Synchronous Tools Facilitate Real-Time Interaction

  • 09/01/01
HorizonLive now offers synchronous tools to eCollege's clients so they can interact with students online in real-time. The tools facilitate highly interactive live classroom sessions, while allowing for the flexibility afforded by the online classroom. The two companies will offer each other's e-learning tools to educators, empowering them to take full advantage of both synchronous and asynchronous learning applications.

The arrangement gives eCollege's clients the option of incorporating HorizonLive's synchronous tools into their existing classes to communicate live with students via two-way audio and real-time chat as they show still or video images, visual content such as PowerPoint, Web pages and Flash. Instructors may also demonstrate live desktop applications, illustrate concepts using a virtual whiteboard and share certain controls with students to encourage live participation.

HorizonLive enables immediate feedback from students through live audio and chat, virtual hand-raising and instant polling. It also offers a feature that enables the instructor to ask multiple-choice, short-answer and essay questions. In addition, the tools support an archive function whereby every aspect of a live class can be recorded for later playback, making the archives an excellent method of study and review. Instructors only need a standard Web browser, microphone and sound card to lead a class; while students only need an Internet connection and sound card to participate. eCollege, Denver, CO, (888) 884-7325, www.eCollege.com.

HorizonLive now offers synchronous tools to eCollege's clients so they can interact with students online in real-time. The tools facilitate highly interactive live classroom sessions, while allowing for the flexibility afforded by the online classroom. The two companies will offer each other's e-learning tools to educators, empowering them to take full advantage of both synchronous and asynchronous learning applications.

The arrangement gives eCollege's clients the option of incorporating HorizonLive's synchronous tools into their existing classes to communicate live with students via two-way audio and real-time chat as they show still or video images, visual content such as PowerPoint, Web pages and Flash. Instructors may also demonstrate live desktop applications, illustrate concepts using a virtual whiteboard and share certain controls with students to encourage live participation.

HorizonLive enables immediate feedback from students through live audio and chat, virtual hand-raising and instant polling. It also offers a feature that enables the instructor to ask multiple-choice, short-answer and essay questions. In addition, the tools support an archive function whereby every aspect of a live class can be recorded for later playback, making the archives an excellent method of study and review. Instructors only need a standard Web browser, microphone and sound card to lead a class; while students only need an Internet connection and sound card to participate. eCollege, Denver, CO, (888) 884-7325, www.eCollege.com.

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