Westmont College
Academic Technology Faculty Pilot Projects
GOOGLE HANGOUTS Project
GOAL: conduct a tutorial discussion that allows for a mix of local members and virtual members. Explore potential for use in an off campus program.
RESEARCH QUESTION
If a group tutorial discussion is set up for a small local group connecting with a virtual audience using Google Hangouts and Google Docs, how will this impact the group
ACTION: We found that the students were mostly adept at getting their personal connections set up. For the local group on campus, we found that an iMac with an external mic allowed the professor and two or three students to sit around the computer in a way that allowed for natural flow of discussion with the group online.
EVALUATION:
RESEARCH QUESTION
If a group tutorial discussion is set up for a small local group connecting with a virtual audience using Google Hangouts and Google Docs, how will this impact the group
ACTION: We found that the students were mostly adept at getting their personal connections set up. For the local group on campus, we found that an iMac with an external mic allowed the professor and two or three students to sit around the computer in a way that allowed for natural flow of discussion with the group online.
EVALUATION:
The graph above shows the balance between the initial adjustment to this technology and the benefits that it brought to this group discussion.
Pilot Project Partner Reflections
The hybrid on-campus/virtual discussion group got great support from Information Technology, which wasn’t always easy. Because it was experimental, we kept trying new things, which meant different equipment and different set-ups. Kevin Hess helped me at the conceptual stage of the project. Doug Conrad provided good advice and support on specific technologies and on managing the balance between getting the best experience and getting too complicated with the equipment. When we did finally settle on the need for less portable equipment than my laptop, Jeff Aquillon was faithful in getting the group what it needed week in and week out. Thanks for all the good work!
The hybrid on-campus/virtual discussion group got great support from Information Technology, which wasn’t always easy. Because it was experimental, we kept trying new things, which meant different equipment and different set-ups. Kevin Hess helped me at the conceptual stage of the project. Doug Conrad provided good advice and support on specific technologies and on managing the balance between getting the best experience and getting too complicated with the equipment. When we did finally settle on the need for less portable equipment than my laptop, Jeff Aquillon was faithful in getting the group what it needed week in and week out. Thanks for all the good work!