MODULE+4+-Communicating+In+Real+Time

**//Is there a place for small group synchronous discussion in an online course? //**
 * Discussion Question #6.

Yes, there are places for small group synchronous in an online course. I have found that the principles of virtual classes have greatly enhanced the use of synchronous communication in many online courses. As a student once I learned to overcome the initial awkwardness of learning the protocol, conversation in the virtual classroom, has became much more effective and productive.

Upon doing further research I found this article interesting:

If using the “same time, different place” model of communication, some common barriers to implementation of synchronous tools are cost and bandwidth—not only cost and bandwidth on your end, as the individual teacher or the institution, but also to the students. This is especially true with conferencing systems; video/web conferencing requires equipment to deliver but also to receive. Although the benefits of real-time video conferencing are clear—it’s as near to a physical classroom environment as you can get—the software, hardware, and bandwidth necessary on both sides can be more cost-prohibitive than actually physically attending a class. **[] **

**//What free tools might be available for such discussion?// **

Free tech tool available for synchronous discussion:

 · Web conferencing

 · [|http://www.freeconferencing.com]

 · Chats

 · []

 · Instant Messaging

 · Videoconferencing

 · Skype

 · Elluminate

<span style="font-family: georgia,times new roman,times,serif; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"> · Oovoo

<span style="font-family: georgia,times new roman,times,serif; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">One great sources about these tools synchronously we can meet same time and different places. Some of these tools let you chat/talk in real time with limited number of people. OOvoo lets you chat up to 6 people. These entire tools are software programs using voice over Internet Protocol. Some programs are free to download and use if permitted such as skype and other various tool listed above.

<span style="font-family: georgia,times new roman,times,serif; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">As a beginner I would try Skype at home, and then try it at school. With the help of my children who uses Skype I am quite sure I would overcome the hurdles of trying new technology tools.

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