Project Director
Sara de Freitas

Project Manager
Tim Neumann

Project Details
2006-2008
Funder: CDE, University of London

Keywords
audiographic conferencing, multimodal learning,
e-learning

MoSAIC: Models for Synchronous Audiographic Interactive Conferencing

Introduction
This project focuses on synchronous audiographic web conferencing (SAC) as a delivery tool and aims to develop a set of pedagogic application models for its use in distance education.

This project promotes SAC as a delivery mode for distance education, representing a technology that is readily available, but currently underused. It aims to supplement the portfolio of remote delivery methods by taking advantage of a multimodal, media-rich technology that has a high potential to reach out and draw in a wider range of learners through more direct involvement, appeal to different learning approaches and styles, and enhanced social collaborative presence at a distance.

Objectives

• To identify the current scope of SAC provision and related technologies at the University of London
• To review pedagogical theories for their use in synchronous media-rich teaching and learning contexts
• To develop and evaluate a set of pedagogical models for a range of different SAC application scenarios in the context of distance education
• To design and create guidelines and toolkits supporting the use of SAC
• To examine pathways for an advisory service on SAC

Work Packages
The project will use a range of different methods attached to five work packages:

1. Scoping. The scoping exercise reviews the level of provision of SAC and related technologies at University of London Colleges and Institutes by identifying and surveying relevant stakeholders and courses.
2. Pedagogical models for SAC. A systematic review of literature is carried out, followed by a synthesis of findings, which are then mapped to the specific requirements of SAC.
3. User testing. Pedagogical models are tested on identified user groups in a series of SAC sessions. The tests are evaluated to establish the relevance and value of the pedagogical models.
4. Toolkits and guidelines. Results from a review of existing practitioner guidelines are synthesized and matched to the models from WP2. Exemplary toolkits are assembled based on these findings and following market research.
5. Advisory service. Findings, guidelines, session archives and materials are collated for inclusion into a resource website. Training structures and an initial business model are designed for establishing a sustainable advisory service.