

I am part of a Home School Organization called “ Florida
Home School Community.”
( FHSC). We service many local home school families
throughout Florida.
Decline in
enrollment.
*
Low Student
attendance
*
Lack of Educational
Technology
Web
Conferencing
History of
Innovation






PLATO: The Emergence of Online Community
PLATO was a series of educational computer terminals that
originated from the University of Illinois. In the 1960’s and
1970’s, PLATO contained many features that we take for
granted today like e-mail, message boards and online tests.
The fourth generation PLATO IV terminal featured a flat
(and bright orange) plasma screen that students could touch
to answer questions. See video of the innovation by going to
the website listed below:
http://thinkofit.com/plato/dwplato.htm
1972 – PLATO IV
Student using a PLATO IV terminal. Image from the
University of Illinois.
.

During the implementation stage, from 1973 to 1975 , web
conferencing featured Talkomatic, Personal Notes, and the first
commercial use of multi-function conferencing system.

In 1973, Doug Brown developed Talkomatic. (Implementation stage) This was essentially the
first “instant messaging” program ever designed, with multiple windows displaying typed
notes in real time for several users simultaneously. In 1974, Kim Mast developed Personal Notes,
a new feature for PLATO that enabled private mail for users.
In 1975, Control Data Corporation set up its own PLATO system in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the
first commercial use of multi-function conferencing system. Within ten years, PLATO was being
used in over one hundred sites around the world, some with dedicated lines for full-time use.

PLATO was being used
in over one hundred
sites around the world,
some with dedicated
lines for full-time use.




1960 -Web conference began at University of Illinois with the
invention of PLATO
1972 – PLATO moved from a mainframe that supported a few
users to support over a thousand users.
1973- INSTANT MESSAGING- an added feature through a
program called Talkomatic, this program offered multiple windows
display, typed notes in real time for several users.
1974 – Web conference adopted for commercial use. It became the
first multi-function Web Conference System used commercially.
Reasonable Priced
PLATO was no longer
cost-effective.
Evolution of PLATO
•In the late 1980’s, however, microcomputers were becoming more
reasonably priced and the heyday of mainframe-based systems was over.
•
The end of PLATO as a main frame device
•PLATO and greatly expanded on their capabilities when designing one of
today’s most powerful web conferencing tools -- Lotus Notes, released in
1989
Place Ware
Origins at Xerox Palo Alto Research Center.
It was one of the first to offer full web
conferencing features , which later was
bought out by Microsoft in 2003
Unlimited application
Increased accessibility
Reduced rates
Shared files
One to One conferencing
Groupware
Defined by lotus Notes and more
complex than the centralized
software of PLATO-based system.
It offered document sharing and
scheduling capacities



A New Era -Year 2000 On
Year 2000 saw Groove create technology that eliminated the need for
user fees and offsite server storage. In 2003, WiredRed Software
featured e/pop, a ‘real-time Web Conferencing suite with comprehensive
features for all aspects of the industry – “it was the first installable web
conferencing software with no significant install time.” The Napster era
also developed document sharing abilities which featured advantages of
P2P networks.
Today’s web conferencing standards include voice over IP, (VoIP), with
quality digital audio sound it's claim to fame. Inexpensive online
communication is re-defining the way business is done, as digital audio
solution expand the scope of communication options. Top web
conferencing providers of VoIP include Voxwire, VoiceCafe, and
HotConference.

Finally, in 2003 the incompatibility issues was resolved and
the web conferencing became a desirable innovations.


Web conferences met with many other competitors that offer clear voice quality
and better dial up capabilities. However, Web conferencing was able to
overcome the problems and produce “Wave Three” which offered the
public a high quality web conferencing.
The birth of web conferencing has launched business into a new age of communication productivity.
What was the attributes of diffusion?




The early adopters
The scientist at the University of Illinois, with the innovation
called PLUTO.
The invention of the internet which gave web conferencing attribute
of Relative Advantage and Compatibility ,
The strategy of continue modifications to the device the
moved this single mainframe exploratory to a multi fame
system that accommodated thousands of users.
MAKING IT WORK
RESEARCH AND IMPLEMENTATION I researched several websites and organizations that worked with Web
Conferencing ( Elluminate Live) in their distance learning programs:
* Kimberly Cause, NBCT, M . Ed . , sponsored a Global Symposium called “ Web Conferencing to Enrich
Learning and Connect Globally” (2011).
* Lee County Private ( Home School) Inc., Kathleen Sprakfka ( Superintendent of Schools)
Elluminate Live! Academic Edition . http://www.futureu.com/technology/elluminate.html
HOME SCHOOL VIRTUAL CLASSROOM

Furthermore, you will be thrilled to know that with web
conference software educators and students around the world
would be connected synchronously and asynchronously.

I learned that web conferences and webinars will connect
educators and students around the world synchronously and
asynchronously.
live discussion and dynamic interaction to your asynchronous distance learning
solution in the fastest, least expensive way possible.

Attract and retain qualified instructors leverage limited
teaching resources

Increase enrollment, reaching students across town or
around the world
students can:

 Meet virtually for
◦ regularly scheduled classes
◦ group projects
◦ ad hoc sessions

We need to make the decision to implement this virtual
classroom through Elluminate Live into our Florida Home
School Program…
Second Year
20 %
enrollment
Increase
FIRST YEAR
10 % INCREASE
IN ENROLLMENT
Third Year
30 % Increase in
Student
Enrollment
First
• Innovator was Mrs. McKoy ( myself)
• Initially investigated the software as a online adoption.
Next
• Early adopter was Mrs. Daymon , the home school technician
• She demonstrated the uses of Web Conferencing .
Adoption
• Home school community began to implement classes online .



We had some home school community members who could
not accept the privacy aspect of virtual school.
strategies to overcome Laggards resistance
We installed privacy software that would only allow
community learners access.





Networking-To meet critical mass we need to network with other
Home School Organizations ( Roger, 2003, p. 361) ( Triabillity).
Training/Ongoing Training - Web Conferencing Companies
sponsored ongoing training programs for families and staff
( compatibility).
Compare assessment results - with nation-wide home school
online communities ( Observability).
Attributes for achieving critical mass would be to network with
Home School Organizations, Ongoing Training, and compare and
Assess results against other Nation Wide Home School Educational
programs.

Web Conferencing online home school will be piloted in our
Florida Home School Community ( FHSC) to ascertain any
adjustments before expanding globally.

The Change Agent will be the Manager/director of
curriculum development . He will work with a team of
Educational Technicians to continue to explore , develop, and
improve the Distance Learning program.

Manager of FHSC
Ed Technicians

To reach critical mass we will form Satellite Home school
networks in other states and eventually globally.








Future U (2011). http://www.futureu.com/technology/elluminate.html
Web Conferencing Images
(2011).http://www.google.com/search?q=web+conferencing&hl=en&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IESearchBox&rlz=1I7ACAW_enUS322US322&prmd=ivnsfdl&source=lnms&tbm=isch&ei=TSvQTc2VI
MKctwe6z9CIDg&sa=X&oi=mode_link&ct=mode&cd=2&ved=0CE8Q_AUoAQ&biw=1259&bih=6
06
Elluminate Live! :: Elluminate
Elluminate Bridges provide single-click access to the Elluminate Live! virtual classroom from within your
existing and familiar LMS or CMS environment. ...
www.elluminate.com/.../Elluminate.../Elluminate_Live!/?id=79 - Cached - Similar
►
eLearning & Collaboration Solutions :: Elluminate
"As a tool for professional development, Elluminate Live! has become a real strength for the division. I've
been keeping track of mileage saved. ...
Elluminate Live! - Support - Free Trials - Buy NOW.
www.elluminate.com/ - Cached – Similar


Rogers, E. M. (2003). Diffusion of innovations (5th ed.).
New York, NY: Free Press
WebConferencingZone (2011). History of Web
Conferencinghttp://www.web-conferencingzone.com/history-of-web-conferencing.htm