Elluminate

Sorry Leigh.....i was going to write this wonderful blog about Elluminate, then got busy with sessions and only managed the title.....

I have had the opportunity to log into both sessions of Elluminate with Terry this week. "Thank you Terry, really enjoyed the sessions."

"Elluminate". What a brilliant resource. I found the way you use the microphone one at a time (when it works without sounding like Darth Vader....sorry Bronwyn) worked really well. In comparision, with Skype, you can over talk someone else easily which becomes hard to keep track of who is talking and then you have a long silence because everyone is waiting for the other person to talk. The connection seemed alot clearer in Elluminate than with Skype. Often with Skype the connection is very disconnected and you end up only hearing have the conversation. Elluminate is much easier to use. If someone is talking you can put your hand up by clicking on the hand icon and this lets the site manager know that you would like to talk. Then by clicking on the microphne icon you can speak to all or one, you choose. Great to beable to txt chat as well. This would be great for shy students that may find it abit easier to do initially rather than speak though the microphone.

The powerpoint presentation was easy to follow with Terry's commentary. The white board is also a great feature where you can write messages, insert pictures etc. I guess the options are limitless. The shared files once they loaded were easy to see and follow. Great to beable to see, hear and participate at the same time. I think if you had dial up, it could be a problem with the files to downloading a bit too slow though.

I can see the great benifits of this teaching tool being used for distance learners. You really do feel as though you are part of the class and is very interactive.

I have been doing lots of reading about flexible learning. The entrys that other students have done are very interesting and raise some good points.
I have been finding it hard myself to be motivated in learning this course although i am finding it really interesting and relative to my work. I find it differcult to go about learning by myself without being in a stuctured class. My learning style is visual and auditory so i find it differcult to motivate myself to get out there and do research. I can be reading information and at the end i dont wont have a clue what it is i have just read.
Looking for to the Elluminate session this afternoon. I think i will find that most interesting. Using Skype though the Central Otago Venues has been easy and has saved lots of time being able to set up meetings with the other supervisors at different venues instead of phyically going there.