Randy Piland, Lecturer in Communications and the TLT Fellow, along with Aaron Thornburg, Instructor in Sociology and Anthropology, use this tool to bring experts from around the world into class. Students engage with professionals in the field, ask questions, and view examples of authentic work. Used in this manner it saves the university time and travel expenses while allowing students the opportunity to interact and learn from guest speakers.
It was incorporated in online courses to enhance the interactive component of teaching and learning in 2010. Michelle Trim, Department of English, Aaron Peeks, Department of Sociology, and Harlen Makemson, School of Communications, integrated Adobe Connect into their online courses and held both synchronous and asynchronous sessions with students. For example, Michelle Trim used it in her online Wonder Women: Rhetoric and History of Female American Superheroes class to provide a synchronous learning environment for students to watch video clips, engage in discussion and share content. In addition online faculty used it to hold office hours, for oral examinations and for students to present research to the class.
Administration has used it to stream presentations to other campuses, particularly the Law School in Greensboro, NC. North Carolina Campus Compact has used it for webinars and professional development for several years. This technology has assisted them in their mission of supporting and promoting the integration of civic engagement into campus culture. Jonathan Romm, program coordinator for North Carolina Campus Compact, stated that this tool has, “opened a lot of opportunities to present materials” and has brought in nationally recognized experts to present, train, and convene meetings without travel time or expense.
The benefits of using web conferencing software are widespread, from bringing experts into class to providing professional development opportunities remotely. Sessions can be archived and retrieved for later review enhancing learning by allowing participants to be in-the-moment during the session, and then later reviewing material and taking notes.
For more information about faculty and campus use contact TLT at X5006 or email TLT@elon.edu.