12.02.05
A Quest for the BEST Synchronous Tool
Recently, I’ve been investigating solutions for a viable synchronous tool that can effectively support the distance learning needs here at CGPS.
We’ve had great success using Skype for online collaborations but we wanted more features than it alone offered. Our wish list included: video conferencing, audio recording and archiving and the ability to view a presentation. Using My Ivo gave us the video and presentation but gave us security concerns with remote desktop access. The Gizmo Project has proven to be a great solution for audio recording and archiving - a feature instructors requested for record keeping. It also allows unlimited participation in a web conference but alas, doesn’t offer file transfer. Yesterday Skype released a beta version of video conferencing that even offers picture-in-picture, but unfortunately still lacks in audio recording. All these products have proven useful in the education environment for online collaborations though that is obviously not the focus of emerging VoIP applications. Call us selfish (or needy) but will someone please put this all together in one package please? Oh…FREE would be good too! 
which tool is the best fit for you?
