Web Conferencing

Our group used WebHuddle to conduct our web conference.  One appeal of WebHuddle was that the program is web based requiring no downloads.  Investigating further, WebHuddle offered ease of registration and creating meetings.  WebHuddle offered options for creating meetings such as naming the meeting, describing the meeting, the inclusion of audio, and recording.  The site also provided a link to easily invite others to join the conference.  The complications began once everyone entered the conference.


Watching our recording, one quickly observes the level of experimentation the conference involved.  As the initial moderator, I attempted to give group members microphone rights.  As it turns out, WebHuddle only allows one person to have microphone rights at a time.  Additionally, two of our group members were unable to be heard in the conference even with microphone rights.  The group spent some time troubleshooting the microphone issues and decided, after a significant amount of time passed, to share the microphone between the two who could be heard in the conference and all depended on the chat feature to communicate.  Our group found and referenced a user guide as we worked through complications during the conference.  Options were given for all members to experience the conference as a moderator and as a team we experimented with the question feature, blank slide screen, and screen share.  WebHuddle allows for uploading of powerpoint files as well as .gif and .jpeg image files.  The question feature allows  the moderator to select from yes/no, true/false, multiple choice, or essay.  Questions, once submitted, are displayed for all participants.  Results can also be viewed within the program.  The blank slide screen acts similar to a paint program allowing for color, shapes, and writing to be shared.  WebHuddle does store recorded conferences on the user homepage under "recordings."  The only option other than "delete" and "merge audio file" is to download the zip file.  Unfortunately, the file is not saved to each participants account.  To share the recording, the file was uploaded to an ftp server and the link distributed.


For future use as a conferencing tool, the microphone dilemma requires addressing.  One microphone produced a significant amount of static while mine an incredible amount of feedback.  To use the program in the future, I would need more time to figure out the audio settings.  I later realized my microphone produced so much feedback because the level was turned so high to hear another group member.


WebHuddle could be used by student groups.  Since non-moderating participants possess little control over any of the features, this tool could be used in situations where one student is responsible for communicating information to the rest of the group.  WebHuddle could be used in the classroom for project presentation and evaluation.  Conference participants could offer constructive feedback, suggestions, or concerns through the chat feature as well as the Q&A feature.  The Q&A feature allows participants to ask questions of the moderator.  The moderator can then share the questions with the entire conference if desired.  Another suggestion for use might be as a medium for tutorials.  For similar reasons as those listed above, students could view presented information as well as ask questions and provide feedback.