wimba classroom - a getting started guide for instructors

1 Distance Education Department| HU 2011 HTWC03

Wimba Classroom: A Getting Started Guide for Instructors

Wimba Classroom is an online collaboration suite that is integrated with Blackboard, which allows you to have meaningful and memorable interactions with students without meeting face-to-face. It provides both synchronous (real-time) and asynchronous (archived) Virtual Classroom capabilities. “Wimba Classroom: A Getting Started Guide” provides the information instructors need to begin using Wimba Classroom. Student Guides (“How Students Access Wimba Classroom” and “How Students Navigate Wimba Classroom”) are available through the Online Onpoint Team Site. It is recommended that you add these to your course to help familiarize your students with Wimba Classroom. Also available through that site is the comprehensive eighty-three page “Wimba Classroom Presenter Guide.” Navigation Note: Each item in the Contents is a Bookmark. To advance to that topic, simply click the item.

Contents Technology Requirements ............................................................................................................................ 2

Creating a Virtual Classroom......................................................................................................................... 2

Adding Content ............................................................................................................................................. 4

Inserting a Branding Image ........................................................................................................................... 6

Instructor and Student Interfaces ................................................................................................................. 8

Entering a Room............................................................................................................................................ 8

Advancing Preloaded Slides .......................................................................................................................... 9

Using eBoard (Whiteboard) Tools ................................................................................................................. 9

Using Desktop (Application) Sharing........................................................................................................... 10

Using WimbaMedia Audio .......................................................................................................................... 10

Using WimbaMedia (Webcam) Video ......................................................................................................... 11

Using Text Chat ........................................................................................................................................... 11

Using Yes/No, Hand Raise, and Status Indicator Buttons ........................................................................... 12

Archiving Your Presentation ....................................................................................................................... 12

For More Information ................................................................................................................................. 14


Technology Requirements Technology requirements ensure that you have the technology necessary to utilize the functionality you intend.

System Requirements: Windows 7, Vista, or XP; Mac OSX 10.4+ / 1GB / IE 7.0+, Safari 3.0+, Firefox 3.0+ (Browser must be Java and JavaScript enabled) / Internet access at 56k or above (broadband recommended ) Note: broadband is required if you intend to teach using video Hardware Requirements:

To Teach Using Audio: Required: Speakers and a microphone (to prevent feedback you may need to mute your

speakers before speaking into your microphone) Recommended: USB headset featuring integrated headphones and microphone

To Teach Using Video: Required: webcam, speakers, and microphone Recommended: webcam and a USB headset featuring integrated headphones and microphone

Wimba Classroom Wizard. Visit http://67.202.211.230/wizard/wizard.html.pl?wizardconf=wizard.conf and run the Wizard to ensure your computer is configured appropriately. If the Wizard detects a problem with your setup you will be instructed how to remedy the issue. If you will be using multiple computers to teach in Wimba Classroom it is recommended that you run the Wizard on each computer.

Creating a Virtual Classroom To create a Virtual Classroom

1. Select Wimba Classroom from the Communication section of the Tools menu

2. Follow the steps shown on the four screen captures below

http://67.202.211.230/wizard/wizard.html.pl?wizardconf=wizard.conf�


Adding Content After you have created your Room in Wimba Classroom, you can Add Content for your presentation. By completing this step now, your content is preloaded and will be available later when you return to this Room to teach a synchronous (real-time) session or to record a session for your students to view later through an Archive.

To Add Content


2. Follow the steps shown on the five screen captures below


Note: Wimba Classroom coverts your PowerPoint slides to .png or .gif files, which means that your slides will be stripped of animations and presentation features.

Inserting a Branding Image All Rooms default to showing a Wimba Logo in the Branding Frame, which appears in the bottom right hand corner for both the instructor and student. Hodges University best practice is to replace this image with either the Hodges University Logo (available for download from the Online Onpoint Team Site) or a Headshot of the instructor. All Branding Images must be sized to 135 x 145 pixels. If you have a Headshot and need assistance with resizing, contact either Distance Education or IT. To add a Branding Image to the Branding Frame while preloading content follow the steps shown in the three screen captures below.


When you enter the Room you will only need to click the Title in the Presenter’s Panel to populate the Branding Frame with the Branding Image you have selected.


Instructor and Student Interfaces Shown below is the Instructor’s Interface. The Student Interface looks similar, but does not contain the Presenter’s Console. When viewing an archive the Presenter’s Console is replaced with a Navigation Console for both instructors and students.

Entering a Room To enter a room you have already created


2. Click on the blue Enter Room icon on the row associated with the Room Title you wish to enter

Alternatively, you can also enter a room after preloading content by clicking the blue Enter Room icon on that page.


Advancing Preloaded Slides Advancing preloaded slides is done via the Presenter’s Console as illustrated below in a screen capture.

Using eBoard (Whiteboard) Tools The eBoard (Whiteboard) Tools enable you to draw attention to certain parts of a slide during your presentation (to use this feature be sure to check the “display this content in the eBoard” when uploading your slides – for a visual, see the final screen capture on page 5).

1. To use the Arrow tool, click on the tool. Click on the tool again to change the direction of the arrow. When it points in the direction you want, click on the slide to place an arrow.

2. To draw on the slide, use the Pencil tool, Line tool, or Oval tool. Click on the different colors or line sizes to change color and line width.

3. Click the “T” button to type text on the slide. Click on the slide where you want the text to go, type, then press Enter. Students will not see the text until after you press Enter.

4. Click the counter-clockwise arrow to Undo your most recent action. 5. Click Erase to erase all markings you have added to the eBoard. 6. Click Clear Slide to erase all both the slide and all markings you added to the eBoard. 7. Click Import to upload an image (gif, .jpg, or .png) to the eBoard. 8. Click Save to save the slide with any markings you have added.

To see the saved slide, change the Content Folder in the Presenter’s Console to Snapshots and click Go. All saved slides will be listed. Click on the one you want.

9. Click Enable to allow other participants to use the eBoard tools.

Note: If you wish to create material on-the-fly, you can do so by clicking the eBoard on the Presenter’s Console. If no slides are selected and you do not import an image, then your screen will default to a blank whiteboard for use as an eBoard.


Using Desktop (Application) Sharing Wimba Classroom allows you and your students to share desktops and control of the cursor.

1. To share a desktop, click Share in the Presenter’s Console. 2. Next, select the user by clicking Sharing Desktop next to the

person’s name. Only one desktop can be shared at a time. 3. To give the control of cursor, check the Cursor Control in the

row of the person’s name.

Using WimbaMedia Audio Wimba Classroom enables you to talk to your students using a microphone or headset featuring integrated headphones and microphone. It also provides the functionality for your students to speak.

1. To speak, press the Control key on your keyboard or click and hold the Talk button.

2. To lock the Talk button in the on position, click Options, then Lock Talk. When Lock Talk is on, the Control key on your keyboard and the Talk button will temporarily mute your speech. Lock Talk is recommended when you are speaking for any length of time.

3. To turn Lock Talk off, click Options, then Lock Talk. 4. By default, microphone usage is available to students.

They may use the Control key or Talk button to speak. When they do, you will see their names move to the top of the Participant List. (Students do not have access to the Lock Talk feature.)

5. If you do not want students to have access to their microphones, you can enable or disable one student at a time by clicking the Audio Toggle button next to their name in the Participant List.

6. To disable audio for all students, click the Actions Menu below the Participant List, then select Disable Audio. If audio has been disabled, you can enable it again by following the same steps (the menu choice will read Enable Audio).


Using WimbaMedia (Webcam) Video Wimba Classroom enables you to speak and share video using your webcam and microphone or webcam and integrated headset. It also provides the functionality for your students to interact via video.

1. To start the Webcam, click the Video Camera icon.

2. The Video screen includes three buttons:

Start/Stop Transmitting. Enable or disable your webcam.

Show/Hide Preview Video. Provides a live, mirror-image representation of your video image

Display Video Full Screen. Increases the size of the broadcast to

full screen. To restore the smaller size press the Esc key on your keyboard or doubleclick your screen.

Using Text Chat Wimba Classroom provides a Text Chat Area for communications shared by text with the whole class (public messaging) and for communications shared by text with one other user (private messaging).

Public Messages. To send a Public Message, which can be viewed by everyone in the Room, type your message and press the Enter key on your keyboard. Your message will appear in the Text Chat Area. You will see the words, "You say" preceding messages that you send. Messages sent by other participants are preceded by their name. Private Messages. To send a Private Message, which will only be seen by you and the recipient, change the To pull- down menu to the desired student’s name, then type your message and press the Enter key on your keyboard. You will see the words, "You tell" preceding the designated person’s name, followed by your message, surrounded by a gray background. (If you send a Private Message remember to change the To pull-down menu back to the “Main Room” option if you want to send Public Messages.

If text chat messages are scrolling too quickly for you to read them temporarily pause the chat with the Pause button to the right of the Text Chat Area. If you would like to share a web address with your students via the Public Chat, Type the entire URL (e.g. http://www.hodges.edu/) in the Text Chat Box and press Enter.


Using Yes/No, Hand Raise, and Status Indicator Buttons Located within the Participant Area are several useful tools including Yes/No, Hand Raise, and Status Indicator. These tools enable you to get quick feedback for your students on-the-fly. When any student clicks one of these buttons, you will see the resultant image beside that student’s name.

Yes/No: Students can reply to your Yes/No questions by clicking the appropriate icon. If they click that icon a second time, it will clear the field.

Hand Raising: When students want to ask a question, they should click the Hand Raise button. A number will appear next to each student’s name after they click the Hand Raise button. This number indicates in which order students raised their hands.

Status Indicator: An emoticon appears next to students names when they select an item from the Set Status selection box (if enabled). Status Indicators include: Away, Approve, Disapprove, Surprise, Confused, Clap, Laugh, Faster, and Slower.

Archiving Your Presentation You may create an Archive of your presentation to enable students to view the presentation later. When you enter the Room to teach a session, click the Circular button at the top left of the Presenter’s Console to start the Archive. Click OK when asked in a popup if you would like to Archive the presentation. A recorded voice prompt will notify you that the Archive has been started.


When you have finished your presentation, click the Circular button at the top left of the Presenter’s Console to stop the Archive. Click OK when asked in a popup if you would like to stop the Archive. A recorded voice prompt will notify you that the Archive has been stopped, is being saved, and is complete.

To make the Archive available, click the orange Access button. Click OK to the Modify Room Receipt. The archive is now available and the Access button will be green. To make close an open archive, take the same steps: click on the Access button then OK the Modify Room Receipt. In the Archives below for the Sample Room for Wimba Quick Start, students will be able to access the archive in a Wimba Classroom or may opt to download either a .mp3 (audio) or .mp4 (video) as long as the Access is set to available (green).


For More Information For more information about using Wimba Classroom, please visit the Online Onpoint Team Site.

In the Wimba Classroom folder there are numerous resources, including: For Students

“How Students Access Wimba Classroom” – created by HU Distance Education

“How Students Navigate Wimba Classroom” – created by HU Distance Education

For Instructors

“Wimba Classroom Presenter Guide” – created by Wimba

“Wimba Classroom Best Practices Teaching Guide” – created by Wimba

For additional assistance, please contact the Distance Education Department.

wimba classroom - a getting started guide for instructors

Documents

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htwc03 wimba classroom

started guide

information instructors

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student guides

student interfaces

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