Η διαδικτυακή ζωντανή μετάδοση ως υποστηρικτικό εργαλείο της εξ αποστάσεως εκπαίδευσης. Η περίπτωση της 51ης Διεθνούς Συνόδου για Νέους Μετέχοντες της Διεθνούς Ολυμπιακής Ακαδημίας

Abstract

This research paper explores the possibility of the live webcast use as a supportive and communicative tool for distance learning. Considering as a basic parameter the application of the live webcast on educational events, such as university lectures, conferences, sessions, seminars etc, the characteristics of the live webcast and the requirements that have to be met for a successful educational process are primarily studied, through bibliography. Then, ways of improvement aiming at the increase of communication, active participation and interaction, have been looked into. A live webcast of an educative session has been presented as a case study, namely that of the 51st International Session of the International Olympic Academy for Young Participants, and qualitative research has been conducted through interviews with people that had either organized the live webcast of the session or had participated in it online. More specifically, the focus of the research lay on which needs can be satisfied with the use of the live webcast, its advantages and disadvantages and whether or not communication, interaction and the active participation of the distant participants can be achieved; suggestions for improvement of the procedure have also been made. The research has shown that the live webcast of an educational event, provided that it is properly planned and includes the appropriate interactive tools, can be effective as a communication tool for the distance learning and supportive for those participating online.