My Memories: An Interview about the Early Days of Videoconferencing
My Memories: An Interview about the Early Days of Videoconferencing

Author(s): Janice de Haaff
Subject(s): Media studies, Language acquisition, Higher Education , Methodology and research technology, Social Informatics, Philology, ICT Information and Communications Technologies
Published by: Masarykova univerzita nakladatelství
Keywords: Videoconferencing; information technologies; language teaching; methodology; higher education;
Summary/Abstract: In the early days before smart phones, social media, and iPads, TESL teachers at AU were divided into two camps in their ideas of IT in language classes – those who were comfortable with modern technology and those who were concerned cables, cameras and screens would negatively transform the learning/teaching environment. I sat somewhere in‑between but when, shortly after a Diverse Conference (Developing Innovative Visual Educational Resources for Students Everywhere), an enthusiastic teacher at MU asked me if I was interested in bringing our classes together via videoconference, enthusiasm surpassed concern and I became part of the techie group. Both of us agreed lectures and presentations were not something we wanted in our ‘undivided’ (or divided by distance only) classroom. We intended to create a unique environment where students could interact with each other and not use this unique VC environment for Q & As after a presentation or lecture.

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