PowerPoint slides of staff development event

1. Multi User VC
Delivering to larger class sizes using
video conferencing

2. Some Ideas
• Need to establish a strong sense of community
from the outset
• Use the VLE to enhance the learning experience
and supplement the VC
• Encourage students to get to know one another
in a social context as well as educationally
• This can be done by using discussion boards in
Blackboard – set up a cyber café for social contact

3. • Encourage students to upload a photograph or
video clip to introduce themselves to the group
• That way you might not need to use so much of
the VC time for introductions
• Use Blogs, Discussion Boards, perhaps use Chat
Rooms or Blackboard Collaborate
• Ensure your students are aware you are there
to support them both during the VC and out
with
• Establish rules for where, when and how they
can contact you outside of the VC – eg by e-
mail, on VLE, by telephone if urgent

4. • Where possible, avoid giving lengthy lectures
where its all input from you
• Break up into smaller bite sized learning
chunks
• Consider uploading your notes and
lectures, powerpoint slides onto the VLE so
students can access in advance of the VC
• That way, you can use the VC time more
effectively for deeper
explanations, discussions, solving
problems, group activities

5. • Manage the VC carefully to ensure everyone has
the opportunity to contribute.
• Avoid allowing one or 2 very confident and vocal
individuals to dominate discussions (as often
happens) – encourage the ‘little voice’
• Ensure all students are given an equitable
experience – don’t show favour to the students
who are sitting in front of you
• Try to encourage the quieter students or groups
by targeting questions
• Encourage everyone by finding something
positive to say about all contributions

6. • Make learning fun
• Inject humour into your delivery –don’t be
afraid of showing you’re human – share
something funny
• Use group activities and games to inject a
sense of fun and competition
• Use teaching methodologies such as Co-
operative Learning, Critical Skills Training, Fish
Philosophy to improve motivation
• Use group work to enhance the sense of
community

7. • Flip the Classroom –
• Encourage the students to make group
presentations within the VC from time to time
• Encourage students to access further resources
by use of mobile learning such as
• I-Phones, I- Pads
• Encourage students to use relevant Apps – eg
Audionote, Podcasts, ShowMe
• Consider using QR Codes to enhance learning –
send students a QR code which will take them
to your notes, lead them to relevant web sites

8. Above All
• Try to establish an enjoyable, inclusive,
engaging, supportive fun learning environment
that students really look forward to
participating in
• Over to you
• Any comments, thoughts, further suggestions.