Web Conferencing

Our group chose to use use the Vyew program to conduct our initial group brainstorm.  Utilizing Vyew as the tool for discussion was a collective decision.  Using Vyew had many advantages.  It was relatively easy to organize and set up, and was also free to use.  One group member set up the meeting and sent invitation requests to all other members.  To join the brainstorm session, each of us simply clicked the link provided in the email.  Each group member connected with headphones and a microphone and we were all able to communicate verbally.  
Overall, the brainstorming session went very well and the tool, Vyew, aided in our brainstorm success.

To get the ball rolling, we began discussing ideas for the Group Leadership Project.  We felt our first order of business was to decide on the topic for which we would be creating a tutorial. While trying to decide on our focus as a group, each of us shared certain documents or text by uploading files to the shared screen.  Because we decided to provide our tutorial on specific Google Applications, we shared documents or ideas some of us have used in our own work settings.  After identifying our focus for the project, we discussed how we would divide the workload both in the planning and in the actual finished product.  Upon deciding on our focus and who would be responsible for which parts, our group re-visited the project requirements for Part B.  We added the assignment description on the shared screen section of Vyew and all looked back at the requirements.  We were able to set our schedule for accomplishing the tasks of Part B.  All the while we were discussing topics, planning the execution of the project, and setting the timeline, we were both verbally discussion and adding notes onto the shared screen.  These notes acted as summaries of what we had been discussing and the decisions that were made.  At the conclusion of our meeting, we agreed upon a time to meet back on Vyew to make sure we on track for the submission of part B.  

Vyew was a great tool that allowed our group to quickly and easily meet up online to discuss and collaborate on a joint project, however it did present some issues.  One difficulty we had with Vyew was the delay in speaking.  If you were speaking, you would hear yourself in real-time, but it would take a few seconds for others to receive the audio.  This presented us with a few communication issues as we were trying to be respectful and not talk over each other, however with the lag time it sometimes seemed as if that was what was happening.  In our efforts to respect one another, we would sometimes all wait, and then there would be some gaps of silence. Another element of Vyew that I found to be troublesome was the location of uploaded documents.  It was somewhat confusing as to where the documents would appear when uploaded onto the shared screen on Vyew as they do not automatically pop onto the first page.  

I think Vyew could be very useful to me when working with either students or adults.  Much of my job deals with professional development.  I can see utilizing Vyew with a team of teachers as we worked on a joint project.  One of our goals for next year, as a district, is to get more creative with professional development.  I feel that a web conference usint a tool like Vyew is one way we could initiate more diverse opportunities to learn about a specific tool or way to incorporate technology.  Using Vyew with a small group of teachers would especially be beneficial if co-planning a project, as all parties involved could both discuss and collaborate on its planning and execution.