Replacing Face-To-Face Classes by Synchronous Online Technologies: The HOU Experience

Since 2009, HOU has been providing live virtual classes for various distance learningprograms.This paper will provide an opportunity to look at the issues involved in the use of thesemultimedia-enabled delivery approaches, the technology behind them, the logistics involved,and to provide an HOU perspective of the experiences encountered.The goal of research was to provide a systematic methods to implement the highlyinteractive live session. The additional goals was to design the portable hardware and easy touse software toolset as well as easy to follow guidelines on how to propel the lectures fromthe conventional dull chalk and talk and to minimise the number of staff required to give thelectures.Through a combination of surveys and feedback from lecturers and students, we are ableto better understand the obstacles and to continuously improve on the effectiveness of theseinteractive delivery approaches.