Wednesday, April 4th, 2007...6:29 pm
Glow ‘Chat’ And ‘Video-Conferencing’
What a glorious day! In addition to the weather, I experienced my first ‘Chat’ and ‘Video-Conferencing’ via the Glow portal. I frequently use both MSN and Skype to communicate online with friends and colleagues, so I was particularly curious to find out how the Marratech and Java applications would compare when used through the Glow portal.
Today, my communication was with one of RM’s Educationalists,thee Mr Paul Smyth. Paul was based in the Optima Building in Glasgow, whilst I was in my very own office (aka ‘The Glow Room’) in my flat in Edinburgh.
Glow ‘Chat’
MSN and Skype are elaborate online forums where there are lots of fancy tools that can be used in addition to a basic text communication (i.e. Emoticons, file transfer and with MSN, games and white boards). The Glow ‘Chat’ forum has none of these ‘frills’ as such. It is merely a blank forum specifically for communication via text.
Although the majority of pupils (the digital natives) will/would have no problems using a more complex version, some staff (the digital immigrants) may find it challenging, especially if this type of online media is of new territory to them. It maybe wrong of me to compare the Glow chat tool with MSN? MSN has been some what branded the ‘bad boy’ by many a Guidance Department; but MSN and Skype were not designed for secure use in education. If I can focus on the positive assets of the fore mentioned media:
Online learning, sharing and collaboration. Anytime, anywhere.
The big advantage that the Glow chat facility has, is that of moderation. Though there are varying degrees of moderation, chat can only take place if a moderator is present in the forum. (I.e. Me, the teacher, overseeing the pupil’s text converse). Pupils can only chat in a group, not on a one to one private basis. All conversation can be seen by all members present in the forum. Only the moderator can send private messages to individuals. When I first entered the forum Paul was the moderator. Pretending to be a naughty pupil, I asked him what would happen if I wrote a rude word (although other forums will have a banned words list, this one didn’t). He told me to try! On writing the rude word, I was promptly ejected from the room by Paul. As a moderator there is a choice of Banning or Ejecting pupils whose behaviour is inappropriate.
I see this tool complementing ACfE by encouraging pupils to be responsible online; failure to act in a responsible manner will result in the loss of privileges as I found out today!
It was interesting to see how safe and secure the ‘chat’ facility is. I was very reassured by the moderation of text converse. I am looking forward to using this tool in school with classes (where appropriate) and with individuals or groups of individuals out side of the classroom to discuss project or homework etc.
As I mentioned earlier, Paul and I also made communication using the Glow Video-Conferencing (Marratech) tool. This was relatively easy. Whilst we were chatting verbally via webcam, Paul was also able to show me some slides (on ACfE). The quality and clarity of Marratech’s sound and visuals are far superior to that of MSN or Skype. The speed at which the information is transferred is also faster.
I can see this tool being used by staff all over Scotland to share and communicate. It will lighten up CPD for sure. As you can see, there is also a text tool (bottom right of the above jpeg) within the Marratech software. This is similar to the Glow Chat. Finally, there is also a white board facility. Although Paul and I were having a bit of a giggle today, this is another tool that will have its benefits.
I have only touched on what is to come today, but all in all, a ‘Glow’-ing day! My next challenge is to use/arrange video conferencing and chat between other Mentors. Let me know if you are up for the challenge. Leave a time and a date on a comment, or if you are already communicating with others using these new Glow tools, I would love to join you!
I would like to thank Paul for his time today.
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14 Comments
April 4th, 2007 at 7:40 pm
Tess, re the ‘bad’ language -that’s hilarious!
I am very interested in how we will make pupils aware of their responsibilities when they go online.
What part will peers play in this? I sometimes think they are the best regulators. A friend recently opened a facebook account and accidentally? gave his wrong date of birth. Couldn’t believe the hoohaa as people posted/emailed/highlighted this to him!
April 4th, 2007 at 9:41 pm
As someone who is working in an independent school and not yet ‘in-the-know’ with Glow, I found this post really helpful in highlighting some key tools (and issues).
April 5th, 2007 at 8:31 am
Hi Tess,
Thanks for the clear walk through. I had tried the Video-Conferencing tool in a lonely sort of way and found it the best of the tools I’ve tried on glow so far (I’ve also used the webhosting and video streaming a wee bit).
I would be up for a wee chat maybe to discuss glow (I stupidly failed to put out a request on my blog for a glow meet yesterday), how about Friday or the weekend sometime?
April 5th, 2007 at 8:55 am
Great post Tess, very informative indeed. Cleared up a lot of questions that I had in my mind.
What we need now is to get it up and running in our schools so it can be used in an educational setting.
April 5th, 2007 at 11:54 am
Thanks for all the comments.
Liz, with regards to peers I am not sure what role they will play. I think that will become apparent during the ‘Phase 2’ trial.
David, please let me know if you would like a personal tour of the Glow portal. I am more than happy to show you the ‘ins and outs’ of Glow.
John, I am very much up for joining you on the portal. I have made a rather quick decision to head down to London tomorrow morning as my granny is in hospital. I will have web access (don’t know whose) whilst I am down their, but I will be using my Glow laptop. As it doesn’t have the latest Java etc (and I don’t have the permissions to install it) I will not be able to use the latest Glow tools. How ironic!!!!
However I should be back on Wednesday. I will drop you an email then.
Brian, once I am back, we must try and get communication on portal running via school/home. I will se how Elizabeth is getting on with the arranging the upgrading of machines.
Tess:)
April 5th, 2007 at 9:31 pm
Hi Tessa,
I’d be up for trialling the portal next week. I’ll be working on a variety of projects from Tuesday next week so let me know when you get back from London.
Cheers,
Mr W
April 5th, 2007 at 11:29 pm
Hi,
it looks like we could have a few folk to have a wee meet on Wednesday.
ab, mr W, Tess and me. I am ,a href=’http://www.scottishballet.co.uk/whatson/production.asp?page=160&prod=12″>out in the evening so how about the afternoon?
April 6th, 2007 at 9:27 am
Wednesday sounds good to me - can we see who else we can drum up to join in?
April 6th, 2007 at 12:00 pm
This sounds great. Wednesday afternoon is a goer for me.
Tess
April 6th, 2007 at 8:24 pm
I’ll try to be there… (it’ll be my first real test of the portal for conferencing…)
Do we need to arrange a time and/or an agenda? (eg: best pint in Edinburgh?)
Neil
April 6th, 2007 at 8:46 pm
I am just in London, currently using someones unsecure connection, so I hope this works. I will send an email tonight or tomorrow with a possible plan for Wednesday afternoon. We will have to make sure we all access the same Glow group. And, that we have all been made members of this group. More on this in the email.
Drop me an email if you have any concerns/info.
Over and out from the ‘Big Smoke’ on my Glow laptop! lol!
Tess
April 7th, 2007 at 10:08 pm
Hi Tess
I should also like to join in on Wednesday if I may.
Bob
April 8th, 2007 at 7:20 pm
Great Bob!
I will keep you posted. Keep Wedneday around 3-5pm is free. I will forward you any info.
Tess
April 12th, 2007 at 8:48 pm
[...] In the last couple of days I, along with others, have had a good stab at getting started with the Video Conferencing (VC) and Chat tools in the ‘Phase 2’ trial of the Glow portal. During my return Journey from London, I decided to ‘splash-out’ and purchase some credits for GNER’s wifi. Contrary to my previous experiences with this wireless network, the connection was relatively reliable (it only cut-out about six times during the whole journey!) As I had been coordinating a late afternoon Glow video conference for a number of Glowers (they expressed interest in response to this post) I decided to logon to the portal early. [...]
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