eSLIS
Many SLIS students find it challenging to balance school, work, and personal life. Students have often expressed the need for more flexibility, but they don’t want to lose the personal touch that is a hallmark of our program.
As part of our ongoing efforts to respond to this need, SLIS is introducing the use of web conferencing as a way to hold class without having to be in the same place. Several instructors have agreed to participate in our pilot project. Several of their classes will meet using this tool, which we are calling eSLIS.
The idea with web conferencing is that everyone meets at the same time, but instead of meeting in a physical classroom, we use a tool that lets the instructor make presentations, share documents, and demonstrate web sites and applications. At the same time, it allows students to participate in via audio conferencing and text chat.
To participate, you will need a broadband internet connection (not dial-up), a recent Windows or Mac computer, and an inexpensive headset. If you don’t have access to these from home or work, you can use computers at SLIS.
The eSLIS tool is well-designed and easy to learn. (SLIS evaluated over 20 web conferencing tools before selecting Adobe Connect Pro Meeting as the basis for eSLIS because of its ease of use.) To help you get the most out of the online sessions, you may consult the Quick Start Guide (http://slis.cua.edu/res/docs/AdobeConnectHITSLISStudents0811.pdf) In addition, the lab manager (Joan Weeks) and lab assistants in the Information Commons are available to help you get started or troubleshoot any problems.
