Conferencing

Conferencing has really always been achieved through the use of a software solution. **Skype** is probably the most well known tool for conferencing but it is a software download and not web 2. Now that it has been acquired by Microsoft there are many theories on what may happen to it, my theory is that it may well be integrated into a future version of Office to function in a similar way to Apple's **iChat**.


 * Elluminate** is a web based conferencing solution which creates a virtual room for real time collaboration for up to 400 participants - at a cost. They do, however, also offer a solution that could be very useful for educators at no cost - **Three for Free Web Conferencing** . Signing up to Learn Central, their social learning network, gives you full time access to a Vroom for yourself and two other participants. A particpant could be an individual or a whole class. This could easily be used to connect your class to other classes, educators or guests from around the world for no cost.

We will join a group room to show how easy it is to set up and participate. Presenters and participants interact using a **variety of features** such as: audio, video, instant messaging, shared interactive whiteboard, polling, file sharing and application sharing.


 * Wetoku** is videoconferencing made simple, all you need is two people with webcams. One person starts the interview and invites the other to participate. The interview is recorded in two side by side images The resulting video file can then be embedded in your web page. Below is an interview I conducted with Darth Vader in a galaxy far, far away . . ..

An Interesting **blog post** on the classroom use of Wetoku


 * Almost Meet** is a conferencing tool that is still in private Beta. It appears to be offering the main conferencing features in Elluminate so could be worth considering. Follow this link to apply for a preview code and to watch a brief video overview.