Laboratories

Lab #1- Collaborative Tools

Preparation:

• Geelan, D.R. (2003)

Find a number of different collaborative tools that have been designed for the delivery of distance education and training (e.g., Elluminate (http://www.elluminate.com), Smart Technologies Bridgit (http://www2.smarttech.com/st/en-US/Products/Bridgit/) and Horizon Wimba (http://www.horizonwimba.com/). Try each of these tools (you will find that most such tools have a demonstration site and even support "live" testing). Try to schedule time to try the different tools with the other students in the course. Develop a list of criteria to evaluate these different tool (e.g. instructional support features, student support features, administrative features, ease of use, etc). Hint: see if others have developed lists of features. Think about the following issues, and discuss them with your classmates.

1. How you personally like the communication technology tool,
2. Ease of use (both for you personally and for the average K-12 or secondary student),
3. How practical it would be for use in a classroom setting,
4. What types of learners and subjects the tool would be best suited for and why.

Write a short paper (4-5 pages) that evaluates the different tools. Include the criteria you developed and how each of the tools rated. Make sure that your evaluation includes a discussion of each of the four issues identified above.

Due date: February 28, 2006

Lab #2- Other synchronous tools

Identify a number of synchronous tools that are available on the Internet, such as:

1. online text chat (e.g. AOL Instant Mesenger, Yahoo Instant Messenger or MSN Messenger).
2. desktop videoconference (e.g., iChat, AOL Instant Messenger, MSN Messenger)
3. Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) e.g., Skype

Register for, and try at least one of each of these tools (preferably on your own microcomputer, but if necessary, arrangements can be made for you to use the computers in the Cyberport). Since these tools all require that you interact with at least one other person, help someone else install these tools on their computer so that they can interact with you. Don't limit yourself to your classmates for this exercise. Maybe think about your siblings, former classmates, colleagues, etc. who live a long distance from you but who have access to a computer connected to the Internet. These tools do away with long distance charges.

Write a 4-5 page paper describing how each of these tools worked for you and for them. Address issues such as: how you liked the technologies, how easy (difficult) they were to install, how easy they were to use, etc. Make sure you include the evaluations of the others you helped learn to use these technologies.

Due date: March 14, 2006

Lab #3- Room-based Videoconference Systems

Part 1 - Participate in the H.323 videoconference that we will run during class lab time.

Part 2 - Schedule time in the Cyberport to try the different features of room-based videoconference systems. You will need to set up a videoconference with another location. If you know someone who has access to such a system, use them. If not, the instructor will arrange for a desktop system to "dial in" to your videoconference. In a 4-5 page response discuss the following questions in light of your experiences in the H.323 videoconference. Make sure you format your references using proper APA formatting.

1. What do you feel would be the benefits of a videoconference like this compared to the desktop videoconferencing you did in lab one?
2. When would this type of videoconference like this be more beneficial to a learner? When would it be less beneficial?
3. How is the cyberport like a classroom? What is it missing (if anything) that you feel is important to have in a classroom?
4. Do you feel the cyberport would be an effective teaching environment? Why or why not? What would you do to improve the cyberport as a teaching environment?

Due date: March 28, 2006