yackpack

yackpack

http://www.yackpack.com/

The power of the human voice in a cheap easy to use internet based format.
According to yackpack it provides:

. Instant, effortless communication.
Private groups.
Superb sound quality .
No ads or spam

At http://www.yackpack.com/education.html you will find a complete page on Educational uses for yackpack. I first heard about it at the 2007 NISOD Conference in Austin. It seems quite a few Community Colleges are using it as a communicaton tool.

Yackpack seems to add a dimension missing from a majority of online asynchronous communications. It allows voice in a secure scenario. You can use it to discuss topics, answer questions, give assignments and presentations, and other audio uses. It can be archived for later use, it can include a group or a single individual, and you control who and when. It can even be used to collaborate with other classes. It is safe from outsiders and that is very important these days.

This is a free tool that allows you to interact with your students, administrators, parents, advisors, peers, and classes around the world.

When I say free - it is free for now. They do expect it to cost about $2 a month at some point but till then enjoy.

My yackpack address is Dr. Bill Burkett.