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Setting Up a Wimba Virtual Classroom
In this tutorial we will run through the steps in setting up a Wimba Virtual Classroom. It is best that an instance of a virtual classroom be set up in its place in the content hirachy of the course. The "Course Material" area of your course is a good place to set up a room
Decide where you want to setup a room
Having chosen the course materials section please ensure the following:
1. Ensure the Edit Mode is ON
2. Drop down the Add Interactive Tool Menu using the >>
3. Select the Wimba Classroom
Room Information and Media Settings
When Creating a Room please check the following:
1. Title: Give the room a descriptive Title. Remember one room can be used multiple times. It could be only one room for the entire course.
2. Description: Explain what the room will be used for. A good idea is to add some tips on its use ... e.g. obtaining a headset to prevent audio looping. Also some tips on community agreed principles of "netiquette" (etiquette on the net)
3. Type: Decide who gets presentation tools by default. The default is instructors only and OK for most rooms. Remember that students can be given instructor privileges during a session and also removed if needed.
4. Media Settings: All boxes are checked by default ... only change if required. Video bandwidth has been limited but should be enough for room use. It is recommended that video is used only when necessary e.g. establishing social presence at the start of a session then turned off. Talking heads dont add to the learning when the bandwidth can be used for other reasons e.g. application sharing. If there are demonstations e.g. lab work then that is different and video may be needed. Again good learning design means planning and creating multimedia before the event and using the latest compression to create online video Playing multimedia is a much better way to use video in many cases.
Room Features, Chat and Access Settings
When Creating a Room please check the following (continued):
5. Room Features: Default settings are shown and usually suffice for most rooms. Please note that when you decide to grant presentation privileges to both staff and students there are further choices you can make re archiving, app sharing and powerpoint importing
6. Chat Settings: Defaults are shown however as an instructor you may wish to disable private text chat among students.
7. Access Settings: Maximum users is unlimited by default but you may choose to limit it. Also please note the Guest Access setting. Guests are not permitted as the default but you can choose to enable it which is particularly useful for guest presenters at times.
Portable Media Settings and Submit
When Creating a Room please check the following (continued):
8. Portable Media Settings: Please note the either/or options.You choose between appshare slide and eboard or video camera. Also the default quality choice is Standard but higher quality is available Please note High quality is NOT iPod compatible
9. Submit: When satisfied with all the settings please press Submit
Adding a link to the Wimba Classroom in your course
To add a link to the relevant area of the course where students and instructors can enter the room for a session. Please click the Select Room button and highlight the room you want. You may have more than one room used throughout the time of the course. Once highlighted please press the Submit button
Configuring the link details for the Wimba classroom
When you click on the Wimba Classroom link another window appears and you have the opportunity to configure the characterisitcs of the link.
Please ensure you:
1. Link Name: Give a contextual name to the link
2. Name Colour: Click here to call up a colour picker window
3. Colour Picker: Choose the colour of the link
4. Options: The defaults are usually adequate
Wimba Classroom link in the Course Content area
When you click on the Wimba Classroom link a new entry page configuration window appears
Wimba Classroom Entry Page
There are a number of settings as an instructor you can configure:
1. Add to the Calendar: This will put the Classroom Session into the Course Calendar - helpful if you are using this tool
2. Add to the Announcements: This will put this session up in the announcemnts section of the course
3. Add & Manage Content: Here you can move contetn from Blackboard into the room or add new content directly into the room.
4. Room Settings: This will take you to the room settings area if you want to make changes to the room
5. Advanced: Makes available advanced setting options to view poll results and track visits to the room etc. There are also advanced settings for media and the room
6. Phone Access: Students will need to be reminded that if they expereince any problems in real time on entering or hearing and/or speaking in the online room they can connect with their telephone. Please note the need for using Pin Numbers to connect by telephone
7. Run Wizard: It is imperative that all people wanting to use this room run the Wimba Classroom Setup Wizard as soon as possible.... well before the first live event. See the instructions below
8. Wimba Classroom Help: This button is a link to to the Wimba resources page on their website - see below. This resource page has lots of helpful training to make the live events better learning expereinces.
9. Enter Room: This will open the Wimba Classroom. Please ensure you have run the wizard before entry. Also see below for possible digital signature approval
10. Close Room: Instructors can manually open and close rooms. This is helpful when wanting access to the room only at the time of the event.
WImba Classroom Setup Wizard
This is the wizard setup window.
1. Start: Click Start to start the wizard. It will then proceed to run checks
2. Checking Procedures: It will check the functions listed and give you warning messages if a problem. Please pay particular attention to the audio checks for playback and recording. Make sure you let the wizard finish all steps ... be patient.
Wimba Classroom Help Resources
On this help support web page there is:
1. Some comprehensive documenation
2. Short mostly video based tutorials for room functions and tools.
Entering Wimba Classroom
As the room opens it shows you this window.
1. A reminder that you have run the wizard. If you havent please click this button to do so.
2. If you have succesfully run the Wizard then you can enter the room using this link
If Digital signature requires signature
As the room opens it may require you to click Allow to allow the applet to load.
Wimba Classroom Interface
This is what an open room looks like and there are other tutorial resources linked on the MyUni website to help you run the classroom and utilize some of the room's features for learning and interaction.