Yes, there are a heap of other options out there that do mulitple video that we’ve had a look at. Many are paid. I’d really love to find one that integrates into Moodle- that would be ideal!!

We find it’s easier for students to just use skype because many students already have it installed, and are familiar with it. In the many months that we’ve been using skype we’ve only needed to watch two people at at time once! So we’re not in a hurry to change over to somethng different! But certainly with more students, and no booking system we would have to look more seriously at one of the other options we’ve got.

Thanks for your comment,

Talia

It seems there could also be a lot more that could be done with this – perhaps some experimentation in the future, although I don’t mean for this specific application you mention here. I realise you would want to be unobtrusive.

It would be quite efficient to be able to supervise several students at once, since it seems that you are using skype as an observation tool. I am sure I have seen software that allows you to have several video feeds coming in at once… Hmm might have to research that. It would sure improve efficiency!

Ther personal touch is definitely helpful- sometimes with distance ed students can beocome demanding, or rude when communicating with supervisors or teachers because they don’t actually ’see’ them, and they are somehow less ‘human’. I’m not sure if I’ve said that quite right, but hopefully get the gist!

We definitinely dont’ want to make exams any more ’scary’ then they already are, which is prisicely why we chose skype! We also get them to log on, and get skype set up when they first sign up to the course and do their Orientation, that way we don’t have any problems, or extra nerves on exam day!

Thanks for taking the time to comment- I really appreciate it.

Talia

Interesting why you chose Skype … because it’s not a ‘new thing to a lot of people.’ Clay Shirky talks about a breakthrough in the uptake of technology occurring when a bit of equipment or a service (like Skype) becomes so ubiquitous to be almost ‘boring.’ Users are comfortable … so maybe this way of invigilating an exam has hidden benefits … that is if taking an exam can ever be a comfortable affair.

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