Do you hear me? Can you see me?

…those are perhaps the phrases that summarize our week. Recently, DEDOS members have been testing some web-conference tools such as Big Blue Button, WiZ IQ, Open Meetings and GoToMeeting. For the moment, we haven’t decided which of these tools will substitute the Dim Dim application in USC’s online courses. @ the moment, we consider WiZ IQ as the most complete and structured tool, providing the most genuine online class experience…live streaming video and audio, multiple whiteboards, file sharing proficiency, multiple users interaction, everything you can ask. Still we must keep evaluating tools until we’re fully sure of which one is the best not only for the Title V proposal courses, but for the rest of the courses in the institution.

In other subjects, last week we presented the OAR Model based instructor’s guide which we’re planning to use as part of the needs assessment process for the design of the 6 new courses. This week, we evaluated this assessment tool and decided it needs some modifications in order to use it. Since this guide is in English, a translation to Spanish is needed so the faculty members can feel more comfortable with the self-assessment guide. The Instructional Design unit did an exercise by taking the role of a faculty member and filling out the guide. It gave us an idea how it will be the dynamic with USC’s professors. Despite this, we discovered we must have training in developing and establishing course statements in order to solve any doubts that emerge during the needs assessments stage.

The online courses guide is under review @ this moment…