Well, I have had several posts recently about how the new web conferencing tools can be put to use to allow families at a distance to co-op together. I have been playing around with actually doing it now for about a week. I have been using Vyew (currently free) and Elluminate ($50/month for a ten seat classroom).

Though I had listed several ideas about what co-op classes I would be working on first, it has turned out that math is the subject in need so I am focusing my energies there first. I have pretty well gotten my bearings on how to do elementary school level math delivery thanks to Aligirl's willingness to let her family be my guinea pigs. LOL.

As for where I am going with the idea currently, I want to get the elementary math meeting co-op material finished and fully tested in application with real students. Then I hope to teach others that might be interested in doing the co-op idea how to use the material and web conferencing to lead their own co-op classes. If we have several of these subject/topic co-ops going then it all becomes a larger co-op where we can pool resources and teaching expertises. I would love it if another mom who is fluent in a foreign language would put together a terrific web conference co-op to teach my high schoolers a language - not my gift at all! In turn, I perhaps could be teaching a subject to her kids that she would rather not be teaching - math, science, art for example.

We can also use the web conferencing service to bring in homeschool or subject area experts to give us an online seminar. That would be so neat. Many of them already use PowerPoint slides in their presentations. Their slides can be quickly uploaded to the online conference and they can present their topics without the need of travel and boarding accomodations. They can present from home in their jammies and slippers if they want to. LOL.

I find this all very exciting in the possibilities that it could have. Even if no one else gets excited about teaching these co-ops too, I am still going to pursue it personally. I have so loved teaching the face-to-face co-ops here locally for the last 5 years. This just seems to be a natural addition or next step. What fun I am having. :0)

I hope to post an 'open house' event soon where moms that are curious about having their children simply enrolled in a co-op class or moms that want to really jump in and teach can come and see everything in action - live and online. Keep an eye open for it.