Using Elluminate & Skype with Language Instruction Luba Iskold & Nancy LeVan October 25, 2010

Elluminate and Skype in the Language Classroom Instructional Materials –Audio Textbook CDs Instructor & student recordings Songs –Video Textbook DVDs Student-produced videos YouTube clips SCOLA segments Dish TV clips

Elluminate and Skype in the Language Classroom Instructional Materials –Blackboard materials Handouts & tutorial documents PowerPoint presentations Images and Internet links Chalkboard explanations and illustrations

Elluminate Creating and Running Sessions

Create a session 1. At elluminate.com, click My Elluminate and loginelluminate.com 2. To create a session, click Schedule a Meeting 3B. Fill all Basic Fields & click Show Invitees (Option B)

Invite people 1. To invite a new contact, fill in the blanks and Create the Invitee 2. Select contacts & add them as Chair or Non-Chair 3. When finished, go to the top- right and Create the Session

Join a session Immediately: via the Elluminate website or Later: open the invitation Note: An invitation will be automatically sent to each participant, including the moderator

Software Overview Chat box – type here Polling buttons Switch whiteboard “pages” Whiteboard tools Custom size/color/font options appear below when using certain tools Turn microphone on/off and control volume levels Menus & shortcut buttons Enable/disable functions for individual participants

Desktop Sharing Share a single application, or your entire desktop While sharing the desktop, the quality of video and audio files is poor. Better quality can be achieved by ing files or links to students, or by uploading them to Blackboard.

Share Websites, Documents, PowerPoints, and More!

Pedagogical Uses Invite guest speakers from remote locations Host online study sessions, office hours, and discussions Save whiteboard notes for later review –Post a copy of your virtual whiteboard to Blackboard or send to students via In special situations, enable students to attend class from remote locations –Tutoring –Independent study –Summer study & research –Continuation of academic work while studying abroad

Pros & Cons Pros –Geared toward teaching and learning –Many features integrated into a single program –Students and guest speakers do not need accounts –The software is installed automatically upon first use –Instructors moderate discussion

Pros & Cons Cons –The college must pay for a subscription –Cluttered interface with too many buttons –Time is needed to become familiar with the software –Sessions must be scheduled in advance –Participants must be invited ahead of time –Invitations clutter inboxes –The best audio quality is achieved by turning microphones on/off each time someone speaks, which is a distraction in a classroom setting

Skype Technology Update

Skype for Windows Calls with video & audio –New: Group video calls (Free trial) Desktop sharing Instant Messaging File sharing Integrated access to your Facebook newsfeed and contacts

Skype for Mac OSX Calls with video & audio Coming soon: Group video calls Share your desktop Instant Messaging File sharing

Pedagogical Uses Group & one-on-one calls –Invite guest speakers from remote locations –Host study sessions, office hours, and online discussions –Enable students to attend class from remote locations –Up to 25 audio conference call participants Save a group as a contact –Quickly contact all students in a class

Pedagogical Uses Instant Messaging –Interact with students –Keep a discussion log Send files through Skype Share your desktop –Show Blackboard materials –Show websites –Play videos or audio files with minor quality loss Access your Facebook newsfeed and contacts –Communicate with students or guest speakers that do not have Skype accounts

Pros & Cons Pros –Free! –Easy to use, intuitive interface –Spontaneity: No need to send invitations or schedule meetings in advance –No need to turn microphones on/off when speaking –Less disruptive to classroom instruction –Runs in multiple languages

Pros & Cons Cons –No integrated whiteboard; however, any drawing program can be run while sharing your desktop –Every participant needs to create an account and download the software