· Cameras provide a face to face meeting with audio capability
· Files can be downloaded and shared
· Power Point presentations can be delivered
· Computer screens can be shared to access and work on projects
· Sessions can be recorded for future viewing or to send to others for their viewing.
In a ground based classroom setting, students can see and hear you and know that you are there and are responding to their questions and comments. You can see the students and can gauge by both their verbal and nonverbal feedback whether they are grasping concepts and getting their questions answered. Teaching online is different than teaching face-to-face. In an online class environment you cannot see nor hear the students. Nor can the students see or hear you. But that doesn’t have to be……. You can communicate with online students both synchronously and asynchronously. Maybe you want to introduce yourself – think of using acrobat connect – you can record yourself giving information about who you are and what you hope to accomplish in the course. Then send the acrobat connect url to the students so they can see and hear you.
Click on https://connect.regis.edu/p91522760/ to hear Melanie Smith introduce herself to students in HCA 423 Legal Aspects of Health Care online class
Now you are a real person to them instead of a name in a syllabus. You can also use this technology to have a guest speaker record their presentation, to give feedback for assignments or to give feedback regarding threaded discussions.
If one of the assignments is to prepare a presentation on a topic, consider having the student join you in acrobat connect virtual office room and give the presentation. You can record the presentation and post acrobat connect url for other students to comment on and email questions.
If there is a group assignment, set aside time for the group to meet in the acrobat connect virtual office room for discussion, completion of a paper, a practice session and a place for the group give their presentation to you.
Advising students using acrobat connect virtual office room is also an option whether the student is online or ground based. The ability of either the faculty or the student to share the computer screen provides a way for faculty to show in real time what can be improved in a paper of to demonstrate how something is done. The camera provides the visual cues that both understand what is being discussed that is relied on in a face to face meeting. Students, who live longer distances from campus, appreciate not having to drive to campus to meet with the faculty.
Whether you are teaching online or in a classroom acrobat connect can be a helpful tool.
Helpful hint
If it is the first time a student will be required to use the virtual room for a class project or presentation, provide a 1:1 training session to make sure the student has gone through the diagnostics for their computer and has installed the software for their camera.
Other uses for Acrobat Connect
--Connect with colleagues –
--Schedule a meeting
--Present a seminar (webinar) see example https://connect.regis.edu/p51092591/
--Work on team projects
2 comments:
Thank you very much for this helpful information on Adobe Connect. You have given me a more expanded perspective on how to use it in courses and in general day-to-day work activities.
Do you have any examples that you could add to your blog or share in a comment? That would be helpful to see. Thanks.
I've added them to the blog
Post a Comment