Adding a Conference Call Audio Clip to the Online Classroom


CSI Staff
Staff Writer
Center for Support of Instruction
Published: 0 2003

Category: » Webtycho » Multimedia

Teaching and learning online significantly limits most of the synchronous communications in the classroom, forcing faculty to look for the ways to enhance and complement their online classrooms. A conference call used as an interview with a field expert, or holding a class discussion can greatly enhance the students online learning experience.

UMUC has recently increased its capacity to support course related conference calls. However, because of the limitations associated with conference calling such as time differences, international charges, etc., participation in a conference call should not be a requirement of the course.

If you are interested in scheduling a conference call for your class, please send your request to your departmental administrative assistant. While requesting a conference call is easy, before you book a conference call, please remember the following:

All conference calls can now be recorded. You must notify your students if you plan to record them.
  1. Only the faculty member can request a conference call. Students are not authorized to set up a conference call on their own.
  2. Faculty participation is required.
  3. Conference call requests should be placed with the departmental administrative assistant at least one week in advance. You will need to provide the following information.
    • Course/Section
    • Date
    • Time
    • Number of Participants
    • If you want the call recorded

You will receive a notification from your administrative assistant with all necessary instructions included. To access the conference, please use the following phone numbers:

  • If you are dialing from a local number, call 301-985-7663 (if you are dialing from within the SFSC Building in Adelphi, MD call X7663).
  • If you are not dialing locally, use the toll free number 1-800-888-0388 (for USA and Canada).

If your conference call was recorded, please ask the departmental administrative assistant to forward the audio clip to your Instructional Support Specialist. Because these files can be rather large, the DE Coordinator will need to compress the audio clip and publish the clip to your individual UMUC Polaris account. If you do not have a UMUC Polaris account take a look at the instructions for creating a Polaris account. 

During the conference call speak clearly and stay close to the phone, especially if the conversation is being recorded. Our experience indicates that the use of a speakerphone, while walking around the room, may result in poor recording quality.

It is also a good idea to post a summary of the conference call into the classroom and ask students for feedback.
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