Yugma is download that allows web conferencing. The basic software is free and allows a user to be a presenter or an attendee to a meeting. The free application is Mac and pc friendly, which is helpful to schools that are not Mac friendly or to students who may have either computer at home. For Full Sail students Yugma (the free service) is a combination of wimba/skype and ichat on a small scale. The conference is allows for invitation abilities using phone, email or chat. It also has public and private chat feeds, presenter modes, storing ability.
A user has the ability to present using three different methods; presenter mode, questions and answer mode, or conversation mode. A presenter has the ability to have presenter mode, in which attendees cannot contribute to the discussion and are automatically muted. During question and answer mode, attendees can un-mute themselves to contribute to discussion. Conversation mode would allow all attendees to contribute at any time with free-flowing communication pathways that are not muted. The presenter can also share computer screens with attendees to assist in the presentation.
As an educator this Web 2.0 tool could be used in many ways. During class this tool could capture teacher presentation and class notes for a student that was absent from class. If the student was at home and capable, the student could follow right along with the class. If the student was absent and not capable of singing in live, the student could sign in and review class at a later time from home or the following school day to make up the missed content. This could be much more efficient and reliable then having students try to “share” notes with a student that was present.
Outside of class, Yugma could be used as a way for a teacher to have virtual office hours. Some students are not always able to stay after school for extra help and may be more likely to ask for help during homework time if they know the teacher is available. Some teachers are not always available to stay after for childcare and other personal responsibilities, but still want to be available to students. Since the sessions would be recorded and public, it is much more appropriate for student/teacher interaction outside of class, which can be discouraged in many districts because of professionalism. This could also be a way for student/student interaction that some parents discourage as in instant messenger or myspace.
Interesting. I would like to see how this works.
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