Barbara Maaskant Video Conferencing, Web Conferencing

Businesses aren’t the only ones taking advantage of the benefits video conferencing and web conferencing has to offer. Schools are also beginning to incorporate video conferencing and web conferencing into the academe in an attempt to foster communication between students and teachers. Barbara Maaskant, the Chief Information Officer and Senior Lecturer in Decision and Information Analysis, discussed how WebEx Services, a pioneer in the field of video conferencing and web conferencing, has changed the way school programs are conducted.

The school that Barbara Maaskant is talking about is the Roberto C. Goizueta Business School of Emory University. But it is the University Business School that is faced with the need for a video conferencing and web conferencing tool that’s going to help busy students maximize their time while continuing to provide a quality educational experience. They found their solution in video conferencing and web conferencing software by WebEx Services.

WebEx video conferencing and web conferencing services are used in conjunction with students at every level. In addition, the IT department also uses WebEx video conferencing and web conferencing services for knowledge development and management. The mini training sessions are made available through a web page and are updated or created using the WebEx Meeting Center Record and Playback feature.

The Virtual Classroom and Travel Perks

Video conferencing and web conferencing services provides Emory University with a way to maximize time for busy students and still provide quality educational experience. For Senior Associate Dean for Academic Programs and Professor of Organization and Management Joe Porac, the use of WebEx video conferencing and web conferencing tools made sense for professors and students at the Business School.

Traveling is an unavoidable aspect of the Business School and as many programs are based on team projects, students have to find a way to meet and work together between classes. Networking, research, planning, and collaboration can all be implemented using video conferencing and web conferencing. Barbara Maaskant states that “already students are saving some 20% of travel costs” with the use of video conferencing and web conferencing. Barbara Maaskant also says that the professor’s software allow students to attend review sessions online.

“The number of WebEx Meeting Center meetings has steadily increased from June through October 2001, while the number of students attending in the physical classroom has decreased,” Barbara Maaskant observes. Accordin got Barbara Maaskant, the bottom line is that video conferencing and web conferencing have become a heavily used student tool in addition to an effective way for faculty to deliver a lecture.

The WebEx Meeting Center software, according to Barbara Maaskant, is a key tool in the EMBA Degree. Barbara Maaskant further says that it is expected to be heavily used in two new programs the School is offering in Fall 2002: The Modular Executive MBA (M-EMBA) program and the PhD program.

“We could see an increase of WebEx meetings higher than 100%,” Barbara Maaskant projected.