Live e-Learning
This page provides links to some resources on live e-learning - that's a scheduled e-learning session that takes place virtually in a live meeting or virtual classroom tool - as well as how to run a live event.
Articles in date order, most recent first.
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7 things you should know about virtual meetings
"Virtual meetings are real-time interactions that take place over the Internet using integrated audio and video, chat tools, and application sharing. They offer a way to engage students in fully interactive, online learning experiences such as lectures, discussions, and tutoring. Many virtual meeting applications integrate with course management systems, providing students and faculty with a unified learning system including access to online meetings."
Added: 25 February 2006
Reviewer's Note:
The "7 Things You Should Know About..." series from the EDUCAUSE Learning Initiative (ELI) provides concise information on emerging learning practices and technologies. Each brief focuses on a single practice or technology and describes what it is, where it is going, and why it matters to teaching and learning.
834 Tips for successful online instruction
"This FREE Digital Book, 834 Tips for Successful Online Instruction is an amazing collection of tips from 336 of your professional colleagues. Nowhere will you find a more comprehensive set of tips that you can use to improve your knowledge and skills in online instruction." From the eLearning Guild
Added: 20 December 2005
Reviewer's Note:
Digital book available as a PDF to download
Top synchronous myths and their realities
"I recently had the opportunity to speak with Jennifer Hofmann, president of InSync Training, a synchronous instructional design firm based in Connecticut. Hofmann is dedicated to dispelling the myths associated with the field of live online learning by offering educational programs for designers and facilitators of online learning." Nanette Miner, Learning Circuits, October 2005
Added: 11 October 2005
Reviewer's Note:
Here are some of the more common myths (and their realities) that she encounters.
"The next wave of computer-aided communications, however, promises to expand the channels of communication even further. Unlike e-mail, Web conferences allow real-time interaction and collaboration, and they often combine text communications with other media, such as audio and video." Maggie Biggs, 7 June 2004, FCW.com
Added: 7 June 2004
Reviewer's Note:
PDF of the product ratings also available
Virtual Classroom starter guide
"You've heard the debate for years: classroom verses online. Only a few years ago, instructor-led training required a face-to-face event in which participants traveled to a single classroom facility, and e-learning usually equated to self-study content loaded onto a CD or Website. Enter virtual classrooms. Web collaboration technology permits the best of both delivery options: real-time access to a live instructor or subject matter expert right from the user's PC." Bob Maiden, Learning Circuits, October 2003
Added: 24 October 2003
Reviewer's Note:
The low-down on virtual classrooms
The next generation of live learning
"Today's online classrooms (referred to by many as "virtual classrooms") are effective in disseminating training content to a large number of remote learners. Online classrooms deliver live training along with the ability to archive the live training sessions for subsequent on-demand learning. While this modality is effective in conveying information to learners, as witnessed by the explosive growth in online classroom events, there remain gaps in the learning process when it's conducted with first-generation online classroom capabilities. These deficiencies leave many learners and instructors dissatisfied with the online classroom experience." Sanjay Dalal, Chief Learning Officer Magazine, 1 October 2003
Added: 10 October 2003
Reviewer's Note:
"In summary, the next generation of live learning is simple to use, has built-in intelligence, promotes hands-on experience, enables dynamic rich-media delivery, is persistent and above all, creates a compelling environment for the learner."
"Perhaps not surprisingly, the virtual classroom appears tantalisingly similar to its bricks and mortar equivalent and trainers can justifiably expect to make use of many of their existing skills. However, there is a difference in working with an audience that could be thousands of miles away and which, to all intents and purposes, is invisible. In this article, Clive Shepherd explores what it is that the e-trainer needs to do differently to make a success of virtual classroom training and realise the benefits that synchronous online communication can bring to just about any organisation with a distributed workforce." Clive Shepherd, tactix, August 2003
Added: 24 August 2003
Reviewer's Note:
This concentrates on the trainer's skills in running a live e-learning session.
Robin Good's SOHO Web Conferencing Guide
"Reviews of 18 Live Conferencing Systems : Comprehensive Feature Comparison Table : Access to 16 Free Try-Outs : 500+ Pages : 600+ Screenshots : 400+ Links"
Added: 29 March 2003
Reviewer's Note:
Also see Robin Good's Web Conferencing Access Kit to 16 Free Try Outs (http://www.masternewmedia.org/reports/webconferencing/trial.htm)
Designing and facilitating online, web-based events: a very general checklist
"Online events, like offline events, can provide a focal point for an online migration, or regular punctuation for communities to stop, reflect, touch base or work intensively for a short period of time. Like a tall cool beer in the afternoon, they can make a break from ongoing activities to connect and focus. Or like a workshop, they can focus a group on tasks and deliverables within a fixed time frame." Nancy White, Full Circle Assocs, August 2003
Added: 16 February 2003
Reviewer's Note:
Some fundamental but important things to consider before running a virtual event
Are your virtual classrooms as successful as they could be?
"...why is learner engagement such a tough challenge for synchronous trainers? It's not that the necessary tools and utilities aren't available; in fact, they're built right into the software we're using! Instead, it seems that we're simply not leveraging them to their fullest extent." Christina Morfield, Suite 101, 1 August 2002
Added: 16 September 2002
Reviewer's Note:
Some useful guidance on using virtual classroom tools
eVal Scorecard: Virtual Meeting Collaboration
eWeek, 3 July 2002
Added: 15 July 2002
Reviewer's Note:
e-Week compares a number of virtual meeting tools Demos of the products evaluated are also available (http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,3959,369934,00.asp)
virtual classroom, realtime learning
Added: 18 January 2002
Reviewer's Note:
An overview and explanation of virtual classrooms by Jay Cross of Internet Time Group who also ponders a few questions
Synchronous team teaching: put your heads together
"A producer or assistant trainer can help transform synchronous programs into trouble-free, fast moving, interactive events that keep learners involved and the trainer on track. In short, the trainer can stay focused on content while the producer takes care of everything else." Jennifer Hoffman, Learning Circuits, November 2001
Added: 22 November 2001
Reviewer's Note:
Don't try and do everything yourself!
Designing and delivering live, online training
"So you've decided to try some live, online training. You've bought the product and now you wonder "Where do I begin? How do I design and deliver live, online training when my experience is all in the physical classroom?" Jo-Ann Driscoll, eLearn Magazine, October 2001
Added: 18 October 2001
Reviewer's Note:
A comprehensive article which takes you from basic principles
An instructor's guide to live e-learning
"Before you move from the traditional classroom to e-learning, you may want to double-check your stand-up trainer's toolkit. You'll find that much of your traditional training expertise is transferable to the online classroom. If you still need help on figuring out how to extend the online learning experience, try these tips." Christine Duckworth, Learning
Added: 3 August 2001
Reviewer's Note:
Some good tips on how to run a live e-learning session
Chat rooms: what learning activities do electronic chat rooms support
A short 5 step-by-step approach to understanding chat rooms and how they can be used. Part of EdTech's Effective Use of Online Course Tools
Added: 17 November 2001
Reviewer's Note:
A quick and easy to use summary of live chat - simply and effectively produced
How to determine your readiness for e-learning
To help you get the independent information you need on different categories of e-learning tools in a workbook-style, "bite-size" portion, we're introducing the first How Tos of E-Learning series in the industry. Downloadable from Brandon-Hall for $75.
Added: 16 July 2001
Reviewer's Note:
A wide ranging report from determining your e-learning readiness to help with selecting the right tool
"One of the top benefits of e-learning is that students can learn on demand. But what about students who prefer more traditional scheduled classroom interaction, yet can't afford to leave the office for days at a time to get the training they need? For this fast-growing student population, the solution lies in synchronous, or live, e-learning. This effective form of e-learning combines the benefits of live, instructor-led training with the flexibility of Web access." Frank Gartland, e-learning magazine, June 2001.
Added: June 2001
Reviewer's Note:
