Web Conferencing Lab

Jessica and I used vyew.com for our web conference.  We spent an hour in the room using the different features and getting to know each other since we will be doing our project together.  I did not particularly care for Vyew for the purposes that I would use it for.  I would like to use web conferencing for a virtual pen pal system with my class and another class in a different state or country.  Vyew had a very small window for the web cameras so you could barely see the people you were meeting with.  However, the chat feature was nice because you can read what is typed and hear the people that you are conferencing with.  I also liked how Vyew synced with my Google account so I did not have to create another login or download anything.

We both uploaded photos, created post it notes, text boxes, shapes, and drawings on the same screen.  You could also upload documents or screenshots to the shared screen.  Vyew seemed like a great tool to use as a virtual SmartBoard in a classroom.  It was easy to write, add photos, and make drawings.  However, it would have been easier to draw with a stylus.  Students could also use Vyew as a storyboard to draw out and plan group projects.  It is easy to see what others are adding on the screen and add onto it yourself at the same time!

Jessica was able to share her screen, but it would not let me share mine.  A window popped up for me to allow the action, but then it did not do anything even after Jessica made me an administrator.  I made several attempts at doing this.  I even left the room and came back, but it still did not work.  Also, we were not able to find a poll feature.  The tutorial did not mention it and it did not appear in any of the menus or options.

Next time, I would use a different web conferencing tool.  I do not have much experience with Skype so I would be interested in using that to carry out virtual pen pals in my classroom.  If I were to try Vyew again, I would try creating the room myself to test if I would be able to share my screen as the creator.  Overall, this was a great experience and I learned a lot about web conferencing.  I now know what features I would like to have if using this in my classroom, which helps me narrow down a particular software to use.

Screen shot of chat feature and the message I got when trying to share my screen.

Uploaded photo, text feature, draw feature, post it note feature

Jessica sharing her screen with me.

Uploaded and overlapped own photos in same area; added shapes