Using Skype to support off campus learners Geraldine Jones [email_address] Andy Ramsden [email_address] Slideshare.net – tag: eatbath-present08 www.tasterseries.wordpress.com

Do the handsets work ? Yes I wouldn’t bet on it I really don’t care What is the likelihood that I’ll get back to Bristol this evening, the sun will be shining so that I can pick some raspberries with my youngest child for our tea.

Yes

I wouldn’t bet on it

I really don’t care

Have you ever knowingly participated in a (synchronous) desktop conference? Yes No I just don’t know !

Yes

No

I just don’t know !

Do you have a skype account? Yes No

Yes

No

If you have a skype account (or other VOIP), how would you describe yourself … Power User – log on each day, use it a couple of times a week for both voice and video Novice – log on each day (because the computer does it for me), tend to use it once a week, mostly for text chat and voice Enthusiastic amateur – I log in very infrequently, tend to use it once a month to communicate on non-work related issues.

Power User – log on each day, use it a couple of times a week for both voice and video

Novice – log on each day (because the computer does it for me), tend to use it once a week, mostly for text chat and voice

Enthusiastic amateur – I log in very infrequently, tend to use it once a month to communicate on non-work related issues.

Do you agree with the following statement. Strongly Agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly Disagree Skype (or equivalent) offers significant potential in the way that I communicate with people for work purposes. It will be a central part of my communication strategy.

Strongly Agree

Agree

Neutral

Disagree

Strongly Disagree

A spectrum of synchronous conferencing tools 1 to 1 many to many 1 to many 1 to few few to few http:// www.accessgrid.org / + +

Comparison of approaches Desktop video conferencing Speed – faster than browser based alternatives Quality – better quality video and audio than browser based solutions Features – more features Browser based video conferencing Simplicity – simpler than an IM client. Compatibility - because they run in the browser, there is no problem with OS compatibility. Omni-accessible - as long as you have a webcam and internet connection, you can hold a conference. http://www.voip-sol.com/7-leading-browser-based-video-conference-tools/

Desktop video conferencing

Speed – faster than browser based alternatives

Quality – better quality video and audio than browser based solutions

Features – more features

Browser based video conferencing

Simplicity – simpler than an IM client.

Compatibility - because they run in the browser, there is no problem with OS compatibility.

Omni-accessible - as long as you have a webcam and internet connection, you can hold a conference.

Skype is.. http:// www.skype.com … . software that lets you talk over the internet to anyone, anywhere in the world for FREE! How? Using VOIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) technology which digitising voice data into packets to send over any IP network 250 million users

http:// www.skype.com

Skype also enables One-to-one telephony (Skype-to-Skype and Skype-out) Telephone conferencing Video conferencing One-to-one text chat Many-to-many text chat Skypecasts “ Friends” directory Global subscriber directory & member profiling system Activity history (calls, chats, etc.) Presence awareness 7 things you should know about Skype (EDUCAUSE) http://connect.educause.edu/Library/ELI/7ThingsYouShouldKnowAbout/45746

One-to-one telephony (Skype-to-Skype and Skype-out)

Telephone conferencing

Video conferencing

One-to-one text chat

Many-to-many text chat

Skypecasts

“ Friends” directory

Global subscriber directory & member profiling system

Activity history (calls, chats, etc.)

Presence awareness

Getting started with Skype Get help here: http:// www.skype.com /help/guides/

Live Demo

Advantages over landline telephony Assignment of one number to many phones. A user can log onto their network anywhere and still receive and make calls. Instant Messaging (IM). Presence - who, on the network is currently available, away, or invisible Missed calls list Notification of voicemail. Use of video, conference calling and general multimedia.

Assignment of one number to many phones.

A user can log onto their network anywhere and still receive and make calls.

Instant Messaging (IM).

Presence - who, on the network is currently available, away, or invisible

Missed calls list

Notification of voicemail.

Use of video, conference calling and general multimedia.

Impact of VOIP telephony Increased mobility affects the whole process of communication within an institution fewer missed calls, increase in returned calls overall time management . http://www.jiscinfonet.ac.uk/infokits/social-software/voip/what-are-the-benefits

Increased mobility affects the whole process of communication within an institution

fewer missed calls,

increase in returned calls

overall time management .

http://www.jiscinfonet.ac.uk/infokits/social-software/voip/what-are-the-benefits

How could you use Skype in your own teaching/support context?

How could you use Skype in your own teaching/support context?

Skype for teaching and learning Support Placement students Peer to peer Help desk/office hours Assessment Viva interview Feedback on assessment Teaching sessions Tutorials Remote lecture Small group workshops/seminars Group projects Field work Creating teaching materials from recorded conversations Expert interviews Answer phone questions/feedback

Support

Placement students

Peer to peer

Help desk/office hours

Assessment

Viva interview

Feedback on assessment

Teaching sessions

Tutorials

Remote lecture

Small group workshops/seminars

Group projects

Field work

Which one would you like us to discuss? Support placement students (UoB) Assessment (synchronous) Workshops to remote groups / users Visiting experts to teaching sessions (Bath)

Support placement students (UoB)

Assessment (synchronous)

Workshops to remote groups / users

Visiting experts to teaching sessions (Bath)

Case Study 1: Eric Anderson Lecturer, Dept of Education Purpose : To keep in touch with placement students Between 4-10 students a year Technology: Skype audio and text Students prefer text chat Get in touch ~ twice a month Advantages Free international calls Replaces the ‘Placement Visit’ i.e. cheaper, time not wasted Students know they contact anytime Skype works for me because: Informal relationship with students Approachable, can be contacted anytime via Skype 50% Email messages contact comes via facebook, 50% via standard email routes

Purpose : To keep in touch with placement students

Between 4-10 students a year

Technology: Skype audio and text

Students prefer text chat

Get in touch ~ twice a month

Advantages

Free international calls

Replaces the ‘Placement Visit’ i.e. cheaper, time not wasted

Students know they contact anytime

Skype works for me because:

Informal relationship with students

Approachable, can be contacted anytime via Skype

50% Email messages contact comes via facebook, 50% via standard email routes

Case Study 2: Live Assessment Purpose: To assess a student’s presentation to confirm a grade boundary One to one communication Both parties remotely located Student presented then answered tutor questions Technology : shared zoho show document + Skype Skype to landline call Feedback from participants The student was a little nervous at first but soon felt comfortable Tutor was pleased with the ease of setup and the resulting interaction. Advantages Enabled a better assessment of the student’s work than could be achieved by just flipping through a powerpoint. Easy to set up Cheap http:// mrmoses.org/?p =82

Purpose: To assess a student’s presentation to confirm a grade boundary

One to one communication

Both parties remotely located

Student presented then answered tutor questions

Technology : shared zoho show document + Skype

Skype to landline call

Feedback from participants

The student was a little nervous at first but soon felt comfortable

Tutor was pleased with the ease of setup and the resulting interaction.

Advantages

Enabled a better assessment of the student’s work than could be achieved by just flipping through a powerpoint.

Easy to set up

Cheap

http:// mrmoses.org/?p =82

Case Study 3: Live Workshop Purpose: To bring together a group of professionals to explore the potential of Skype conferencing 6 participants 1 facilitator all located in the UK Facilitator set up a shared Google document prior to the workshop Skype ids were exchanged via the Google document. The workshop progressed through a series of paired activities followed by plenaries. All comments and outcomes were recorded in the shared document by participants Technology : Skype + Google document Audio only interaction Conference call and one to one calls

Purpose: To bring together a group of professionals to explore the potential of Skype conferencing

6 participants 1 facilitator all located in the UK

Facilitator set up a shared Google document prior to the workshop

Skype ids were exchanged via the Google document.

The workshop progressed through a series of paired activities followed by plenaries.

All comments and outcomes were recorded in the shared document by participants

Technology : Skype + Google document

Audio only interaction

Conference call and one to one calls

Case Study 3: Live Workshop Feedback from participants The full conference worked less well as some participants’ audio broke up. Hanging up and restarting a call helped. The break out sessions worked very well. A good sense of presence was achieved by audio only plus photo. The Google doc was an excellent focus for the group and served as a record of activity afterwards Advantages Easier to convene a group if you are only asking for 1hr rather than a day Easy to set up Cheaper than travelling Conference call practices to generate knowledge and record learning http://www.learningalliances.net/index.php/resources/conference-call-practices/

Feedback from participants

The full conference worked less well as some participants’ audio broke up. Hanging up and restarting a call helped.

The break out sessions worked very well.

A good sense of presence was achieved by audio only plus photo.

The Google doc was an excellent focus for the group and served as a record of activity afterwards

Advantages

Easier to convene a group if you are only asking for 1hr rather than a day

Easy to set up

Cheaper than travelling

Purpose: To bring in a remote expert to contribute to an MA seminar 8 students and 1 tutor located in Bath and 1 guest speaker located in Canada Expert gave a short talk to the group and took questions from the group afterwards. Technology : Apple Mac laptops, webcams and iChat, one in each location Speaker’s image displayed on full screen via data projector Sound via external speaker Feedback from participants A good sense of presence of the remote speaker in the room and a good sense of audience for the presenter. All participants enjoyed the experience Advantages A richer learning experience for students Easy to set up Cheaper than flying guests in! Case Study 4: Visiting expert Alan Reid - Dept of Education

Purpose: To bring in a remote expert to contribute to an MA seminar

8 students and 1 tutor located in Bath and 1 guest speaker located in Canada

Expert gave a short talk to the group and took questions from the group afterwards.

Technology : Apple Mac laptops, webcams and iChat, one in each location

Speaker’s image displayed on full screen via data projector

Sound via external speaker

Feedback from participants

A good sense of presence of the remote speaker in the room and a good sense of audience for the presenter.

All participants enjoyed the experience

Advantages

A richer learning experience for students

Easy to set up

Cheaper than flying guests in!

Do you agree with the following statement. Strongly Agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly Disagree Skype (or equivalent) offers significant potential in the way that I communicate with people for work purposes. It will be a central part of my communication strategy.

Strongly Agree

Agree

Neutral

Disagree

Strongly Disagree

What are your plans now? Please leave a Skype message for us after the session