SLIC: Progress to Date

1
Synchronous Learning Management Systems Sharon
P. Pitt, Associate Vice Provost Distance
Education and Learning Technology Applications,
NC State Board Chair, UNC TLT Collaborative Scott
Brewster, Director of On-Line DevelopmentDivisio
n of Continual Learning, UNC-Greensboro Dave
Whisler, Oracle DBA Centra AdministratorCollege
of Engineering, UNC-Charlotte Robert A.
Hambrick, Web Content Developer Distance
Education and Learning Technology Applications,
NC State
2
What are synchronous LMS?

• An SLMS (e.g. Centra, Elluminate, Macromedia
  Breeze Live!, Web-4M), is a virtual classroom
  system that brings together voice, video, data
  and graphics in a group-learning environment.
• SLMSs offer real-time voice interactions and
  instructional tools such as text chat,
  interactive whiteboard, file application sharing,
  feedback tools, emoticons, web follow the
  leader, breakout rooms, and student assessment
  tools.
• So, how are they used?

3
Elluminate at UNC Greensboro
Robert Brown Nora Reynolds Scott Brewster
4
Graduate Courses (Online)

• Online music course weekly meetings (teacher
  lectures with imported PowerPoint slides)
• Online instructional design class (student
  presentations)
• Conflict Resolution Masters Degree uses
  Elluminate for all classes (some 3-hour sessions)
• Conflict Resolution hosts guest speakers via
  Elluminate

5
Graduate Courses (Face-to-Face)

• Master of Arts in Liberal Studies lecturer hosts
  a guest speaker via Elluminate

6
Undergraduate Courses (Online)

• Intro Psychology class -- online mid-term and
  final exam review sessions (a question and answer
  session between students and the faculty member)

7
University Meetings (Online)

• Online course development with faculty at a
  distance (for the Bachelor of Liberal Studies
  degree and masters degree in Conflict
  Resolution)
• Hosting meetings with clients (example DCL
  Marketing team)

8
Synchronous E-Learning withDave Whisler
9
Why me?

• Hired in Spring 99 in dual-role IT position as
  an Oracle DBA/Developer and to implement the
  technical side of a new Distance Learning Program
• FSET (Fire Safety Engineering Technology) program
• Live two-way video, live two-way audio
• Low bandwidth usage will enable fireman
• Must easily import existing content (PPT, JPEG,
  HTML, etc)
• Must have classroom controls, whiteboard,
  annotation tools
• Must be easy to use for both students and
  professors
• Must be able to record all classes for later
  playback
• Classes were to start in Fall of 99

10
How did it all work out?

• Spent 3-4 months doing research in 99
• Many vendors of E-Learning systems
• Many were not true synchronous systems
• Many used telephone conferencing systems, not
  VOIP
• Many were ASPs, not hosted solutions. We wanted
  to own our solution, not pay rent
• Those that offered live video/audio and
  recording/playback required high bandwidth
  internet connections
• Out of 2-3 other potential systems, Centra was
  the clear leader

11
Use of Centra at UNC Charlotte

• Purchased in 99 by COE for FSET program
• Immediately found that it could be used for the
  22 Engineering Program
• Other units on campus became interested in
  Centra, so we helped them pilot synchronous
  programs on our Centra Server
• A few years later, ITS purchased a Centra Server
  for campus-wide academic use
• All academic programs moved over to the ITS
  Centra Server
• Server in COE is now freed up for E-Meetings
  between faculty, staff, and researchers across
  our campus or across the world

12
Searching for a system?

• Research, research, research, test, test, test
• Dont let vendors come to give you a demo get a
  live remote demo from their office to yours
• Make sure live video is really live
• Say no to expensive hardware you need VOIP just
  by using the soundcard on your PC
• Make sure the virtual class provides the
  instructor the same crowd-control features of a
  traditional classroom

13
Best Practices

• Get faculty and other key users involved early
  to get their ownership of the solution
• Train, train, train
• Have regularly scheduled meetings using the
  product, so they get used to it in less time
• Must know thy instructor and teach them how to
  use the system so it fits their style of teaching

14
More Best Practices

• Start instructor on the basics, expand later
• Dont bore the students, get animated!
• Use add-on input devices to make the transition
  to synchronous E-learning more natural
• Graphics tablets, interactive whiteboards,
  document cameras
• Come to my session on Friday morning for a demo

15
(No Transcript)
16
Centra _at_ NC State University Robert A. Hambrick
17
NC States E-Learning Environment

• NC State is a land-grant, research extensive
  institution with a total enrollment of 29,957.
• e-Learning at NC State is supported by WebCT
  Vista, WebCT Campus Edition, NC States Wolfware,
  and Centra Symposium.
• Centra Symposium supports 16 distance education
  courses with 480 active users across five
  colleges.

18
Centra User Stories Instructional Resources

• Kimberly L. Duckett, Instructional Librarian
• D.H. Hill Library, Instructional Librarian for DE
  Services
• Synchronous tools WebSafari
• Kim Duckett is an instructional librarian for NC
  State Universitys D.H. Hill Library. She uses
  Centra Symposium to conduct online orientations
  of library resources for distance education
  students.

19
Centra User Stories Interactive Discussions

• Susan S. Jakes, Visiting Assistant Professor
• College of Agriculture and Life Science, FCS
• Synchronous tools Breakout rooms, Whiteboard
• Dr. Jakes is an Assistant Professor and a
  Cooperative Extension Training Specialist who
  uses the Centra Symposium to teach FCS510
  Program and Evaluation Development in Family Life
  Education.

20
Centra User Stories Online Office Hours

• Stephen J. Walsh, Assistant Professor
• College of Engineering, ECE
• Synchronous tools Streaming video
• Dr. Walsh teaches a distance education section of
  ECE211 Electric Circuit Analysis for the College
  of Engineering. The section is composed of
  students from NC State University, UNC-Asheville,
  and Lenoir Community College in Kinston, NC. Dr.
  Walsh uses streaming video and a digital tablet
  to illustrate electrical circuits and conducts
  online office hours for students learning at a
  distance.

21
Centra User Stories Technology Training

• Jane Steelman, Assistant Professor
• College of Education, Instructional Technology
• Synchronous tools File Application Sharing
• Dr. Steelman teaches ECI515 Internet
  Applications and Web Design. She provides
  hands-on instruction in Macromedia DreamweaverMX,
  teaching students how to design and produce web
  pages with the file application sharing feature.
  Using Centra, she demonstrates effective web
  design and permits students to share the
  Dreamweaver at a distance.

22

• Benefits Lessons Learned at NC State

• Student-Centered Learning

23

• Benefits Lessons Learned at NC State

• Student-Centered Learning
• Interactive Discussions

24

• Benefits Lessons Learned at NC State

• Student-Centered Learning
• Interactive Discussions
• Lifelong Learning Styles

25

• Benefits Lessons Learned at NC State

• Student-Centered Learning
• Interactive Discussions
• Lifelong Learning Styles
• Media-rich Course Materials

26

• Benefits Lessons Learned at NC State

• Student-Centered Learning
• Interactive Discussions
• Lifelong Learning Styles
• Media-rich Course Materials
• Immediate Student Feedback

27

• Benefits Lessons Learned at NC State

• Student-Centered Learning
• Interactive Discussions
• Lifelong Learning Styles
• Media-rich Course Materials
• Immediate Student Feedback
• Flexibility

28

• Benefits Lessons Learned at NC State

• Student-Centered Learning
• Interactive Discussions
• Lifelong Learning Styles
• Media-rich Course Materials
• Immediate Student Feedback
• Flexibility
• Intimate Community of Learners

29
Discussion.
30
Contact Information Scott Brewster,
UNC-Greensboromsbrewst_at_uncg.edu Robert A.
Hambrick, North Carolina State University robert_h
ambrick_at_ncsu.edu Sharon P. Pitt, North Carolina
State University sharon_pitt_at_ncsu.edu Dave
Whisler, UNC-Charlottedkwhisle_at_uncc.edu