In this podcast, Jonathan Finkelstein, author of Learning in Real Time, joins Susan Manning and Dan Balzer for a special edition of their LT GreenRoom podcast. Jonathan, talks about two creative and important enhancements to the synchronous world of learning online.
Jonathan Finkelstein explores creative uses of Closed Captioning during real-time online sessions. He also discusses a unique service he developed called Virtual Graphic Facilitation (VGF), which is now being used for live online events with groups like the Smithsonian and Jossey-Bass.
What is Virtual Graphic Facilitation? It’s taking information that is shared during a webcast or other live online event — from group discussion, to the presenter’s ideas, to slides, to research data — and transforming it into something visual, organized and accessible. It’s finding the right mixture of words, illustration and design to capture a subject and make it memorable. Moreover, it unfolds in real time, adding an element of engagement, fun and anticipation that few other online experiences can offer.
During the 2011 Online Teaching and Learning Conference Online, Jonathan will be demonstrating clever techniques for engaging learners in real-time online environments.
About Jonathan Finkelstein
Jonathan Finkelstein is founder and executive producer of LearningTimes. He is the author of Learning in Real Time (Wiley/Jossey-Bass), which translates well over a dozen years of experience facilitating online learning into a practical resource guide for anyone facilitating or teaching online. Finkelstein also authored the chapter on live online outreach in The Digital Museum: A Think Guide, published by the American Association of Museums (AAM). As the founder of the first online certification program on real-time online instruction, Finkelstein shares his expertise leading effective events and building community with education professionals around the globe.
Finkelstein is the moderator and producer of many live webcasts, online conferences and 3D virtual world events for education, training, library, and museum professionals. He serves as a member of the board of the Media and Technology Committee of the American Association of Museums, and is a well-known online voice facilitating online learning conversations in numerous interactive formats. Finkelstein is the son of two New York City public school teachers, is a Certified Synchronous Training Professional (CSTP) and received his AB degree with honors from Harvard University.
About the LT Green Room:
The LT Green Room is a podcast for Renewal, Retooling and Conversations about Learning. It is co-hosted by Susan Manning and Dan Balzer and show topics are often drawn from the impressive work being done by members of the LearningTimes community. Susan is co-author, with Kevin Johnson, of Online Education for Dummies and the forthcoming book Technology Toolbelt for Teachers (Jossey-Bass).
I used to work as a corporate trainer, and one of my jobs was helping to put together the annual Managers’ Meeting where 1500 managers, their district managers, and the VP’s of the company would all convene for 3 days of workshops. Attendees at such conferences all receive various SWAG. What a great take-away copies of a VGF would be for conference attendees! Because they are produced during live sessions, you wouldn’t be able to distribute them immediately, but think what a powerful follow-up they would be if they were printed and mailed to attendees afterwards…it would call to mind the energy and ideas covered in such a conference. (And I suppose they could be used for even more SWAG – put the graphic on t-shirts, mugs, posters, etc.)