Tech Note: InstantConference

My recent good find for free phone conferencing: InstantConference. The free version supports call-in by up to 150 participants who are responsible for their own cost of long-distance service or cell minutes. Moderator privileges can be extended to more than one person. Session recording is free. A "permanent" phone number is assigned upon enrollment.

Paid versions of the system include toll-free calling, so that joining the conference doesn't cost the caller anything.

The free version produced (for me) clear voices for conferences of 3 and 5 people. I especially liked the optional Moderator panel that I logged onto online (while using my phone to participate in the call). Even for free, the system provides good muting controls, which are important for large groups.

To enhance a meeting, I also use a virtual space online (vOffice, which I pay for) so that files or desktop can be displayed for the group. While I like the VoIP that comes with vOffice (and other web conference platforms), group use continues to pose problems such as feedback and static. A lot of VoIP problems can be solved by every user plugging in a headset; but compliance is difficult. Pairing a web display with phone conferencing is a good alternative.

Disclosure statement: I have no relationship with any product or company mentioned here and I have not received any compensation or free product for mentioning them. (This blog's only monetary reward comes through google.adsense links, which are selected by Google, not by me.)

© 2010 Mary Bold, PhD, CFLE. Email contact: bold[AT]marybold.com. The content of this blog or related web sites created by Mary Bold (http://www.marybold.com/, http://www.boldproductions.com/, College Intern Blog) is not under any circumstances to be regarded as legal or professional advice. Bold is the co-author of Reflections: Preparing for your Practicum or Internship, geared to college interns in the child, education, and family fields. She is a consultant and speaker on assessment, distance learning, and technology.

ePortfolio: Batson's Update

It's always interesting to read Batson on portfolio. The most recent treatment is ePortfolios, Finally! and it appears in Trent Batson's regular spot in Campus Technology magazine. In this article, the background and uses of eportfolios are updated. Among the stats: there's eportfolio activity at almost half of the U.S. higher ed institutions. Among the critique: learning outcomes and LMSs (learning management systems).

Two extra features accompany the Batson article. First, as usual, commenters add details from their own campuses and we always learn from that. Second, Batson offers a new support that he promises to maintain and keep current: a web site called EPORTFOLIO SOURCE.

© 2010 Mary Bold, PhD, CFLE. Email contact: bold[AT]marybold.com. The content of this blog or related web sites created by Mary Bold (http://www.marybold.com/, http://www.boldproductions.com/, College Intern Blog) is not under any circumstances to be regarded as legal or professional advice. Bold is the co-author of Reflections: Preparing for your Practicum or Internship, geared to college interns in the child, education, and family fields. She is a consultant and speaker on assessment, distance learning, and technology.

Inside Higher Ed: Blogs

Inside Higher Ed publishes multiple blogs from perspectives of dean, librarian, provost, and a lot more. A search engine is embedded with the option to filter results by blog title. Look for the Keyword Search box and pull-down menus near the top of the page.

A bonus of the search tool is that results include "Matching Jobs," which are listed to the right of the main results.

http://www.insidehighered.com/blogs

© 2010 Mary Bold, PhD, CFLE. Email contact: bold[AT]marybold.com. The content of this blog or related web sites created by Mary Bold (http://www.marybold.com/, http://www.boldproductions.com/, College Intern Blog) is not under any circumstances to be regarded as legal or professional advice. Bold is the co-author of Reflections: Preparing for your Practicum or Internship, geared to college interns in the child, education, and family fields. She is a consultant and speaker on assessment, distance learning, and technology.