Transforming teaching and learning through innovative technology

Hey there, it’s me Amber,

I wanted to start this entry off talking about an article I read recently in The Harvard Crimson titled, “For CS Class, Office Hours Go Virtual.” The article discusses the very first program in Harvard’s history to provide online office hours for its students.

I can remember my favorite class in college clear as day. This was because my professor knew how to engage the students in the class. He would blare music before each and every class period. He didn’t just do it to drive the business classes crazy, (although I am positive it did). He did this to engage the class in discussion. He also provided the class with his IM screen name, right in the syllabus. At the time that was the only way students really communicated on campus, and having the ability to ask questions and send documents over to him quickly was great! If only he could have had the service of Elluminate to host his own virtual office hours.

I think if more and more virtual office hours are being offered, students will take advantage of the valuable resource they may be passing up, especially on large campuses. Students may no longer be reluctant to seek assistance from an instructor during their office hours simply because there isn’t enough time in the day to permit for travel. It could be a win-win situation because instructors will no longer feel like they are waisting time setting up office hours that no one attends. It is definitely some food for thought.

If your interested, you can set up your own FREE virtual office! Elluminate is giving away 3-User versions of Elluminate Live! with no restrictions, called vRooms. You can sign up for your free vRoom here and start taking your office hours into the virtual realm!

Until next time bloggers…keep on bloggin’

Amber Koskela, Elluminate’s Online Marketing Associate