Tonight was the big night! I really thought I might go "round the bend" preparing for my first synchronous online presentation to the class. I decided to use PowerPoint 2007 software to create my slide presentation and then to throw it up onto Adobe Connect. Well, after tweaking my slide, I decided to load the file into the University of Minnesota adobe connect site--UMConnect. Of course, as a procrastinator of some practice, it was a last minute upload. Well, as Murphy's Law is always rearing its little grin--Adobe Connect (at least on the UMConnect site) doesn't accept PowerPoint 2007 file types. So, I remember that fact, vaguely, from another class, and resaved the file into PowerPoint 97-2003 format (PPT). It finally uploaded.
Of course, I had already preset my Meeting site rooms with various pods and tools and links. I also made certain that the audio wizard was run and that I could both hear and deliver my presentation. I decided not to use my camera--because for some strange reason it wouldn't engage properly. Oh well...
Overall, the presentation went well, however, I would do a few things differently next time. I would have a separate room for each discussion question so that it would be easier for students to see the discussion comments. In addition, I must work on the slide presentation to figure out how to turn on navigation for students and to give then the ability to see the navigation side-bar. I thought it was working as no one told me it wasn't, but when I watched the recording of the presentation, it had not worked at all. Odd...
Thank goodness the recording worked--and it was so simple to use. Just clicked record session on the menu bar and there it was--a recording of the entire presentation. The link for the recorded version of the presentation is https://umconnect.umn.edu/p45718567/
I am quite happy now--and relieved that the presentation was successful, for the most part.
The one thing that was so great was that the other students in the course were so supportive and gracious for my first synchronous-Live experience. Thanks you guys!! I really appreciated all the positive feedback! I wonder if other presenters miss that, too. No body language or smiles or frowns or any interaction than text and an occasional smiley to cue any student emotional response. So, it was a very over the top, wonderful gesture to get all the good rah-rah support.
While I was investigating UMConnect, I found another application from Microsoft that delivers courses, Microsoft Officee Live Meeting. Several of the CoP presentations I have attended have been delivered through Live Meeting. It is very similar to Adobe Connect.
I have another presentation to do that will be asynchronous and I plan to run around the net to find a tool that could work that is different than WebCT. Well, best get running....
Hello world!
5 months ago
