e-Conferencing

**Definitions: **

 * Referred to as Group Support Systems or Electronic Meeting Systems
 * Provides tools to assist with synchronous collaboration.
 * Collaborative software enables users in remote geographical locations to share ideas
 * and work together using real-time chats, threaded discussion boards, shared whiteboards, file transfers, live video images, and audio chats (Taran, 2004; Rupley, 2004).
 * Enabling multiple users to connect on the screen at the same time, online conferencing
 * Has provided a convenient option for communication and connection (Page et al.,2003).

‍**Links: **

 * Skype - [|www.skype.com]
 * Google Talk - [|www.google.com/talk/]
 * Elluminate - []
 * Adobe Connect
 * Webex
 * Additionally, Elluminate offers a free threeseat vRoom edition. “Enjoy real-time collaboration with up to three participants using interactive features such as Two-way audio, Interactive whiteboard, Direct messaging, Application sharing, File transfer, Synchronized web tour, Live webcam, and Breakout rooms.” You can register for the free three-seat Elluminate vRoom at[]

‍**Usage: **

 * Interactive lectures and presentations
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Collaborative projects
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Presentation of real-life problems for group problem-solving
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Small group discussions
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Live Supervision
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Practice skills sessions
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">"Coffee Talk"- informal morning talk with the faculty
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Directions for a Life Session:
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">[[image:http://www.wikispaces.com/i/mime/32/application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document.png width="32" height="32" link="http://technologybootcamp2011.wikispaces.com/file/view/EDUC+633_Live_session_directions.docx"]] [|EDUC 633_Live_session_directions.docx]



‍**<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Benefits: **

 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Enables active participation (Marjanovic, 1999).
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Provides collaborative learning environment (Marjanovic, 1999).
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Allows for the exchange ideas (Page, et al., 2003)
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Builds a scholarly online community (Page, et al., 2003)
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Encourages knowledge construction, deeper understanding of concepts, and increased skill development (Marjanovic, 1999).
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Increases the ability to feel connected to group members
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Enables participant to hear vocal tones and view nonverbal cues.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Contains password protection, user authentication, and data encryption, conferencing software can provide robust security and administrative control (Taran, 2004).

‍**<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Challenges: **

 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">The main challenge in this process is the expertise needed to combine different tools to design active learning activities that will achieve intended learning objectives” (Marjanovic, 1999, p. 132).
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Learners and educators need to understand the conferencing software and how it can be used to enhance the development of counselling skills.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Educators must receive adequate training to effectively use the collaborative.