In this session, I will share experiences with a “live” synchronous, online office hours technique for a graduate level quantitative course using Open Broadcaster Software (OBS) as a cross-platform software streaming on YouTube. This highly effective and on-demand method has been well-received with increased student engagement and participation.
Teaching quantitative courses, such as statistics, online have been a challenge for many given the difficulty of relating graphical and formula driven concepts. Lecture, demonstration and problem solving videos populate many of our quantitative course libraries in an effort to assist with independent learning. The good news is that content and delivery have improved with evolving technologies, such as light boards and touch tablets, which power creative teaching moments. However, there remains the struggle of addressing students’ specific questions during office hours sessions where concepts often need reinforced or demonstrated in real-time, both in “by hand” and “by software” methods.
In this session, I will demonstrate and review a synchronous office-hours technique for online courses I’ve used for several years. The technique runs live through YouTube with OBS as its cross-platform software. The synchronous session allows students to interact and ask questions in real-time, individually or as a group, and is always recorded for future review. It is easy to set-up and can be implemented on-demand in short order. Most importantly, the system used allows for a simultaneous split screen of a computer desktop view with software and a writing table view via an inexpensive webcam serving as a document camera. In this way, students can see the solutions developed graphically, by hand, and formulaically, by program. This is vitally important in the teaching of quantitative courses, such as statistics, where problem visualization improves concept retention.
During this session, I plan to show a recorded demonstration of the technique for attendees to view and discuss how I’ve used it with great success. I will also provide a step-by-step set-up and execution video which attendees will be able to access after the conference.
The presenter for this session has been teaching business statistics online for five years and experimented with many methods to reach students where they are. Attendees should, at the conclusion of the session, have a framework for a unique way to hold online office hours and have access to examples which could be easily adapted to their needs. This session would benefit anyone who is in need of a synchronous office-hours technique for online courses, particularly those that are quantitative. It will be applicable to all audience levels.