Virtual+Classroom+Activity

=Virtual Classroom Activity (Wimba)=

=Summary:=

For this assignment, we were charged with the task of creating a virtual classroom assignment using the Wimba collaboration tool found in Blackboard. In order to complete the project, we had to create a Wimba virtual classroom and archive a brief lesson or assignment using the newly created classroom. This recorded archive is designed to assist students with a portion of the course material that appears in our lesson plan(s). After completing the archive, we had to "open" it so that it could be viewed by students enrolled in the course. The primary objective of this project is to introduce students to a collaboration tool that can be used to keep their learners engaged throughout the course. =Process:= The first part of this process involved logging into my blackboard site and creating a new Wimba virutal classroom. In order to complete this assignment, I had to come up with a topic or piece of the course material that I wanted to cover. For this, I decided that I would use the content from week 5 of my lesson plan. This week covers IIS versions 6 and 7 and has a great amount of detail and information. Since we had to use something other than the eBoard, I decided that I would import the PDFs that I uploaded to my blackboard site and use these as the basis of my information. I also shared my desktop and browsed to Microsoft's IIS information site.

You can view the archive here:

media type="file" key="_wilmu_s__311204_1_436282_2010_0627_1530_19.m4v" =Reflection:= I found this particular assignment to be very interesting. As a technical trainer, I spend quite a bit of time working with web conferencing applications and am very familiar with their functionality. With that said, however, I have to admit that I never really thought about the educational impact of using this type of software. As I worked to complete this project, I was pleasantly suprised how simple it was to record and archive the Wimba session and just how easy it was to pull in other resources and course materials for the recorded session.

Before starting the assignment, I thought it would be somewhat difficult to move from one type of resource to another but was pleased to see how seamlessly I was able to move from one media type to another. I ended up using two PDFs and a website during my presentation and had no issue moving from the eBoard to the site and then to the PDFs. I also liked the fact that the media types retain their functionality. That is, the site and PDF navigation functions were still operational for students attending my virtual session.