Well….I promised I’d stop responding to the question: "Can technology enhance learning?" – however, I find myself reviewing the issue again.
Imagine this scene: A synchronous event using web conferencing software – a panel of speakers comprised of a few locals (scattered around Australia) and an international keynote. A large room, all set for an additional f2f networking event to follow the web conference – 20 or so people present – including 2 of the panel, and the MC….
And then….after 4 days of IT support, and long a negotiated deal to open the firewalls (both ways) to allow the selected software through…nothing….absolutely nothing…we weren’t go anywhere online ….
As the local host of the event (and one of the panel speakers) I was waiting for the ground to open up and I could just disappear – but it didn’t.
15 minutes into the start of the 1 hour event we hear from the local Tafe college (right out the back of our venue) that they have finally managed to connect!!! Yeah – everyone – let’s move it – fast!!!! So we grab a few things and make a dash to the other venue……
Unbelievable……frustrating, damn annoying and just put the whole focus of the event on the technology and not on what the speakers had to say or the purpose of the event….
So – can technology enhance learning?
In this instance – NO – not when the technology dominates the experience!
Take home message: I’m not offering to host another event unless I’m organising it and using software I can rely on! No names will be mentioned….. 😦
Digital Dialogues 
Perhaps we should all start doing more with more common software, before these exclusive ones start becoming the norm in our top heavy organisations.
Let’s start setting a trend with free and common VOIP and free screen sharing software.
I’ve been mucking around with VOIPs for a while and reckon Gizmo is pretty good. I think it can host quite a few in conference mode too.
For screen sharing I use Jybe. If you get these on your computer (outside firewalls) we should give them a belt.
Thanks Leigh – will look into these and let you know!
ABB 🙂