Video Conferencing & Communication Tools
Web, online, or video conferencing quickly offers the ability to connect with colleagues, students, and peers using online technology to bring us face-to-face. There are a number of tools available to host or join video conferences. Skype is obviously a well-known tool that people use thanks to it being linked to Facebook. Skype is free, but the free plan is limited to one to one communication. Universities and business utilize WebEx. Ustream is also a popular product for many users.
Another Video Conference Tool: Spreecast (updated 12-1-2012 by Thomas DeVere Wolsey)
Spreecast allows up to four webcams to participate in a conference, and other users can join in via text chat. Spreecast records the session, and URL to that session makes it possible to share the session with others after the session ends.
This presentation will focus on the use of Google Hangouts. I prefer Google Hangouts because it is free, it allows you to "chat" with up to 10 people, and is available across multiple devices. You can join a Hangout from a laptop, tablet, mobile device, etc. The iOS app is available here. The app for Android is available here. To use Google Hangouts, you will need a Google Account, or a Google+ account. My Google+ account is available here.
After you have created your account, and installed whatever software, or plug-ins that are needed, video conferencing can be used for a number of different reasons. It can be used to hold online office hours, or group meetings between students. I have used Google Talk and /or Hangouts to hold online office hours, or advising meetings. I also use Google Hangouts to meet with colleagues to discuss work or research.
Video conferencing technolgy can be used to hold online broadcasts...or webcasts. The Digital Media and Learning Research Hub holds their webinars in Google Hangouts and then hosts them on Connected Learning...you should join in on the chat, or twitter feed during one of their talks.
I have used Google Hangouts to virtually present to schools and educators. I recently had the privilege of speaking to a group of educators from Argentina about authentic and effective uses of technology in their classrooms. I posted my materials and a screencast of the talk to my blog. I also used the broadcast feature of Google Hangouts to video conference...and save my follow-up session with the class of teacher.
Finally, I have also used Google Hangouts in research. Last year we used the tool to host Literature Circles using video conferencing. We wanted to see if there was a difference in face-to-face discussions about literature...as opposed to online. An example of one of these video Literature Circles is available below.
There are many more uses for Google Hangouts in both K-12 and Higher Education. More training and resource materials are available below.
The screencast of this presentation from #LRA12 - San Diego is available below:
This tutorial was prepared by W. Ian O'Byrne @wiobyrne