Creating Confident Web Conferencers: a Web 2.0 Approach to Staff Development.

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Bibliographic Details
Title:	Creating Confident Web Conferencers: a Web 2.0 Approach to Staff Development.
Authors:	de Groot, Mark¹ m.degroot@leedsmet.ac.uk, Harrison, Gill¹ g.harrison@leedsmet.ac.uk
Source:	Proceedings of the European Conference on e-Learning (ECEL). 2009, p140-145. 6p.
Subject Terms:	Educational technology, Employee training, Computer conferencing, Web 2.0
Geographic Terms:	Leeds (England), England
Company/Entity:	Leeds Metropolitan University
Abstract:	The paper considers and evaluates the evolving strategies used for introducing staff at Leeds Metropolitan University to the web-conferencing tool Elluminate. Initial staff familiarisation with the tool used a simple approach with some interaction, wherein small groups of staff were introduced, in web conferences, to the facilities available. This might be considered a Web 1.0 approach to staff development. However the idea of usercreated content dictated the further development of the sessions, as staff were asked contribute resources. In a later Web 2.0 phase of staff development, which is currently a work in progress, more flexible and ambitious webconferencing sessions for staff development are being run, with a wider remit than simply the further improvement of the participants' skills as "moderators". Feedback has included suggestions about how staff would want to use a web-conference: whether for discussing drafts with individual students (possibly PhD supervisees), for holding seminars with small or large groups of undergraduates, or for meeting online with colleagues about planning or administration. Other ideas under exploration include the use of students as technical web-conferencing assistants to staff and the integration of links to the rich array of resources available on the Web. The paper views web conferencing as a significant tool at the disposal of an institution intending to respond to the changing needs and expectations of 21st century students. It proposes guidelines for staff development that will be of interest to any institution that is introducing web-conferencing and hence has a need to create competency for this in its staff. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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Database:	Education Research Complete

Description
Abstract:	The paper considers and evaluates the evolving strategies used for introducing staff at Leeds Metropolitan University to the web-conferencing tool Elluminate. Initial staff familiarisation with the tool used a simple approach with some interaction, wherein small groups of staff were introduced, in web conferences, to the facilities available. This might be considered a Web 1.0 approach to staff development. However the idea of usercreated content dictated the further development of the sessions, as staff were asked contribute resources. In a later Web 2.0 phase of staff development, which is currently a work in progress, more flexible and ambitious webconferencing sessions for staff development are being run, with a wider remit than simply the further improvement of the participants' skills as "moderators". Feedback has included suggestions about how staff would want to use a web-conference: whether for discussing drafts with individual students (possibly PhD supervisees), for holding seminars with small or large groups of undergraduates, or for meeting online with colleagues about planning or administration. Other ideas under exploration include the use of students as technical web-conferencing assistants to staff and the integration of links to the rich array of resources available on the Web. The paper views web conferencing as a significant tool at the disposal of an institution intending to respond to the changing needs and expectations of 21st century students. It proposes guidelines for staff development that will be of interest to any institution that is introducing web-conferencing and hence has a need to create competency for this in its staff. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:	20488637