A5.2: 7 Things You Should Know About Virtual Meetings
September 20, 2007
Deidra Darst
9/20/07
7 things you should know about virtual meetings (2006). Educause Learning Initiative. Retrieved September 20, 2007, from http://www.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/ELI7011.pdf
TAP:
The topic of this document is virtual meetings within an academic setting. It was written to inform teachers and students about virtual meetings and how they can provide an enriching online classroom space.
Claim:
Virtual meetings offer teachers and students more flexibility than in-person meetings. Virtual meetings create the possibility to connect with individuals from numerous countries in real-time.
Evidence:
Virtual meetings serve as a convenience for students, teachers and anyone who participates in them. At a designated time, everyone logs into the virtual meeting via their Internet connection. From various places – home, work, even another country – the participants are instantly connected in real-time. The class session is conducted with audio, video, and a shared whiteboard for collaborative use. With these tools the students and teacher can interact much like they can in a face-to-face session. With this application it is no longer necessary for class members to travel to campus for meetings. The virtual meeting space offers nearly every convenience that a face-to-face meeting offers without the hassle of traveling. Virtual meetings create opportunities for distance learners to participate in a truly interactive fashion. Many online classes lack a sense of community because the students and teacher never engage in communications other than through email. With this program in place, students from different time zones can feel as if they are in a classroom with their teacher and classmates. An expert in the field could join in the virtual meeting and provide students with first-hand information. The students could then pose questions and have the expert answer them in real-time! The ability to hear from professionals and experts in such a manner provides a richer learning environment because students have the opportunity to interact with them.
Connections:
text-to-self: I believe that virtual meetings are about to become a part of my Internet repertoire in the very near future. The CD 315 class will be meeting via a virtual meeting next week, so I found this article helpful. My husband recently took part in an online graduate class that held virtual meetings. I saw firsthand how they provide an enriching learning environment. Although the professor is hundreds of miles away, the distance-learning students feel as if they are in the classroom with him. My online medical terminology class lacks interaction amongst teacher and students, and I do not like it! I think I would enjoy the class more if we were to hold virtual meetings so I could at least see my professor!
text-to-text: This virtual meetings document is unlike any other reading so far. I am, however, reminded of the collaborative editing readings. Participants of both virtual meetings and collaborative editing can participate from various locations. Tasks can be accomplished without everyone meeting in one place at the same time. Throughout the semester I have been writing about various technologies that can be used to improve teaching and learning. All of the assigned readings for CD 315 have dealt with how these technologies can make academic curricula more convenient without sacrificing the integrity of the course or its material.
text-to-world: I can see how virtual meetings could have an impact on my future clinical career. For instance, I could possibly further my education via virtual meetings. I could take an online class that works with virtual meetings, or I could lend my voice and opinions to a class. (I hope that I will one day be considered someone whose opinions are worthwhile!) While it is unethical to work soley based on telecommunications, I could possible use virtual meetings to supplement therapy sessions (where it is legal, of course).
