Add Some Video Vavoom...

Last night in class we discussed fitting technical tools to the needs of communities. We explored the ideas that designers of online learning communities need to align their design and development goals to support the group activities and goals. So much of online learning community design is a top-down process with designers at the top and the community (or hoped-for community) at the bottom of the process. The reverse would better serve a community that wants and needs a online learning community space, a conferencing space, or whatever collaborative space they determine would work to further the community goals.

We also discussed that the idea of "build it and they will come" online design, is not as successful as utilizing existing groups, communities, organizations, and databases to establish intent and alignment of planning, design, and implementation of online tools, spaces, and activities as well as to inform design process, timing, and rhythm of development in coordination with existing entities. It is important that designers actually put together a feasibility plan where task force input, physical and online visit data is gathered, and advisory groups are created to inform the development process on an continuous process. Evaluation criteria for each phase of the project could be developed.

Ok, so what does this have to do with Video Vavoom? Well, I was thinking that having a mechanism to meet and speak with others in real-time to help with development could be an asset not only for designers, but also for a community that wishes to share information easily to collaborate, participate, observe, or evaluate activities of a group.

I have been running around the net and found some interesting free tools that could work for online video communication with collaborative/advisory groups. One such online tool is Paltalk Express, which is free with registration and sign-up and accommodates up to 200 viewers and participators. There are moderator tools and security features available for presenters. Audio-visual communications can be controlled by the moderator using a raised hand tool similar to the chat tools CI 5323 has used in WebCT.

In another jaunt on the web, MeBeam, a free video conferencing tool--but without the admin oversite of Paltalk Express. MeBeam seems to be a more informal and limited tool than Paltalk Express. It is extremely easy to set-up an online space to video meet with a small group. Microphone capabilities allow audio-visual communications.