Breaking out of the Asynchronous Box: Using Web Conferencing in Distance Learning

• Published in: Journal of library & information services in distance learning Vol. 3; no. 3-4; pp. 108 - 119
• Main Authors: Lietzau, Julie Arnold, Mann, Barbara J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Colchester Taylor & Francis Group 01.07.2009; Routledge; Taylor & Francis; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Academic libraries; Assessments; College students; Computer Software; Distance Education; Distance learning; Exact sciences and technology; Foreign Countries; Graduate Students; Information and communication sciences; Information science. Documentation; Information service management; Information services; Interactive Video; Libraries; Library and documentation centre management; Library Instruction; Maryland; On-line systems; Online Courses; Research Libraries; Sciences and techniques of general use; Students; Synchronous; Synchronous Communication; synchronous learning; Taiwan; Teaching Methods; Teleconferencing; University libraries; User service management; User training; web conferencing; Maryland; Taiwan; E-learning; synchronous learning; Teleconference; University library; library instruction; web conferencing; distance learning
• ISSN: 1533-290X; 1533-2918
• DOI: 10.1080/15332900903375291

A discussion of a university library's use of Web conferencing (real-time synchronous instruction) which addresses the questions (1) Is Web conferencing a viable option for distance students in online only classrooms? (2) Do faculty and students benefit from this type of instruction? Four different scenarios are presented with assessment results gathered from surveys and debriefings. Scenarios range from use in an online-only class, to one-shot sessions with faculty and students, supplementing week-long library instruction sessions, and one-on-one sessions with students in Taiwan.