, and answers to questions that came up during the session:

If you plan to require people to attend a synchronous online session, make sure those expectations are clear at the beginning of the course. Many people take blended and online courses because they need time flexibility. Make sure if you require it, that it's equitable and all students have ability to attend and access to the technology they need.
If you don't want to make your web conferencing sessions mandatory, use them for supplemental things where students won't be expected to know the information shared. I like to use web conferencing for Office Hours. You can schedule online office hours weekly for a few hours. Students can pop in if they need help.
Record sessions for those who can't make it. Make sure everyone knows it's being recorded. I usually type something about it on the opening slide.
Create Collaborate sessions for students to use for meeting in groups. You can create a separate session for each group. Give them all Moderator privileges so they can record their sessions. They can even use it to record a group presentation. The recording will be in the Canvas course shell and others can view it.
Use Collaborate to record short presentations for students to view. It works as a lecture capture tool. You can show your screen, upload slides, and show video, if you like.
When hosting a live session, limit the number of simultaneous talkers. You can raise it during the session if you need. You can get echo and feedback if people try to use a mic and they aren't wearing headphones. Their speakers feed back into the mic.
If you suspect the chat may be very active during your live session, you may wish to assign someone to moderate the chat and let you know if there's a question you need to answer.
Chat can be powerful when you're presenting online, because the questions help you to pace your presentation and will let you know if people are confused. Students will also answer each other's questions and share resources. Encourage them to do so. You can paste links in chat. Everything clickable in the live session can also be clicked in the recording. If you upload a file to share with participants, that will also be available in the recorded session.

Other Tools

Google Docs - Forms, Docs, Spreadsheets, Presentations
Canvas Collaborations - Can either be Google Doc or Etherpad