Nursing Education and Institutionally Focused Web Conferencing & Cloud Based Solutions and Individual or Small Group Web Conferencing
Institutionally Focused Web Conferencing and Cloud Based Solutions In Nursing Education
For institutions that are unable to leverage regional and institutionally based video conferencing units where the target students are located, webcasting or web conferencing offers an alternative for distance students. Institutionally focused web conferencing software allows connection of two or more individuals simultaneously.
Increasingly these services are being provided by “cloud-based” companies that use the Internet to provide video conferencing solutions to institutions who do not want to maintain or provide the hardware to provide videoconferencing locally. This is an area of rapid growth, with new products and features coming to market often.
Examples of such software include Adobe Connect Professional, Web-Ex, GoToMeeting, Wimba Live Classroom, and Zoom. Some web conferencing software requires installation of software on each participant's part, whereas others are strictly web-based applications and require no installation to join.
Some of the software solutions are built directly into institutionally deployed LMSs. Each individual who is connecting to the web conference does so via a computer connected to high-speed Internet. Participants may receive audio and video from others, but to share their own video, they must also have a web camera. Web cameras have become standard equipment on newer laptops and many newer computers.
To avoid audio feedback problems, participants should be encouraged to use a headphone with a built-in microphone, and to mute their audio when not speaking. Although it is possible to see all participants who have web cameras, the actual size and quality of the video may vary greatly based on the number of participants and the quality of the bandwidth.
The ability to switch between speakers and view multiple participants concurrently varies somewhat across systems. Most web conferencing software has the ability to share desktops, thus sharing presentations or papers from either the host or participant computers. Many also have polling software and instant messaging available.
Web conferences can be recorded and made available for students to view later or for students who miss a particular class session to review at a later date. Some of the systems allow students or faculty to create breakout group areas, allowing for small group collaboration among participants working on group projects.
In addition to using the web conferencing for face-to-face class sessions, office hours may be scheduled using the software, thus enabling a face-to-face interaction for students desiring to take advantage of such support. Another version of web conferencing is “webinars,” which are typically one-way broadcasting of actual video.
The actual software used to deliver webinars is the same as that used for web conferencing, and the capabilities of displaying slides and desktop applications are similar. There are several advantages of webinars over interactive two way video conferences. One advantage is the possible number of participants.
Because video is broadcast in only one direction, broadband limitations are generally not affected by multiple participants, and it is possible to have more than 100 participants in any given webinar. Participants may still engage during live sessions, but will do so via polling mechanisms, chat, and audio only.
Webinars still require
high-speed Internet access, although a web camera is not necessary for
participation at remote locations. The obvious disadvantage to webinars is the
loss of face -to-face interaction with the remote sites.
Individual or Small-Group Web Conferencing In Nursing Education
Although many institutions may subscribe to professional-level web conferencing software solutions, software also exists for connecting one-on-one or in small groups for no, or very little, charge. Examples of this software include Skype, Microsoft Lync, FaceTime, and Google Hangouts. Most of these web conferencing solutions are offered as a free download with the creation of an account for their service.
The software is easy to use and requires a computer with a web camera, headphones with microphone, and high-speed Internet access. Most of these types of software also allow for instant messaging and a “status indicator” to let people know if you are available for web conferencing or messaging.
Although not designed to allow multiple video connections at one time, such software is a cost-effective way to enable one-on-one, face-to-face interactions between faculty and students or between small student groups. Such software may be used to facilitate face-to-face tutoring sessions or to bring groups together for project work across geographic locations.
Instructors can also use the software to host office hours with students, by posting their availability to students and being available at specified times each week. This software can also be used to bring a guest content expert to your classroom virtually, without the expense and time involved with actual travel.
Some of the software allows for
desktop sharing but overall, the robustness of sharing features is limited
compared with institutionally focused web conferencing solutions. Nevertheless,
given the inexpensive cost to use these products, these tools offer a valuable
way to connect with students.
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