Some of they very first Internet te

Some of they very first Internet technologies to be used for learning or distance education were the World Wide Web and e-mail. The World Wide Web allowed multimedia or hypermedia (HTML) base instructional content to be loaded on a Web server and browser using HTML based browser an Intenet-based e-mail systems allowed learners and facilitators to correspond asynchronously-anytime, anyplace.
However, one of of the most significant contributions of Internet based technologies toward learning in the last few years has been the introduction of synchronous collaboration technologies (often described as live e-learning or virtual classsroms)
Synchronous collaboration technologies truly create a new medium that brings facilitators and participants together in a dynamic and live environment through which highly interactive communication can occur-closing down the barries for communication and learning.
The instruction of the telephony allowed participants to connect and communocative via voice over great distances. Today, Intenet based synchronous collaborative technologies create a multidimensional and multisensory enviroment for communication through voice, multimedia and interactivity – the right medium for learning and knowledge transfer.
Furthermore, advances in Intenet technologies and availability for sufficient bandwitch allow synchrnous collaboration to occur among a very large number of participants.
Prior to the introduction of synchronous and live e-learning, one of the main objections toward online learning or e-learning was lack of human interaction. Synchronous e-learning attemps to address that objection in a very powerful way.
Thousands of organizations-business, academic, and government are exploiting synchronous collaboration and lie e-learnig technologies successfully to revolutionize enterprise learnig and demonstrating tremendous and immediate returnon investment.
DEFINIG SYNCHRONOUS E-LEARNING
Internet –based Synchronous collaboration allows two or more people to communicate simultaneously using a computer and a Web browser -based client software module or add-on. Participants only need a PC and Web browser to begin a synchronous collaboration session.
Participants join at the same time (a designed time) from different locations (the greater the distances, higher the payoffs). Synchronous e-learning software modulws incledes viewer function, which allows participants to share content (slides, visual, graphics, web pages, or other software applications) while they converse via Internet-based audio protocol (also known as Voice over IP).
The facilitator’s ability to use the capabilities and tools within the synchronous collaboration environment to choreograph the experience is central to success any live e-Learning program. This includes presenting the righht content, but more importantly encouraging the use of tools like “hand raising” (where a participant can click on the hand-raise icon on the application window) and shifting the control by “handing the microphone” (a microphone icon shows up againts the name of the participant who is speakig) to a participant.
TYPES OF SYNCHRNOUS COLLABORATION
The Synchronous collaboration technology can be used in a variety of configurations including those deascribed in the next few swctions.
e-Meetings
Far more effective than teleconferencing or expensive video systems, Web-based e-Meeting augments face-to-face meetings, presentations, briefings, and other ad hoc business interactions in a secure, hughly interactive, online work environment. An e-meeting system enables organizations to easily coordinate all aspests of meeting scheduling, attendee participation, information, and content for Web-based meetings.
E-meetings are highly effective for small group interactions and can be used for maintaining remote office hours, e-learning project management, or coaching sessions (see Figure 7-1)
e-Conferences
Web conferencing and online presentations allow you to assemble large audiences on the Web without sacrificing the important benefits of real –time, face to face interaction, communication, and learning. E-conferences can be used in various online learnig initiatives such as products launches and demonstrations, large and remote lecturs, and executive broadcasts.
Virtual Classroms
With a virtual calssroom, organizations can bring together ;arge groups of people to interact and learn in a highly collaborative e-learning environment while dramatically reducing travel, facilities, and telecommunications costs.
Virtual classrooms can be used for focused and highly interactive trainig programs where the orchestration of participant feedback and retention of knowlege and application of that are essential desired outcomes.
THE BENEFITS OF SYNCHRONOUS OR LIVE E-LEARNING
There are numerous benefits to synchronous collaboration or live e-learning.
Extending Reach
Synchronous collaboration instanly extends the reach of events to participants far and wide by overcoming travel, distance, and time barriers.
Accelerating Time to Market
Synchronous events can be put together and rolled out faster with decreased time to market
Higher Completion Rates
Collaboration, live interpersonal communication, and human contact increases the percentage of learning program’s completion rates when compared with completion rates of a self-paced online learning program by itself.
Higher Retention Rates
Presentation of content in smaller, digestible, chunks or smaller virtula classroom or live e-learning events increase the likehood that participants will retain and apply the information and knowledge in the workplace
Target Multiple Learning Styles
Because synchronoud=s collaboration deploys a variety of modes of communication-audio, video, graphics, interactivy, and text chat – it provides multichannel stimuli to address different learning styles.
ROI-Cost and Time Savings
Synchronous collaboration technologies provide an easier business care or returnin investment (ROI) calculations than traditional classroom training or synchronous e –learning. The time-and-cost-saving dimensions include : reduction in travel time and cost, reduction in need fora training facilities, reduced time away from work for participants, reduced logistics and content distribution costs.
Leveraging Existing Talent and Infrastucture
Synchronous collaboration technologies leverage the existing computer and Internet infrastucture already deployed within most organizations. In addition, the exsting staff resources-trainers subject matter experts- can quickly learn new skills to manage live e-learning.
Continous Learning
Synchronous and live e-learning facilities the creation of ongoing and and continous learning programs that are available in a just in til=me and just enough basis.
SYNCHRONOUS E-LEARNING TOOLBOX
A suite of ttols or feature may be used within a synchronous e-learning environments. Some of these are based on the phtsical classroom metaphor, such as flipcharts in the from of whiteboard, while others are unique to the computer/web based envronment, such as application sharing. When used effectively, these tools help the learning and collaboration process to choreographed to achieve the desired results. Different software products vary considerably in their implementation of these features or tools.
Cotent/Presentation View
One of the most significant aspects of a synchronous collaboration environments is the content.presentation are. The ssesssion leader and the participants view the same content at the same time. The leader moves from one slide or frame to the next and provides commentary, and encourages questions and responses from the sudiences. The participant; screen refresh synchronously as the leder moves between different slides/frames.
Another bery useful function from the learning standpoints in the ability to pull a pece of content (PowerPoint slide, document, or a Web page) dynamically into the viewing area during the seesion or conversation.
Participant List View
The participants list pane prpvidesa several useful pieces of information: names of the participants, number of participants, the name of a person speaking at any given time. In addition, the session leader can invite the participants to agree or disagree (yes/no response) to aquestion and the participant list provides visual indication about the participants response.
Agenda
The agenda tool allows session leader to assemble and sewuence the content from various sourcess, including Power Point slides, documents, web pages, and graphic files, and preload it onto the server and associate the agenda with aevent.
Setting the sgends is especially desirable in a structured classroom or lab session a large conference presentation or broadcast.
Voice (one-Way and Two-way)
The ability to directly talk through the computer and the Intenet through a revolutionarity technologiy called Voice over IP or Internet Protocol (also refereed to as V0IP) withiut needing the telephon has simpliefied the collaboration and event-management process. In addition, there are great cost savings achieved through Internet-based conferencing versus communication over standard phone lines, especially ehen participants are located farther apart, can be dramatic.
Voice, especially live human speech, can add a completely new dimwnsion to the learning experience. It makes the participants more attentive and responsive to the issues, ideas, and questions being presented. The participants ability to ask question in real time and correspond with a “real: human being on the other side gives them asense of support and affirmation that is invaluable in the learning process.
Content Markup
The session leader can markup the presentation in the viewing are ( a la football broadcaster John Madden) and draw attention to a specific part of the screen or text message. For example, the can use the painting and drawing tools and underline or bold certain areas of as