--- 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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