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INVITED CONTRIBUTOR Speak Easy: A Little Virtual Know-How Makes the DifferenceBy Sheila Cooke I have tested hundreds of virtual collaboration tools since 2008, and my top three go-to virtual collaboration tools have remained virtually unchanged: Skype, GoToMeeting and Adobe Connect. Each tool has its own niche where it plays best. Skype
If you make a lot of long-distance, or international calls, Skype is a huge money-saver. For example, I have an Unlimited World subscription that allows me to call landlines anywhere in the world for $143 for a whole year. Use Skype to build-up a network of people with whom you communicate regularly. You can see when they are online, send Skype chats, voice messages, and even video messages. Here are a few tips for working with Skype. The webcam can negatively impact audio quality, especially when Internet bandwidth is an issue. Ask all parties to turn-off their webcams when you encounter an audio problem. Skype grabs hold of your computer’s built-in speakers and microphone (making it quite reliable), but sometimes won’t let go. If you find that you can’t access the speakers and microphone after you have been using Skype, and closing out of Skype doesn’t help, the best option is to reboot your computer. GoToMeeting
Tips for GoToMeeting: if a participant can’t find their login details, just have them type “joingotomeeting.com” into their web browser, then type in the meeting room id when prompted. There are no emoticons for communicating nonverbal information, so use Chat as a replacement. For example, ask participants to type “RH” into Chat to “raise hands” and be called on. Adobe Connect
VoIP is the standard audio with Adobe Connect. If you prefer to use the telephone, there are several partners that integrate the telephone with Adobe Connect so that you can still make integrated recordings and use the breakout room feature. Summary
Learn more about virtual facilitation by enrolling in ToP Virtual Focused Conversation. The next eight-week program will be offered on Fridays, January-February 2014, and meets for 90 minutes starting at noon Central. |
Skype is a great place to get your feet wet if you are a newbie to the virtual world, because the basic service (computer to computer) is free, reliable and simple to use. Think of Skype as a cross between a telephone and a virtual meeting space. I keep Skype open all day on my iPad for quick, reliable, ad hoc communications, one-on-one sessions, and meetings with very small groups (Skype is challenging to use with groups of more than 3 or 4 people).
When it is paramount that you have reliable, high quality audio, GoToMeeting can’t be beat. It gives your participants flexibility, allowing them to join by telephone or VoIP. A level of intimacy that is rare in the virtual world can be achieved by using high definition video that allows up to 6 participants to share their webcams. The sweet spot of GoToMeeting is meetings of up to 25 participants where screen sharing is the predominant mode of engagement.
Adobe Connect provides a rich, collaborative environment which allows you to pre-set layers of process into a logical sequence. It is a bit like preparing a series of flip charts or sticky walls in a meeting room. The standard subscription supports up to 100 participants. There are optional packages that allow up to 80,000 participants. Just like face-to-face meetings, breakout sessions are the best way to get people engaged in the virtual world. Adobe Connect allows you to create up to 20 breakout rooms where participants can talk with each other and share ideas in a common workspace. Adobe Connect has “persistence”, which means the data remains until you remove it, and allows you to set-up meetings in advance, or refer back to previous meetings after they are finished.