Session+Three

In thinking over all the online courses you have participated in or facilitated, is there one in particular that you think would have benefited from the use of audio/voice tools? Why? Leigh-Ann: I like the idea of sending an audio message during the Orientation Session to welcome participants. Thanks for sharing the good idea Susan. As a participant, I would have liked to had an audio message maybe listed in the resource section that gave verbal instructions on how to complete or give step-by-step instructions for something technical. For example, when I participated in Virtual Field Trips, the facilitator was great, but for some reason, I was having trouble retrieving the videos and hyperlinking them in my product. It would have been very nice to have a resource section that addressed those issues and would be readily available as needed for the participants. That also would have reduced the repetitive questions and emails and offered the participant even more support. Susan ~ I am facilitating a course now, and I used a Voki for setting a positive climate. I placed it in the Orientation Session, with a Welcome Message. I believe the participants benefited from it, because it helped to set a positive tone at the beginning of the course. I think my Voki also created more stimulation and humor! Sounds good Susan- I have been unable to get back into the wiki, since orientation. I think my technical difficulties have now been resolved. I am now back and ready to rejoin the team. //﻿ // (Julie) //What a great idea, Susan. I've never used Voki but will investigate the tool. I can certainly see the benefits of using Voki to set tone, climate, and provide a little humor! Thanks for sharing.//

I think humor has its place but I also think that putting it into a discussion is not relevent. I liked your Voki and using it to "introduce" the course would be a great idea. It could also be used by the facilitator to introduce each topic. However, most advanced learners learn better by reading more than hearing. Having a Voice discussion would probably benefit in group work. The actual group ideas could be discussed in real time as in a f2f course. This can also be done in a blog site. I really do not think short videos are beneficial but not just audio. Pam **// S //****// usan //** ~ **Pam**, I tried to find characters that looked like teachers to make my Voki more professional in the Science Course, but I couldn’t find any. I didn’t like using one of the political figures, but I chose Sarah Palin instead of Hillary Clinton. Vokis have some wild looking characters!

Susan- I used a little character in "Chinese" and named him (her) Sci E. Nce (Pam) OBJECT id="voki" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="[]" WIDTH=200 HEIGHT=267>

Jacqui here - I like your Voki.

Ginger~I can't wait to us the Voki !!!! Wow, how times have changed. I am not sure but audacity looks like people without a Mac can now have a short I movie or podcast. Will have to experiment and let everyone know how it comes out. This is why we take new courses and challenges..........so we can learn, get excited and tell others. Voki can be used like the wikis made simple. Now my class can make their own "made simple" explainations to certain topics and I don't have to have Mac books or flip recorders, or movie cameras. Just a computer with a camera or you can buy the camera hook ups for not much now since most computers have them built in.

**// S //****// usan //** ~ I had fun experimenting with **Audacity** and used it for audio instructions to help students enlarge their **Simulation Lesson Planner**, for the Science Course which I am facilitating! However, I could not get it into the Moodle System. It would let me save it, but not open it.

I emailed Tom and he said that he could open my Audacity in my course, but I couldn’t, so I went through more trials and errors, then, Bingo! I finally was able to download my **//Audacity Recording//** into SCI3662 Course and open it too! I think it will be helpful to the participants in helping them to use **//The//** **//Simulation Lesson Planner Template//**.

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 * Audacity ** looked intimidating to me, but I tried to record without reading the manual or watching any videos and couldn’t, so I read some in the manual and bingo! Then, it was user friendly! I like it better than Voki, because it seems more professional and you can record with no space or time limits, you can highlight and edit, then store it on the computer. **Audacity** could be used to introduce topics in each weekly session and make the course more personal, of course the written topic introductions should still be used.

__Heather ~ I have had online courses that would have benefited for the use of voice in the past. I remember one course in particular that would have helped the instructor to seem a bit more personal to the participants, he seemed to have the personality of a rock :) ! I know it would have made me feel more involved with the course. __ __I can't wait to use these new tools in the future! __

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__﻿Jacqui here - We have a lot of different ideas, opinions, and uses for voice. I realize we're supposed to be discussing using voice in course work, but my special ed background tells me that voice could be useful to some students in that you could prerecord a test (read their questions for them), or make powerpoints with voice explaining whatever they need to know to go along with the visuals. I see a lot of potential in voice for that purpose. I guess when you think about it globally, books on tape are nothing more than voice. I can't listen to books on tape because I become too engrossed, forget I'm driving, and run all over the place. Someone had mentioned that we all learn using different styles, and voice will be beneficial to the auditory learner. ==__

__﻿__ __(Julie) - //I agree that we must be aware of the various learning styles in our students. I'm thinking that providing oral and written explanations or directions allows the learner to choose which method works best for them!// __

﻿Sharon back on board. From a very personal experience I can say without hesitation that voice is incredibly strong in determining the attitude of the class and the participants, When upset, people tend to type in all caps. When I get a message in all caps my first thought is "uh oh". My next thought is "What is going on?" Sometimes just using print can upset participants if they feel anxious about the course because print is so benign.

There have been times when I would have loved for the facilitator to "talk" to me so that I could hear the tone of her/his voice, especially if there is something that needs to be made clear. I would like to do the same thing. Reassure participants. Move them in the direction I know they need to go to get the most out of the class. AND then sometimes I wonder why certain participants took a class at all. They give so little and expect the same grade as those who have truly met the expectations of the class.

<span style="color: #ff00d7; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">The example given on the audio I listened to for this class gave me the impression that participants were not responding and the discussion had taken a nose dive. Hearing the audio gave me the idea that without being angry or pushy, the facilitator was concerned and wanted to get everyone back on the board. She did it in such a nice way communicating the expectations and at the same time encouraging folks to post.

<span style="color: #ff00d7; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">I'm wondering if there is a way to use the audio component for individuals and not the whole class. I have found that when I send out messages in general that it confuses people who are on target. I send private messages, but some participants still either don't or don't want to get it. I could just pick up the phone and call, couldn't I?

<span style="color: #ff00d7; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Susan I found my Voki that I recorded, but I still can't post it. These new tools are great, but I'm an old dog learning these new tricks and would love just to post it so that I know that I know how. I'm going to play around with it some more. <span style="color: #ff00d7; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">_

Jacqui back - Sharon, you make a good point about how people come across in written communication. I think my "dislike" of voice comes from my Southern heritage. Sometimes I hear people on t.v. and hope that we don't actually sound like that (maybe they are exaggerating the accent), but know we really do drawl and have a very lazy way of speaking, and so I don't like to record my voice. Who wants to volunteer to record a message for our class? Just be sure to tell everyone how wonderful they are and what a great job they are doing. :)

I've added a resource page to our wiki. Feel free to add links to any website you think we'd benefit from.

__Sherry- In my online Art Appreciation class I have often wanted to be able to verbally discuss with students...it would have helped set the stage for a more inviting environment. When I see a student starting to not come to class due to an illness or family situation, it would be nice to be able to converse verbally. These students and I would email back and forth and if I would have known about Audacity, we could have straightened everything out in half the time. I had one student who wanted to throw her arms in the air and quit....well, not on my watch. So, I kept after her and told her, "take smaller steps, one thing at a time".... and she made it. Maybe if I used Audacity it would have helped her hear what I had to say and not read it. I think using this type of communication would especially help someone that is having difficulties keeping up, or needing extra time or assistance. This is a great addition to the online environment.__

Sherry to Julie and Jacqui - The ideas of being able to have your tests both verbal and written are excellent. This ability to communicate in various ways will definitely cover all the bases. We could also add Video. The possibilities are endless...

__Sherry- I just used the Audacity and it was easy...I have also downloaded the Lame for doing Mp3's and I will try that soon. As I have mentioned before, I want to create an online Integrating Art Into the Curriculum and I will definitely be able to use Audacity. I am learning about so many different programs in this class. I am very excited about them all.__

Charles here - Sharon, something sparked my attention in your statement, "...I would have loved for the facilitator to 'talk' to me so that I could hear the tone of her/his voice..." My question, "are there any male facilitators?" My observation is that I have not heard from any male participating facilicators. Are you ladies dominating the field? Jacqui there is no other voice of beauty other than that of a Southern Bell. Speak out and let us enjoy! Television does have a way of exaggerating. When I look at the potentials of voice by reading your postings, I definitly have found ways it is purposeful. In an era promoting //**differentiated instruction**//, the rationale for the teacher is to seek the interest of the student and motivate by any means possible. Individuals that are auditory learners probably would benifit immensely. Voice would play an essential role.

Jacqui back - Charles, there is one male facilitator. His name is Alex Drier and he is out of the Boston College program that is over creating these online courses. Then we have Tom, of course; but, I don't believe Tom facilitates as much as he used to. Too much to try and keep up with (the way the program has grown). I think if someone has something special they want done, and he has the time he will facilitate. It will be nice to have a male onboard. Just like I would love some male teachers at my school. I have one two male content teachers, but one is retiring this year. Both my p.e. teachers are male - but, sports rule their every thought. This summer when we interviewed for a p.e. teacher all the men kept asking, "What coaching opportunities do you have for me?" We're a K-6 school, we don't have coaching opportunities.

Michele- Hey guys! I am reading all the good comments. I see a lot of ways that voice could be used in the classroom and the way that sessions in elluminate could be extremely helpful for an online class. I think that voki is cute and could add fun but am not sure that they would really have much instructional value. I think the nature of these courses would make it almost impossible to require everyone to be online for an elluminate session. I think that you could have a couple available at different times and hope that everyone could get online, but would really don't see how it could be a requirement.

Sonia - In the past I would have liked to have had audio voice to read the multistep directions to me. There are a lot of steps to follow and terminology in science. Voice helps me recognize the information at a different level. If I can hear it then I can see it and understand it better.