Barbara Edwards
Maths Tutor and Instructional Designer
FAQS
Q. Do I need special equipment for an online tutorial?
A. No you do not, just an ordinary computer and a reasonable broadband connection. The only extra piece of equipment you might need is a good headset. However, this does not have to be expensive, you can probably use a fairly basic one that would manage skype. Maybe borrow one while you have a trial tutorial and then purchase one if you want to go ahead. I personally tend to use a usb headset costing about £20 after discount but then I use it a lot. There is no need for superior quality, you are not attending a virtual concert hall.
Q. Where is the online classroom?
A. It is on the internet. You access it through your browser like any other application. It sits on your screen. It will have a list of who is there, showing who has moderator rights, the classroom leader. There is a public text box, everyone can see what you put in there. You can open a private text conversation with your classroom leader. There is screen space for the presentation, usually supporting powerpoint and a whiteboard on which you can text and draw. I personally have a wacom bamboo pen but it is possible to do rough drawings with a mouse. Everyone can talk and you soon learn how to manage turn taking. It is possible to have a web cam but I personally do not use one. It does add to the level of broadband requirement. You can display a photo of the teacher and class members to make everyone feel more human. It is usually possible to share applications, like other web pages and spreadsheets. So the classroom is wherever you and your computer happen to be.
Q. Do I need to take notes?
A. Some teachers will supply you with all the materials, the powerpoint presentations and even a recording of the actual lesson. You may have existing learning materials, handouts or textbooks and you may have been asked to do some preparation before coming to class. However, classroom interaction can be a bit messy particularly when students are engaged and ask lots of questions. Generally private text is not recorded. Giving you an audio recording of the class may breach the confidentiality of the other students. The teacher may want you to take notes during class either from slides or from short pieces of dictation perhaps as a preparation for university lectures. You may also need to do exercises and although you can do these in a computer file it may aid your thinking to use pen and paper. If you are facing a pen and paper examination this would also be sensible practice. For this reason I recommend working at a table where you can write on paper rather than sitting on the sofa with your laptop.
Term Times
Spring term starts Monday January 10th 2011