1. Synchronous CMC
CALL Feb 25 2013
Follow along: goo.gl/oHPIH

2. Why CMC?
 Not an either/or choice between
speaking in person and CMC.
 What can CMC do…
◦ In class?
◦ Small group work outside of class?

3. Learner Participation
 More equal participation than in-class
group work and less use of L1
(Warschauer, 1996).
 Learners have time to prepare
 Encourages output
 Can be used in conjunction with
tasks/projects.

4. Tools
 Chat programs (Instant Messenger,
Google Talk, Microsoft Lync,
Facebook Chat)
 Internet Relay Chat (chat rooms, very
text-based)
 Video/audio conferencing (e.g.,
Skype, TokBox)
 LMS classrooms (e.g., Blackboard
Collaborate)

5. Activities
 Discussion topics (high interest topics)
 Work on a project/task (through
discussion)
 Study groups
 Collaborate on a document (in
application)
 Hold class
 Jigsaw activity (Pre-determined
groups, students go from group to
group)

6. Let’s try it out
 Blackboard Collaborate (Guide here):
 Login to Collaborate session via BBLearn (568 ->
General Information)
 You may need to install Collaborate/update Java.
Asks for Admin authorization, just cancel (should
still work)
 Or join via mobile app (Blackboard Collaborate
Mobile in iTunes or Google Play).
 You will need the Blackboard Mobile app AND
the Blackboard Collaborate app to use it.

7. Small group work
 With a partner…choose one of the
following (preferably that you haven’t
used before)
 Test out the application; figure out how
to use it.
 Brainstorm ideas for using it in your
own class.
 Share your findings in the appropriate
Collaborate group.

8. Synchronous CMC
Google Hangout Up to 10 members
http://www.google.com/+/learnmore/ Video chat
hangouts/ Low barrier to entry
Skype Ubiquitous (students probably
http://www.skype.com/en/ familiar)
Free, intuitive
Video or audio only (no text)
TokBox (Conference option) Video conferencing (or text)
http://www.tokbox.com/ Video messaging
http://youtu.be/QlQA9eAxqdM Shared whiteboard, other tools
Free basic or Premium versions
Browser-based
Some tech savvy required to set up
IRC (Internet Relay Chat) Browser-based, text only
http://irchelp.org/irchelp/irctutorial.ht Free
ml Flexible and easily accessible
Very old school (text commands)