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This article explores the use of synchronous activities like web conferencing in online learning.

Table of Contents

Exploring Web Conferencing for Synchronous Discussions

What Are Synchronous Discussions?

Web conferencing--also known as video conferencing, live lecture capture, webcasts, or other monikers--allows you and your students to hold a discussion in real time. Dozens of programs are available, such as Adobe Connect, GoToMeeting, Panopto, Tegrity, and WebEx. At Boise State, Google Meet (formerly Hangouts) and Zoom are available. If you have ever participated in an online seminar--a webinar--you have likely used one of these programs. Most provide an opportunity to do the following:

  • Use a webcam to see people in real time (synchronously)

  • Use a headset or microphone to hear one another

  • Share files such as Microsoft Word documents or PowerPoint slides

  • Show video

  • Visit websites at the same time

  • Use a whiteboard

  • Take a poll

  • Record a session

You also may have heard of, or used, Skype, which allows for telephone conversations over the Internet.

Why Use Synchronous Discussions?

Smith (2002) wrote about what asynchronous discussions can do for an online course, and the same is true for real-time discussions, which can:

  • Serve to reduce a feeling of isolation among students that can lead to dropping out.

  • Provide a place to meet needs of adult learners, who prefer application of information to their real-world experiences.

  • Afford the opportunity to build a sense of community among the learners. 

  • Help differentiate an online course from a correspondence course. Online discussions enhance student-to-student and faculty-to-student communication.

Best Ways to Use Synchronous Discussions?

Web conferencing learning activities include not only synchronous discussions (perhaps even with a guest speaker), but also project presentations, oral quizzes, role-playing activities, virtual labs, demonstrations, and more. In addition, students in the midst of group projects can use informal discussions to plan or conduct their work.

PLEASE GO: The following video posted to YouTube shares excellent tips for presenting a live lecture using web conferencing software. The video was created by Facilitador.com, a business consultancy, but the ideas can very much apply to academic lectures:

Planning for Synchronous Discussions

Due to frequent changes in technology associated with online web conferencing, the instructions to support your activity will require regular maintenance. Our goal is to use technology that is supported by trained Help Desk staff at Boise State.

As with all your activities, consider the objective being met by the activity. While invaluable to develop a sense of community, synchronous sessions reduce flexibility. Consider alternative methods that must be included to accommodate students who are unable to attend the live session. 

At Boise State, instructors have ready access to two web conferencing programs, thanks to university licensing:

  • Zoom - Soon to be integrated into our learning management system, Zoom is probably best for sessions where you want a higher quality. For instance, you might have students prepare and deliver a slide presentation in Zoom. 

  • Google Meet - Similar features to Zoom are available in Hangout, but the quality may not always be that great. Nonetheless, Meet works well for virtual office hours or other low-stakes meetings, and an impromptu session is easily started from within the chat tool located on your email page.

Your instructional design consultant can assist you in selecting the best tool for your needs.

Planning a web conference should take into account your students’ computer setup; you will need to let students know well in advance (in the syllabus and preferably before your class even begins), if they will require peripheral computer equipment such as a headset and webcam.

Designing for Synchronous Discussions

Your students will need the following specifics in order to be successful in web conferencing:

  • A clear rationale for “going to the trouble” of using this tool - in other words, a valid reason why synchronous discussion is the best tool for helping students to meet one or more objectives

  • All computer requirements and optional items, with information about how to contact the help desk

  • Step-by-step instructions for accessing the web conferencing session, including suggestion for students to always check their audio setup as soon as they enter the session

  • Details about grading or evaluation, if applicable

Due to the wide variety of ways that you can use web conferencing, we suggest that you also look at the resources for group projects and asynchronous discussions in this module folder.

OPTIONAL: If you wish, read any of the following to learn more:

Creating Learning Activities Using Synchronous Discussions

Refer to the following resources to learn more about the web conferencing tools available at Boise State:

Personnel at the Boise State help desk (helpdesk@boisestate.edu or 208-426-4357) are available to assist you with technical questions, and your Instructional Design Consultant(s) is happy to consult with you about ways to use either of these programs.

References

Examples of Synchronous Discussion

We've discovered that students can be afraid to attend live web conferencing sessions, and have found it helpful to reassure them that joining a session is an easy process and a positive experience. The verbiage below are examples of announcements used in a course at Boise State.

  • You will need to have a headset/microphone for your computer to fulfill the Computer Hardware/Software requirements for this course (a webcam would be helpful as well, but is not required). You need to have access to a headset throughout this course in order to actively participate in the weekly web conferencing class sessions. Please refer to the Virtual Office Hours section on page 5 of the syllabus for details.

  • If you chose to attend the web conferencing session, you will log into the session using your computer at a certain time each week and have a live discussion with your instructor and other students in your class. You will discuss the article of the week, be able to ask questions, and interact with your peers. I highly recommend that you make these sessions a priority and attend as often as possible if your schedule permits. Past students have commented that the web conferencing sessions were very helpful and helped improve their grades. And they had FUN!  You can talk during the sessions if you have a microphone, or you can type in a chat forum.

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