This post will discuss three synchronous learning tools. Let us start with a quick definition of synchronous. Entering the following phrase define:synchronous into a Google search produces a page of definitions for synchronous. The following definition is the first from the list:
Synchronous: A type of two-way communication with virtually no time delay, allowing participants to respond in real time.
There you go, in a nutshell that’s what a synchronous communication tool does, it allows you to communicate in a seamless manner. This environment may include text, audio, or video, and in some cases a mixture of more than one.
Tools such as Skype, Horizon-Wimba, and Tapped In have varying amounts of potential based on the users’, and communities’, level of technological literacy. Each of these tools offers conferencing/chat capabilities. Each has their own unique look and feel but there are many similarities. Each of these tools allows users to communicate from around the globe. Let me say that again with a little different touch, users are able to communicate from around the world. Like the word play, world/globe? The point is that these are global communication tools.
Horizon-Wimba is an environment that combines text and audio with a few other advanced conferencing functions. One of the most powerful tools I’ve been able to witness from Wimba is a screen capturing capability. For example, say you were participating in a discussion on a given topic, at any given point the facilitator is able to turn on a screen capture tool to a particular user who can in turn capture a portion of their screen to share with the group. This offers astounding possibilities; one quick thought is having one group member run a presentation for the entire group to watch. The draw back for me is the cost of Horizon-Wimba. It’s not free. Although the following tools Skype and TappeIn don’t offer some of the advanced features they make up for these “deficiencies†in terms of their respective costs, they’re free!
Skype is what most would consider an instant messenging tool. Personally I hate to think of it in that respect as most educators familiar with IM tools include a few choice four letter words when describing what they see students using IM tools for. You could literally keep me going for hours on those types of arguments, let’s leave it with this quick quote, “The arguments of a technology’s potential abuses as an argument against the tool are not sound arguments.â€
To me Skype is the perfect tool for online collaboration. Skype allows you to chat with other participants through text, audio, and video. I have a cable modem connection at home so I am on the end of the spectrum where I see no delay in audio/video. Skype also offers file sharing capability. Not that you can’t just e-mail a document to the other person, but Skype has an option to attach and send information during the actual conference. The other day I was able to participate in an audio conference with two other people from Minnesota and a third who was in Mongolia. Did I mention that there was no cost, or hidden costs to this service? Skype leverages the power of existing tools. In my case that’s an internet connection, webcam, and a computer.
My Skype user name is SeanMartinson (no space), feel free to contact me at any time and add me to your list! TappedIn is similar to the other tools listed above.
TappedIn is a community portal to topic specific textual chats. Setting up an account to TappedIn is easy and upon entering the site you are met by a chat section with an assistant to walk you through and show you around. The area that TappedIn excels at is the community and scheduling that it offers. TappedIn is for educators and runs a monthly calendar of topics allowing users to pencil in dates ahead of time where they will be able to chat (text) with other like minded users about a given topic.
Being comfortable with the typing modes available in Wimba, Skype, and Tappedin I’ve found uses for each of them. As I cross the digital divide I am becoming more and more comfortable with the audio and video chatting capabilities. I don’t think it’s the same for our students, but for myself and others, we need to learn a whole new mode of communication. It’s amusing to watch those not comfortable (again, myself included) as we stumble through and navigate the audio/video all while trying not to interrupt each other. It brings me back to the days of CB radios while talking in turns. It’s hard to get used to an environment where we are able to talk in the same face to face atmosphere minus the body language that communicates the intent and directs the flow of the conversation.
Each tool has its obstacles and hurdles to becoming fully integrated into educational settings. The biggest is imagination. Many have asked what you would use these tools for, my answer is “What do you want it to do?â€. Each tool can be used to fit the user’s needs. It’s up to their imagination.
So how do and why do you use these tools in education. Although I believe there are many uses for each of these communication tools in education. It again goes back to your goals and objectives for the tools. I give little time to Horizon-Wimba, not because I don’t feel that it’s a powerful tool, but because I can’t and many districts can’t afford to use it. TappedIn is an excellent tool for technologically inclined educators to meet, network, and discuss topics of importance. Skype, in my mind, has huge implications for education. Again, there are a multitude of uses, but the biggest that I see is utilizing Skype as a border crasher.
For my generation many can remember when Ronald Reagan said, “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!â€. I believe Skype has the same potential. The potential to bring together groups from around the world, opening a direct line of communication where, in this case, students are able to meet those that they see vilified in the nightly news. What’s stopping a classroom from the Midwest from talking and meeting with students from the Middle East? Outside of time zones, languge, and differing periods in the day, there are no more excuse why we as educators can not expose and partner our classes directly with those that our news networks tell us to hate, or remind us that they hate us. The website Epals (www.epals.com) offers an online directory of classes looking for these types of partners.
Another obstacle to utilizing these approaches in the classroom is the actual training of teachers and technology staff development. The portion that was and is missing in many districts is the time portion. Many districts budget money to technology but neglect to factor in the teacher training component. Time and money are rarely budgeted for teachers to participate in training during school hours or at a rate of reimbursement outside of school hours. Staffs are already undertaking initiatives in and outside of school so for many asking them to do more on their own on top of that and what they already take home is just too much.
By integrating this approach into general curriculum we are able to ask teachers to utilize advanced technologies in subject and topic areas in which they are already comfortable. Not only does this show an immediate use which the user can identify with, it can put them more at ease when asked to use this format for a topic out of their comfort zone.
This topic is also being discussed at the EdTechWiki, you can add, edit, or browse comments at: www.edtechwiki.org
Sites Discussed:
- Skype
- http://www.skype.com/
- “Skype is a little program for making free calls over the internet to anyone else who also has Skype. It’s free and easy to download and use, and works with most computers.”
- Horizon Wimb
- http://www.horizonwimba.com/
- “Horizon Wimba develops web-based collaboration software designed for online education, language learning and live interactive communications.â€
- TappedIn
- http://tappedin.org/tappedin/
- “Tapped In is a Web-based learning environment created by SRI International to transform teacher professional development (TPD) for professional development providers and educators. Tapped In enables providers to offer high-quality online professional development experiences and support to more teachers cost-effectively. Through Tapped In, educators can extend their professional growth beyond courses or workshops with the online tools, resources, colleagues, and support they need to implement effective, classroom-centered learning activities.â€
- EdTechWiki
- http://www.edtechwiki.org
- “The purpose of this wiki is to serve as a sounding board for those that are currently utilizing technology in their classroom as well as those looking to integrate technology into their work.â€
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or is there some kind of add on I can buy that will allow me to load the mini discs into my mac? external DVD Drive?
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