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How Web Conferencing Provides Educational Opportunities

Many colleges have been expanding their curriculums over

the last decade to include online classes and web

conferences have played a significant role.

A feature that only requires an Internet connection to

access, a web conference allows instructors to interact

with their students by lecture, discussion or question and

answer. Whiteboards can be employed through web

conferencing, as can slideshows, allowing the instructor to

demonstrate examples or share graphics that illustrate

their point.

While many online classes also utilize web pages, message

boards and emails, the web conference allows for a lecture

period and if a student is 'absent,' they can replay the

lesson.

Also, with web conferences, lectures can be 'recorded' and

attached on the syllabus page for viewing as the students

achieve that part of the semester. This not only allows

more freedom for the instructor, but also for students with

regard to flexible enrollment.

Online college courses allow more people than ever to have

the college experience. Freed from the obligation of

committing two or three hours a week to a physical

classroom (not including drive time) lets everyone from

full time employees to full time parents take advantage of

the opportunities for higher education.

Technology has a way to breed progress and nowhere is that

statement more visible than in the utilization of web

conferences in online courses.

Online courses are not for every student, because they

require a certain amount of self-motivation and drive. They

also require that the students work to completion without

the pressure of physically presenting themselves week after

week.

Another benefit of web conferences is the ability of some

instructors to host an "office" night and be available

online for questions or discussion with students.

This increased contact can be more personal and while

students and instructor discuss issues via the conference,

both are still able to handle other matters whether it's

telephone calls for work or typing up a homework assignment

or even cooking dinner.

Web conferences are a tremendous tool for educators and

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students alike. The advantages they provide far exceed

their own limitations. Classes that deal in languages and

art are not suited to a web conference format, yet.

These limitations are imposed only by the technology so

far, yet what is possible for educators now was only a tale

of science fiction three decades ago, so who knows what

three decades more might bring.

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About the Author

John Simpson works in software development. Some time ago

he was asked to research voip and web conferencing. Now

his company has slashed their comms bill and travel costs,

using web conferencing technologies.