Using Safari Live Web-conferencing Technology in Technical Writing Courses: Can Nonhuman Software Rehumanize Online Learning Spaces? Dr. David S. Hogsette NYiT

NYiT’s Online Program Established in the 1980s Offers fully online graduate and undergraduate programs in the following schools: – School of Education – College of Engineering and Computing Sciences – School of Health Professions All schools, programs, and majors offer online courses to supplement face-to-face course offerings Predominately asynchronous formats

NYiT’s Discovery Core Started revising the core in 2005 Approval and implementation in 2010 Foundation courses: – Academic writing – Research writing – Speech – Critical Thinking – Professional communications Interdisciplinary seminars in literature, ethics, social sciences, and behavioral sciences

Oral Presentations The new Discovery Core requires oral presentations in the foundation and seminar courses Unique challenge for asynchronous online courses Many face-to-face students take online courses to overcome scheduling conflicts Some miss the human contact Main question: Even though oral presentations are challenging online, could they help rehumanize the learning experience in predominately asynchronous online learning contexts?

Safari Live in Online Technical Communications Create and deliver an oral research report proposal in an online meeting space (Safari Live) Presentation elements: – Introduction to self and project – Project description – Explanation of research methodology – Conclusion – Question and answer Must create and use a PowerPoint slideshow Students work in groups: – Deliver presentation in Safari Live group meeting space – Other students act as audience members I provide detailed instructions for how to access and use Safari Live Student audience fills out assessment form for presenters Presenters submit their PPT file, the assessment forms, and a report memo analyzing their experience

Safari Live

Successes Students gain practical experience with online meeting software – Applicable to professional telecommuting and online meetings There is a degree of rehumanization of asynchronous online courses: – Students experience synchronous contact with other students in the class – Students give presentations to a real people and can interact with audience I prefer this model to the model of students recording PPT presentations which are submitted to professor – Pre-recorded presentations are rare in professional world (as far as I know…) Students find the assignment challenging, but ultimately value the experience and see its practical use and professional application

Challenges The rehumanization comes at a cost (associated with all human contact) – Typical group project hardships: Sometimes not all group members participate Some group members take the assignment more seriously than others Scheduling conflicts and difficulties finding mutually acceptable meeting times Technical challenges: – Sometimes the technology doesn’t work for certain students for unknown reasons – Unexpected connectivity problems at time of presentation – Compatibility issues (Safari Live is cross platform, but you know…)

Conclusions and Resolutions Have a few smaller group projects prior to this one to “prime the pump” Encourage students to play around with Safari Live before the day of the presentations Build in flexibility (allow for groups to change meeting dates to finish the assignment) Have an alternative assignment backup plan: – When all else fails, I allow students to give their presentation to at least three friends, family members, or co-workers I welcome feedback and other technology choices— I’m still exploring ways of making this work