We are finally arriving at the task of awarding door prizes to participants. The first batch is based on various activity in the Virtual Conference environment. We will award additional prizes by random drawing from active conference participants. Here are the awards for the first round!
Highest number of visits:
Maryann Whitaker, The University of Alabama
Sheila Morgan, Troy University
Most time in the conference environment:
Debbie Naquin, NOVA
Miriam Basinger, Blue Ridge Community College
Most conversations:
Veronica Outlaw, The University of Alabama
Karen Kellison, Lord Fairfax Community College
Most minutes of conversation:
Sandra Chadwell, Lord Fairfax Community College
Congratulations to these high level participants!
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Monday, October 29, 2012
Welcome Hurricane Sandy!
We want to welcome Hurricane Sandy to the Virtual Conference! Well, it's not a nice welcome - she kind of welcomed herself. Both of today's presenters are impacted so we have moved them to another day. That means the days to come are more exciting with additional daily presentations!
If you are not impacted by the storm, please feel free to enter the environment and view the presentations you have missed. They are in Meeting Room 1 and Team Room 1. If the presenters provided a handout, it will be in the document station in the room where that video is available.
Stay safe everyone!
Patrick
If you are not impacted by the storm, please feel free to enter the environment and view the presentations you have missed. They are in Meeting Room 1 and Team Room 1. If the presenters provided a handout, it will be in the document station in the room where that video is available.
Stay safe everyone!
Patrick
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Confessions of a Non-Techie…Enjoying the Virtual Conference
I am writing with such candor because I don’t think my posting will have a wide readership and my confessions are safe with you - the few, the intrepid, the kind. Working in a world where I sometimes feel surrounded by techies, techno-geeks, computer geeks, Web 2.0 wizards, and folks who just get ultra excited by the latest new software or gadget, I sometime really feel that my real world is in alternative space. I confess that my phone is not smart. I do not text. I really use my cell phone as a telephone. I don’t tweet. I have no Facebook friends. And I still haven’t figured up how to hook up my dvr player so that I can use one remote to operate the player and the cable television. So, can you imagine my shock at the fact that I can maneuver around the Virtual Conference without running into walls and with a minimum amount of the Exorcist-like head-spinning and body-dissolving behavior?
I confess that I am actually enjoying the Virtual Conference environment. And I asked myself why… Aside for a smidgen of pride in the fact that I finally figured it out, I think Karen in her presentation on Tuesday answered that question for me in one word – presence. In her presentation, It Takes a Village, Dr. Karen Kellison, Associate Dean of Instructional Technology, Lord Fairfax Community College (VCCS), talked about the importance of instructor presence in an online course. Students want to know that the instructor is there and is engaged. I have been enjoying the obvious presence of all of the conference attendees, not just the presenters. I can talk with folks, wave at them, even shake hands. While those things might not have any impact on what I learn, they sure have made me want to hang around to see what happens next. (Oh, please don’t think I am stalking if I seem to be following you around in the Virtual Conference; I’m just trying to get your attention so that I can talk with you.)
So, what good use is there for a virtual environment like AvayaLive? Over the course of the next two weeks, I hope there will be lots of discussion of that question. At Day 3 of the Conference, my thoughts are more focused on using this environment as a way to connect distance students and campus students for student activities and programs, although I can see instructional uses also.
So, please join us in the Virtual Conference to see for yourself. Most of us look much better than we really are in person. There are several “live” presentations to come over the next week and a half. Also, you can view many of the presentations from last year’s conference, this year’s presentations that you may have missed, chat in real-time with vendors, and, next week, join us for chats on timely teaching topics.
Hope to see you soon – I am the one in the bright pink and green outfit.
Marian Macbeth
I confess that I am actually enjoying the Virtual Conference environment. And I asked myself why… Aside for a smidgen of pride in the fact that I finally figured it out, I think Karen in her presentation on Tuesday answered that question for me in one word – presence. In her presentation, It Takes a Village, Dr. Karen Kellison, Associate Dean of Instructional Technology, Lord Fairfax Community College (VCCS), talked about the importance of instructor presence in an online course. Students want to know that the instructor is there and is engaged. I have been enjoying the obvious presence of all of the conference attendees, not just the presenters. I can talk with folks, wave at them, even shake hands. While those things might not have any impact on what I learn, they sure have made me want to hang around to see what happens next. (Oh, please don’t think I am stalking if I seem to be following you around in the Virtual Conference; I’m just trying to get your attention so that I can talk with you.)
So, what good use is there for a virtual environment like AvayaLive? Over the course of the next two weeks, I hope there will be lots of discussion of that question. At Day 3 of the Conference, my thoughts are more focused on using this environment as a way to connect distance students and campus students for student activities and programs, although I can see instructional uses also.
So, please join us in the Virtual Conference to see for yourself. Most of us look much better than we really are in person. There are several “live” presentations to come over the next week and a half. Also, you can view many of the presentations from last year’s conference, this year’s presentations that you may have missed, chat in real-time with vendors, and, next week, join us for chats on timely teaching topics.
Hope to see you soon – I am the one in the bright pink and green outfit.
Marian Macbeth
Monday, October 22, 2012
The 2012 Virtual Conference has opened!
View this welcome video of the Welcome session with Dr. David Loope, our VPAA!
...and a welcome from our AVP of Technology, Dr. John Ambrose!
...and a welcome from our AVP of Technology, Dr. John Ambrose!
Friday, September 7, 2012
New Virtual Experience this year!
Welcome to the premier of J Sargent Reynolds Community College Virtual Conference 2012! This year, we have decided to move out of our LMS (Blackboard) to bring you a true virtual experience. After review of a number of virtual environments, we have chosen AvayaLive Engage. You can check out their demo online for a preview at: AvayaLive Engage. You will need to have administrator rights on your computer for the first visit to install the applet.
This new environment has already received some buzz with inquiries from as far away as New Mexico! However, our first priority is the dedicated faculty at JSRCC and our colleagues in the Virginia Community College System. If you meet others in the environment from around the country, please say hello. Those avitars represent the thoughts, feelings, actions, and voices of real people! If you are looking for me in the virtual enviornment, I will be wearing a red blazer (Roll Tide!) and looking much younger than normal (it's not my fault; the environment does have limitations). :)
More information will be coming through your email in the near future. Be prepared to register, participate, and present. Remember, the success of the Virtual Conference depends on you!
I look forward to seeing you all there!
Patrick Whitaker
This new environment has already received some buzz with inquiries from as far away as New Mexico! However, our first priority is the dedicated faculty at JSRCC and our colleagues in the Virginia Community College System. If you meet others in the environment from around the country, please say hello. Those avitars represent the thoughts, feelings, actions, and voices of real people! If you are looking for me in the virtual enviornment, I will be wearing a red blazer (Roll Tide!) and looking much younger than normal (it's not my fault; the environment does have limitations). :)
More information will be coming through your email in the near future. Be prepared to register, participate, and present. Remember, the success of the Virtual Conference depends on you!
I look forward to seeing you all there!
Patrick Whitaker
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