HOT Classroom: Iterations on Equipping a Here-or-There Instructional Space

The blending of technology-mediated synchronous instruction with face-to-face instruction has been explored in many contexts and with several technologies. With the advent of web conferencing, the location from which learners could join a synchronous environment has become a non-factor in participation. In a Fall 2013 graduate course, the presenter allowed students to determine whether to participate online or face-to-face on a class-to-class basis. Essentially, students chose to come “here” to a classroom, or participate from “there” by web conference – wherever worked best for them. Subsequently, the presenter began researching and experimenting with a variety of equipment with the intent to ease the burden on instructors using a HOT approach. This presentation will demonstrate selected equipment and review the iterations of equipment and revisions applied thus far for a low-cost, highly effective HOT classroom.