Conferencing Technologies for Teaching

“Organizational behavior is the systematic study and careful application of knowledge about how people – as individuals and as groups – act within organizations. It strives to identify ways in which people can’t act more effectively” (Newstrom, 2007, p.3). Effective means of communication have a direct impact on how successfully the information is conveyed to the recipient. Several techniques are available for achieving effective communication and each needs to be used appropriately. The latest trend has been in the field of conferencing – teleconferencing and video conferencing. “Teleconferencing is the live exchange of mass information between people and machines that are remotely connected through some sort of telecommunications system” (Teleconferencing: Featured article, 2009, para.2).

With the aid of teleconferencing, we can communicate with several people at the same time. Mostly it is done through telephone lines. Hence it is easy to set up and use. In the book ‘Technology, e-learning and distance education the authors A. W. Bates and Tony Bates support the need for teleconferencing by suggesting that a face to face education is anytime better than other means such as online books and tutors. Of all other technologies, teleconferencing provides a teaching style closer to reality. (Bates & Bates, 2005). This technology becomes handy for people taking up long-distance learning. It helps to provide a real-time learning experience to such people.

Video conferencing is an advanced technique involving video transmissions. To set up video conferencing in schools, it should be seen that the school has either ISDN-based network connections which make use of telephone lines or IP based system which uses an internet connection. Apart from these standards, technologies such as integrated systems, portable systems, or even desktops or laptops could be used depending on the budget of the school. (Horton, 2009).

Several essential steps need to be carried out to make a training program successful. They include stating the activity’s goals, then identifying the audience, the time required, materials necessary, physical setting, and process involved. Setting up goals leads to the motivation of the candidate. The goals should include what exactly the team intends to achieve and the benefits of the work. This instills a level of excitement and confidence that can prove to be a vital point in achieving the goal. (Davies, n.d.).

It should be made a point that the kind of training suits the audience it intends to benefit, as they are an integral part of the training program. Before the start of the program, it should be understood who needs the training, why do they need it, what they already know and what they need to know. (Your training audience, 2009). For the successful completion of the training, the manager needs to think from the audience’s perspective. Time is a major constraint in any work. Setting up a deadline and planning the program accordingly would lead the team to work in a more systematic and organized manner.

The quality of the audience plays a major role in it. Hence, after knowing the audience the deadline has to be suitably set to ensure the completion of the program on time. The materials that need to be present before the start of any training program include training media (computer, World Wide Web, multi-media), necessary resources (visual aids, articles, printed or online books, manuals), physical settings (classrooms, online-tele/video conferencing, projectors, charts), etc.

To conclude, we will see the steps involved in a training program. They are as follows:

1. Step1: Identifying the need for the training.
2. Step2: Developing the program and resources essential for the training.
3. Step3: Conducting the training program.
4. Step4: Evaluating the outcome. (Infande, 2009).

Keeping these points in mind while organizing the training program, the outcome will be a success.

Reference List

Bates, A W., & Bates, Tony. (2005). Technology, e-learning and distance education (2nd ed.). Routledge.

Davies, E. (n.d.). Setting goals and objectives. Trainer Active: Training Activities Online. Web.

Horton, J. (2009). How classroom video conferencing works. How Stuff Works. Web.

Infande, A. (2009). The four basic steps in the training process. Self Growth.com: The Online Self Improvement Encyclopedia. Web.

Newstrom, J W. (2007). Organizational Behavior: Definition (12th ed.). McGraw Hill Publishers.

Teleconferencing: Featured article. (2009). Business Knowledge Source.com: Knowledge to Help You Build Your Business. Web.

Your training audience: Think from their perspective. (2009). Intulogy. Web.