Investigating a free online video conferencing application to deliver training to distant trade skills students

1. Flashmeeting is a webconferencing tool useful for distant training delivery. Developed by the Knowledge Media Institute at BBC Open University, it is a free application. This view is a screen capture of the meeting booking form.

2. The meeting booking request immediately triggers an email with URL and other details

3. The meeting details are published in the stonemasonry wiki to alert students.

4. The meeting is conducted using text chat, audio and webcam.

5. Immediately after the meeting, an archived version is available at the same link originally used to access it.

6. The meeting replay is a downloadable video clip, useful for recording interaction during the session.

7. The “meeting minutes” link archives the chat line, recording participants’ engagement during the session.

8. The “meeting analysis” link analyses participants’ activities as a time line. Votes on issues during the session are also recorded here.

9. The “meeting analysis” link provides graphic representation of participants’ webcam/audio broadcast activity.

10. The “meeting analysis” link also provides graphic representation of participants’ text interaction.