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Workshops

Blended Synchronous Learning: Uniting on-campus and distributed learners using rich-media real-time collaboration tools

Matt Bower
Department of Education
Macquarie University

Gregor E. Kennedy
Centre for the Study of Higher Education
The University of Melbourne

Barney Dalgarno
School of Education and RIPPLE Research Institute
Charles Sturt University

Mark J.W. Lee
School of Education and RIPPLE Research Institute
Charles Sturt University

Jacqueline Kenney
Department of Education
Macquarie University

Keywords
Blended Synchronous Learning, Video-conferencing, Web-conferencing, Virtual Worlds, rich-media

Number of Participants
Maximum: 25

Target Audience and Participant Expertise Level
Target Audience: educators interested in learning about blended synchronous learning and rich-media synchronous technologies such as video conferencing, web-conferencing and virtual worlds.

Participant Expertise: No level of expertise required.

Objectives
By the end of this workshop we intend that participants will be able to:

• Explain what is meant by blended synchronous learning
• Describe ways in which teachers are (and can) synchronously unite remote and face-to-face participants in the same live classes
• Explain issues surrounding the effective blending of remote and face to face participants
• Identify pedagogical and technological strategies for overcoming the challenges of synchronously blending remote and face-to-face students
• Use rich media synchronous technologies in a way that promotes effective blending of remote and face to face students.

Workshop Description
This workshop provides participants with an overview of how rich-media synchronous technologies such as video conferencing, web-conferencing and virtual worlds can be used to effectively unite remote and face-to-face students in the same live learning experience. Initially participants will be introduced to the OLT Blended Synchronous Learning Project, including its rationale, the case studies that were conducted, and core findings of the project. Participants will be encouraged to discuss the issues (pedagogical, technological, institutional) that they foresee with attempting to synchronously unite remote and face-to-face students using technology. Findings from the project will then be presented, and participants will be asked to suggest strategies that they feel could be used to promote effective blended synchronous learning.

In the second part of the workshop participants are provided with hands-on experience in blended synchronous learning environments, so that they can experience, discuss and practice, how to simultaneously cater to remote and face-to-face students using video conferencing, web-conferencing and virtual worlds. The emphasis will be upon developing an understanding of how pedagogical and technological decisions may impact on the student experience, for both students in the room and those participating from remote locations.