innovative webinars?

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Today I gave a "training session" to some local trainers using a live "webcasting tool". Well, it was more like an informal walk through of the capabilities of a synchronous webcasting tool called DimDim (which is free for basic use). I think everyone enjoyed it, and we had some excellent ideas for using such a tool in teaching and learning. Everyone who took part could see genuine benefits in using such software with their particular roles. This type of tool would help out employers and training in general, and perhaps help lift the train to gain initiative into the 21st Century? Read more about the current state of play in the edecxel policy watch.

When I read the speech that John Denham (DIUS) gave the other day at the AoC conference, he never mentioned the option of maximising the opportunity for training by exploiting technology at all? When he eventually did mention innovation, all he spoke of was the work going on in new builds to improve local training provision. Somehow I feel that the point is being seriously missed here. Move the information (zeros & ones) around, not the people, Mr Denham! Using live webinar tools such as DimDim is far more efficient, innovative, and greener that focusing on the physical infrastructure of organisations. We are in the 21st Century after all! Well some of us are. If we are ever going to match up to the 2020 Leitch goals, someone is going to have to think laterally, and that means exploiting e-learning tools to up-skill the UK. The new High skills - high value DIUS policy also discusses this burgeoning requirement.

I've blogged on this subject before (especially dimdim) so here's some links to explore this subject further.

What is webcasting or webinars:

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Webcasting
• http://delicious.com/tag/webinar

Protocols:

• http://wiki.rscwmsystems.org.uk/index.php/Synchronous_webcasting_tools#Webcasting_protocols 
• http://www.elearningguild.com/content.cfm?selection=doc.1025

And here's some free alternatives to DimDim

• http://www.wiziq.com/
• https://www.yugma.com/
• Skype (conference calls)
• http://www.oovoo.com/
• http://flashmeeting.open.ac.uk/home.html
• Both Adobe Connect & elluminate offer their tools free for small groups (3 – 5)

Find references to more of these types of tools here : http://c4lpt.co.uk/Directory/Tools/conferencing.html