The Cost of Conferencing
Web Conferencing Tools
Web Application
Maximum Participants
Features
Cost
ACROBAT
www.acrobat.com
adobe connectNow
3
unique meeting room
uRl, screen sharing, Voip
and camera, chat pod,
screen sharing, whiteboard,
integrated audio choices,
remote control
Free
Add-ons
File sharing and storage,
convert up to 5 files to pDF,
adobe Buzzword, online
word processor
Adobe Exchange
No
ADOBE ACROBAT CONNECT PRO
www.adobe.com/products/acrobatconnectpro
adobe acrobat connect pro
1,500
unique meeting room uRl, screen sharing, Voip and camera,
chat pod, screen sharing, whiteboard, integrated audio choices,
remote control, real-time polling, recordings, editable recordings,
security, reporting, archiving, customization, break-out rooms,
event management, content library, content sharing, content
creation, track training and progress
initial set-up $450, plus $699 annual subscription fee for
5 named organizers (organizers can create/host unlimited
meetings with up to 100 participants)
adobe presenter, a tool for creating on-demand Flash-based streaming presentations and quizzes using microsoft
powerpoint, is sold as a package with acrobat pro extended
version 9 for roughly $150/each (less under the school’s clp
agreement); hosted access license ($150/each), which allows
authors to publish presentations directly to their acrobat
connect professional accounts
adobe exchange allows meeting room content to be shared
of the Adobe Education Leadership
program and have formed useful and
meaningful relationships with educators from around the globe who share
the latest technologies, showcase the
work of students, and improve the
global educational system.
Here are a few examples of how
you can use Web conferencing at
your school:
Foreign exchanges. Students in a
Spanish class in the United States
can connect with students in Latin
America using Web conference tools,
VoIP, and video. These classroom sessions can happen on a regular basis
between schools thousands of miles
apart.
Human resources. District officials can
interview job candidates in the applicant’s home state or country through
a Web conference. The meeting can be
archived for later viewing by school
boards or district staff.
Networking. Education experts in
specific fields can communicate and
collaborate, forming larger communities so they can solve problems from a
larger collective consciousness.
Home-bound students. Teachers can
assign work to students who are unable to attend class because of illness
or injury. They can even take assessments online before they are able to
return to school.
Reaching out. Education association
boards can conduct meetings from
their homes or offices. The associations can offer quarterly or regular
meetings to their members via the
Internet and provide online training
opportunities through webinars.
The world is not getting smaller, but the ability to connect with others
around the world is expanding as the Internet and Web conferencing
tools grow more robust and accessible.
District staff development. School districts can offer online training, such as
ISTE webinars, to employees on site.
The sessions can be recorded for staff
who want more time to practice what
they were taught.
The world is not getting smaller,
but the ability to connect with others
around the world is expanding as the
Internet and Web-conferencing tools
grow more robust and accessible.
Resources
Adobe Acrobat Connect Professional Free Trial:
www.adobe.com/products/acrobatconnectpro/
?promoid=BPDEA
Adobe Education Leadership Program: www.
adobe.com/education/community/k12/leaders/
profiles/
ISTE Webinars: www.iste.org/webinars
Dave Forrester is a school coun-
selor at Olympia High School in
Olympia, Washington. He serves
as technology chairman for the
Washington School Counselor
Association and is an Adobe
Education Leader. He writes
articles, presents workshops, and trains school coun-
selors on the use of technology.
