Home School Distance Learning and Web Conferencing by Brenda McKoy

Problem I am part of a Home School Organization called “ Florida Home School Community” ( FHSC). We service many local home school families throughout Florida. Our enrollment is low and we are faced with alternative ways to meet the 21 st century educational technology. I have explored the idea of using Distance learning with a proven resource tool that would offer quality learning and easy application for our teachers.

Research Web conferencing is an innovative software program that was developed prior to the internet at the University of Illinois. It has gone through many evolutions from 1960’s to today to form a globally connection with the internet that offers “ virtual classroom”. The birth of web conferencing has launched business into a new age of communication productivity. Not be confused with video conferencing, Internet web conferencing have created an online audio- visual tool that far exceeds the virtues of primitive video conference technology. The cold hard facts: video and web conferencing are two completely different species, although they do get along very well together (Martell, 2011).

Commercialization and Time Line The 1970's In 1972, PLATO was moved to a new series of mainframe systems, which supported over one thousand users at a time. In 1973 Doug Brown introduced Talkomatic, the first ‘instant messaging’ tool. It had multiple windows which displayed text to several users at a time, simultaneously. In 1974 Kim Mast developed Personal Notes, a feature which allowed private mail for its users. In 1975 Control Data Corp engineered its very own PLATO, housed in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It was the beginning of commercial conferencing with its multi functional conference system. Within as little as ten years, PLATO was used in over one hundred locations around the world.

( Development stage of PLATO) 1980’s The late 1980’s, was the time bulky mainframe systems faded away, worth the new and improved microcomputers taking its place. With more reasonably priced computer solutions, PLATO lost its throne to the new and improved. Ray Ozzie and Tim Halvorsen expanded on PLATO's operating features and designed one of the most powerful current web conferencing tools – notably, Lotus Notes which was released in This was the first commercial product to take off, offering document sharing, and remote communication. “Lotus Notes was the first commercially released product that really took off to offer user-created data-bases, document sharing, and remote location communication under one umbrella. It created a “relationship based” environment that took the corporation world by storm.”

1990’s The 1990’s brought in the era of true blue web conferencing software, both reliable and attainable. Rather than the centralized systems approach of PLATO, this decade saw the creation of several types of conferencing software, with unlimited applications in contrast. Place Ware also made its entrance in the nineties, with origins at Xerox Palo Alto Research Center. It was also one of the first to offer full web conferencing features which was later bought out by Microsoft in Another popular software was Groupware, defined by Lotus Notes and more complex than the centralized software of PLATO- based systems. It offered document sharing and scheduling capacities. This software tool was designed to align business processes into a smooth flow, ensuring documents got where they needed to be, when they needed to be there. Some of these software solutions included InTandem, Livelink, Lotus Domino, and WebShare. With the increased accessibility to computer privileges and reduced rates, sharing files amongst users became highly utilized on a one to one basis. Napsters organized music sharing became an online frenzy, with perceived sharing limits blown out of the virtual waves. Web conferencing was now P2P, Peer to Peer and file sharing was commonplace.

New era – 2000 on A New Era - Year 2000 On Year 2000 saw Groove create technology that eliminated the need for user fees and offsite server storage. In 2003, WiredRed Software featured e/pop, a ‘real-time Web Conferencing suite with comprehensive features for all aspects of the industry – “it was the first installable web conferencing software with no significant install time.” The Napster era also developed document sharing abilities which featured advantages of P2P networks. Today’s web conferencing standards include voice over IP, (VoIP), with quality digital audio sound it's claim to fame. Inexpensive online communication is re-defining the way business is done, as digital audio solution expand the scope of communication options. Top web conferencing providers of VoIP include Voxwire, VoiceCafe, and HotConference.

Persuasion Finally, the year 2003 took care of the incompatibility between Macs and PC users. WaveThree’s 'Session' addressed the problem relationship which mended the rift between the two’s communication issues. The future of Internet web conferencing is friendly, with more conferencing solutions and platforms soon to be available.

Virtual Classroom Research I researched several websites and organizations that worked with Web Conferencing ( Elluminate Live) in their distance learning programs: * Kimberly Caise, NBCT, M. Ed., sponsored a Global Symposium called “ Web Conferencing to Enrich Learning and Connect Globally” (2011). * Lee County Private ( Home School) Inc., Kathleen Sprakfka ( Superintendent of Schools) Elluminate Live! Academic Edition. html.

Knowledge I learned that web conferences and webinars will connect educators and students around the world synchronously and asynchronously. The resource tool “Illuminate Live” will : Attract and retain qualified instructors. Leverage limited teaching resources. Increase enrollment and reach students across the world.

Persuasion With Web Conferencing students will be able to attend regularly scheduled classes. More student interaction and meaningful learning experiences. Teachers/Instructors will be able to engage easily distracted students, promote active learning, and improve student performance

Decision/implementation/ Confirmation Web Conferencing is was widely accepted by our Home School community as the distance learning tool ( Ellimunate). We have formulated curriculum that will enhance the learning experience for online students. We are seeing increase in enrollment and academic improvement across our community. Instructors are attending distance learning training classes.

The S-Curve

Adoption First Innovator was Mrs. McKoy ( myself) Initially investigated the software as a online adoption. Next Early adopter was Mrs. Daymon, the home school technician She demonstrated the uses of Web Conferencing. Adoption Home school community began to implement classes online.

Laggards/ Resistance to Adoption We had some home school community members who could not accept the privacy aspect of virtual school. strategies to overcome Laggards resistance 1. We installed privacy software that would only allow community learners access.

Attributes /Critical Mass To meet critical mass we networked the new communication technology to other the Heads of other ( Roger, 2003, p. 361)Home school organizations ( Triabillity). Web Conferencing Companies sponsored ongoing training programs for families and staff ( compatibility). Compare assessment results with nation-wide home school online communities ( Observability)

From Decentralized to Centralized diffusion system of Online Home School Web conferencing Web Conferencing online home school will be piloted in our Florida Home School Community ( FHSC) to ascertain any adjustments before expanding globally.

Change Agent The Manager/Director of curriculum development will work with a team of Educational Technicians to continue to explore, develop and improve the Distance Learning/ web conference program. Manager of FHSC Educational Technicians

Critical Mass Satellite Home school networks in other states are now using Web Conferencing as part of the virtual school experience.

Conclusion Web Conferencing is the new technological innovation that will take Home School Learning into the 21 st Century. Our distance learning program will now offer lively interaction, promote active student learning, offer instructors many hands on resources, and improve student performance.

References Rogers, E. M. (2003). Diffusion of innovations (5th ed.). New York, NY: Free Press WebConferencingZone (2011). History of Web Conferencinghttp:// zone.com/history-of-web-conferencing.htm