--- Forwarded Message from "Read Gilgen" <[log in to unmask]> ---
>Date: Fri, 03 Oct 2003 14:18:40 -0500
>From: "Read Gilgen" <[log in to unmask]>
>To: <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: #7276.1 Audio Recording -Lab Management Software: Net Support School
OK, here's the scoop with NetSupport School.
1. You can establish two-way communications between an individual and
the instructor.
2. You can announce (instructor to all students).
3. Two-way between instructor and more than one student is not
possible.
As for the two-way audio (#1 above):
1. A student can be running another audio program and still hear the
instructor along with the audio being played (I suspect this may have to
do with multichannel audio capabilities of the Pavilion laptops we're
using, but perhaps not).
2. A student can record and still hear the instructor.
3. The instructor cannot hear what the student is playing, only what
comes this his/her microphone.
The limitation here is that only microphone sources can travel from
instructor to student or back. No other "native" audio sources (e.g.,
file on disk, CD player, etc.) can be communicated from instructor to
student or vice-versa. This is a problem we asked NSS about early on
(e.g., an instructor wants to play a sound click out to students) and
they said they were aware of the need and have it on their "to do" list.
When, how well, etc., remains to be seen.
What we've done in the meantime, is hook up the computer to our in room
sound system so if needs be, the instructor can play whatever to the
room speakers. Not ideal, but a workaround for the short term.
I have to keep reminding myself that NSS is NOT language lab software.
Nevertheless, with a couple of additions (such as this one, and easier
student group work) they could do very well in the language lab arena.
****************************************************
Read Gilgen
Director
L&S Learning Support Services
University of Wisconsin - Madison
(608) 262-1408
[log in to unmask]
http://polyglot.lss.wisc.edu/lss/
>>> [log in to unmask] 10/3/2003 12:07:53 PM >>>
--- Forwarded Message from Damion Renner <[log in to unmask]>
---
>Date: Fri, 3 Oct 2003 01:17:45 -0400
>From: Damion Renner <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Lab Management Software: Wimba/E-langlab
We recently evaluated some lab mangaement software applications -
Speaker,
Divace ICM, Net Support Manager, and Net Support School. We ended up
choosing Netsupport School since it was the popular choice among
faculty
and staff for its interface, capabilities and value. Although we have
succeeded in allowing the instructor to listen in (monitor) students
while
they are speaking in to the microphone, it cannot be done if another
program (like any voice recording software) is accessing the soundcard
since it's already being used by Netsupport school. We are exploring
a proposed solution to this problem by adding an additional soundcard
in
all of our lab machines. I'm unaware of any software that will allow
simultaneous voice monitoring while students are using any other audio
software. The other software (Divace ICM and Speaker) we evaluated
couldn't accomplish this task without purchasing an expensive hardware
solution
to accompany it, so we went with Netsupport school which can accomplish
much of
what we need.
Damion Renner
Language Lab and Computing Support, Development and Training
CHASS / Multimedia Centre in the Humanities
Phone: 416-926-1300 x.3256, 416-978-2535
Email: [log in to unmask]
>From: Betty Woerner <[log in to unmask]>
------------------
Actually, I should be more clear: we are looking for software that =
will
perform a virtual monitor function in a Mac or Mac/Windows lab, =
enabling
the prof. to listen in while students in a class are doing audio
exercises. This would be similar to the monitor function in our =
old Sony
tape lab. We use none of the other features of a turnkey lab, so =
to go
that direction would be a massive waste. At present, we have =
looked at
Wimba and E-LangLab. Are there others?
Betty Woerner
Reed College
Portland, OR
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