This week I had my first Google Chat! One of our challenges for this week was to engage in a live chat with our fellow classmates. I found that Google Chat was a very easy experience. Once I got my account going in Google+, I was ready to go. I checked my email, and I had an invite for my first live chat. All I had to do from there was to click the link, and I was connected. Pretty soon I was looking at a live video feed of my classmate and we were able to discuss what changes and additions needed to be added to our netiquette assignment.
I really enjoyed the process. It was very nice to be able to have a face to face conversation on a project. I can see using this more often and even getting it set up to use in my own classroom. I can anticipate some drawbacks for my use in the EdTech program though. I think my biggest issue will be to make sure I have time scheduled for collaboration. With classmates in different time zones and with different life schedules, scheduling a face to face proved to be difficult in our group. I think this is expected though in an online class. After all, we are taking it online because we don't have the capacity to take the class in a brick and mortar setting.
I really enjoyed the process. It was very nice to be able to have a face to face conversation on a project. I can see using this more often and even getting it set up to use in my own classroom. I can anticipate some drawbacks for my use in the EdTech program though. I think my biggest issue will be to make sure I have time scheduled for collaboration. With classmates in different time zones and with different life schedules, scheduling a face to face proved to be difficult in our group. I think this is expected though in an online class. After all, we are taking it online because we don't have the capacity to take the class in a brick and mortar setting.