[Yr7-10it] Distance learning - use of ICT?

[Tony Forster]

> Most universities run distance learning programs

Though universities are offering distance ed using LMS like Moodle or 
Blackboard with synchronous and asynchronous text chat, this is not best 
practice use of current technology. Latest technology offers real time voice 
and video and even application sharing.

Paid products like Elluminate and Macromedia Breeze do this quite well and 
though the internet requirements at the server are high, at the participant 
end they work with ordinary connections.

There are a number of free solutions like skype and skype conference which 
can be enhanced by youtube videos and blogs. Audio conference servers (small 
server charge) as used in the game world like Teamspeak and Ventrilo are 
worth looking at too. Virtual worlds like Secondlife can be used too though 
I havent seen a case yet that justifies the bandwidth.

I wouldn't look at universities (in general) for best practice, I would look 
to this list and the edublogger community.