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Ado
be C
onne
ct
Cla
ssro
omTechnology Infusion in
the Classroom
FRIT 8435
By
Louise Fechter
Set
ting
Grade Level: University instructors who teach both undergraduate and graduate students
Average Classroom Size: 20
Subject: Developing an Online Course
Dem
ogra
phic
s
Sex:
Females: 63.16%
Males: 36.84%
Race:
African American: 5.263%
Caucasians: 68.4222%
Hispanic: 10.526%
Asian: 10.526%
French: 5.263%
Bac
kgro
und
Online courses are usually developed in an asynchronous manner, so that students can access content “anytime/anywhere.” However, synchronous tools that allow instructors and students to discuss and collaborate in real-time have become increasingly popular and appear to increase student engagement in the online classroom.
With that said, the Adobe Connect technology is being introduced to a developing online course for the Fall of 2012 to give the students an opportunity to see how the technology can be used in their online classrooms.
Usi
ng A
dobe
Con
nect
in
Edu
catio
n
Wha
t is
Ado
be
Con
nect
?
Adobe Connect is a synchronous tool that integrates with our Learning Management System (LMS), Folio.
Adobe Connect allows you to communicate with voice, text, and visuals.
It allows you to teach, learn, and collaborate over distances.
How does it work?
Why
is A
dobe
Con
nect
be
ing
used
?W
hat a
re th
e B
enef
its?
• Adobe Connect replaces the Wimba software which was our previous synchronous tool integrated in the online courses.
• Easy webinar access.
o Maximizes attendance because it is easy to use.
o Accesible through many desktops and mobile devices.
• Scalable up to 200 connections in the GSU environment.
• Provides rich, impactful experiences.
o Captures student's attention and engages students with real-time whiteboard discussions, polling, chatting, and live Q&A.
How
doe
s th
e te
chno
logy
sup
port
th
e cu
rric
ulum
?
o Share computer screens to demonstrate software.
o Demonstrate tasks using the electronic whiteboard.
o Review Websites.
o Play and share videos.
o Record live and pre-planned presentations.
o Track learner progress by facilitating test taking and improve learner interactions.
Instructors can:
Share Documents
Navigate through Slides!
Use the Electronic Whiteboard
It’s easy!
How
doe
s th
e te
chno
logy
sup
port
th
e cu
rric
ulum
? o Deliver online training to faculty and students.
o Lead presentations or video lectures <15 minutes or less.
o Collaborate with others on project based learning assignments.
o Steer small group meetings.
o Facilitate classroom discussions and chats.
o Conduct polls and live Q&A sessions.
o Manage classroom hours online.
Instructors can:
Share Desktops, Applications, and Video
Req
uest
Ado
be
Con
nect
C
lass
room
s To get started using Adobe Connect you must complete the Faculty Request Form at: http://academics.georgiasouthern.edu/etc/products/adobeconnect
You may want to watch the Adobe Connect Overview video before getting started. This video can be found at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2syFXr6pRZ8before
Get Started
Ado
be C
onne
ct
Cla
ssro
om in
Fol
io
Once the request has been processed, you will see the “Online Rooms" linked to your online Folio course(s) Navbar.
Eva
luat
e th
e Te
chno
logy
Evaluation process:
I interviewed the faculty member that taught the Developing an Online Course FA12 course.
I observed one of the Adobe classrooms in session. Comments from the interview, classroom observation, and the survey have been included throughout this presentation.
Eva
luat
e th
e Te
chno
logy
I also developed and distributed the Adobe Connect Survey to assess the technology integration. A copy of this survey can be found at:
https://docs.google.com/a/georgiasouthern.edu/spreadsheet/viewform?fromEmail=true&formkey=dHFMMTJqczR3dklMcU1yQVhxSHlLSVE6MQ&pli=1
Diff
eren
ces
in S
tude
nt
Lear
ning
with
Ado
be
Con
nect
Students are more prepared for exams, because instructors are able to key presentation points and prepare students for exams. Thus, learning is reinforced and reflection facilitated.
Students can access archived classroom sessions that provide Q&A about the curriculum and pre-recorded sessions covering specific points of the curriculum. This will help students who may get a little behind to stay on track during the course.
Students are able to communicate synchronously, which facilitates the collaborative process among students working on group projects. This will also help the students develop more of a sense of community in the online course (OLE).
Instructor (our students) Comments After Integrating Technology:
Diff
eren
ces
in S
tude
nt
Lear
ning
with
Ado
be
Con
nect
Since I been using it, I have had ONE complaint about online class sessions in general, and it had to do with the scheduling conflict. But otherwise, students absolutely love it! They love being able to actually ""meet"" their instructor and fellow classmates via audio and webcam. It, literally, puts them at ease, which results in less tense and more enthusiastic learning.
I really like the ""e-mail chat"" application in which the chat between students and myself is documented and, upon request, sent straight to my e-mail. “
Instructor (our students) Comments After Integrating Technology:
Sup
port
Issu
es
• Adobe Connect Rooms are not automatically loaded into every online course because of the limited campus license.
• You cannot call into Adobe Connect like you could with the Wimba tool.
• There appears to be frequent maintenance.
• At times, the connection is not good and we have not been able to successfully complete the activities. We have to end the meetings and go over to Google Hangouts. I think the problem has been that Adobe Connect is new to us, and the administrators are having to work out some bugs.
• Open Microphones cause bad feedback!
Sup
port
Issu
es
• One issue is that students are not able to meet in the adobe connect classroom without me. I have had students who meet with group members for group projects with Wimba, in addition, I have had one case where a session took place, was recorded, and was successful without me even being there, in Wimba.
With adobe connect, I MUST be in the online classroom before students may enter. The online classroom presents an opportunity for interaction. Now that I have required a specific download, the interaction quality seems to have improved (based on the one session since this download requirement). But, before, the audio (unmute and mute for the presenters) was a nightmare.
Rec
omm
enda
tions
Te
achi
ng P
ract
ices
• Set up a practice session during the first week nd allow students to experiment with the technology.
• The instructor should log in before the session begins and test the audio and video features. If students are already present in the session, you may want to use them as test subjects to make sure the classroom is operating properly.
• Do not require that students attend Adobe Connect sessions, when they are used for classroom hours.
• Give bonus points to students who do attend Adobe Connect classroom hours online.
• Set up Adobe Classrooms for group projects by request to allow students to collaborate on assignments.
Rec
omm
enda
tions
and
Te
achi
ng P
ract
ices
• Share your desktop, so that whenever you change applications it will already be shared.
• Provide students with written instructions and a short overview video on how to use Adobe Connect technology.
• Set up Adobe Connect classroom(s) ahead of scheduled sessions.
• A few minutes before class starts, do an audio
test with any live or remote students.
• Depending on what you are trying do, you may want to use Powerpoint or some other type of presentation software in lieu of the electronic whiteboard rather than Adobe Connect’s whiteboard.
• Recommend that students invest in a good headset for courses using Adobe Connect!
Sum
mar
y
Ref
eren
ces
Adobe Connect points retrieved from: http://www.adobe.com/education/products/adobeconnect.edu.html?showEduReq=no
Adobe Connect overview video retrieved from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2syFXr6pRZ8
Adobe Connect points retrieved from: http://success.adobe.com/en/na/sem/products/connect/1109_6011_connect_webinars.html?sdid=IEASV&skwcid=TC|22191|adobe%20connect%209||S|p|18154278262&ef_id=RPtOdSRykkYAAEVr:20121024155329:s
Royalty-free images retrieved from Google Images.
Wicks, David, (2008). Adobe Connect: Virtual Synchronous Classroom Best Practices . Seattle Pacific University. Retrieved from: http://www.spu.edu/depts/its/online_learning/adobe_connect_best_practices.pdf