University of Wisconsin - Extension

Need to show your PowerPoint? presentation to colleagues across the state? Need to collaborate with a virtual work group by using your desktop software? Need to conduct an instant poll with far-flung groups? UW-Extension faculty and staff now have a new tool to make long-distance meetings and programs easier.

Today Instructional Communications Systems (ICS), a provider of audio, data and video conferencing services, announced the addition of live web conferencing to Extension's family of conferencing tools.

"UW-Extension faculty and staff, even when hundreds of miles apart, can now meet and collaborate as readily as if they were sitting in the same conference room," according to Marcia Baird, ICS Director. "They can share and annotate visuals online, brainstorm via an electronic whiteboard, tour web sites, or conduct voting with multiple locations at the same time."

The new service combines real-time visual content, delivered through a web browser, with an audio conference call. Joining a WisLine Web conference is as easy as visiting a web site and dialing the telephone.

By conducting instruction and presentations online-whether it's an educational program, training session, staff meeting or one-on-one demonstration, Extension professionals can reach wide audiences-effectively and efficiently.

Faculty and staff can now use WisLine Web to reach both large and small audiences, including virtual classes and workgroups. "We've already supported web conferences for project teams, master's students, state employees and more," says Baird. "We've also used WisLine Web to join Wisconsin audiences with international guest speakers and groups from as far away as South Africa and Finland."

Interested faculty and staff can try out the new WisLine Web tool by participating in a free desktop seminar highlighting the service's benefits and features. ICS staff is offering weekly seminars on March 15, 21 and 27, as well as April 3, 11, 19 and 25. Register to attend one of these live walk-throughs by contacting Carol Hillmann at WisLineWeb@ics.uwex.edu and 608-262-7590. For more information about WisLine Web and the desktop seminar dates see http://www.uwex.edu/ics/wlweb .

Here's how a WisLine Web conference works:

Shortly before the program or meeting time, participants log into their virtual conference room through a pre-assigned URL, plus call a telephone number. ICS recommends that participants have a minimum connection speed of 33 Kbps connection speed, and use Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0 or later, or Netscape 4.06 through 4.76 or later for their web browser.

Typically program or meeting leaders "drive" the visuals during a session, showing pre-loaded PowerPoint presentations, developing an on-the-fly poll, or walking participants through a software document. Everyone views the same materials on their desktop computers. Interactive tools, such as online polling, an electronic whiteboard or web tours, can also be added. Sophisticated tool-sharing controls allow for multiple presenters.

Everyone can ask questions, live, through the audio system. In addition, the conference can be set up so participants can also ask text-based questions to presenters or moderators, or to another person. Answers can be sent privately or to the entire group.

WisLine Web conferences can also be recorded and archived, available for on-demand playback by those who want to review the session, or may have missed the original conference