VIRTUAL

CLASSROOM

Complete programs of e-learning.

Integrated Learning environment over internet

OUTLINE

Definition. Features. Limitations. Concerns. Example. How does it support distance

education??

PRIMARY CONTRIBUTOR TO ONLINE STUDENT SATISFACTION

Contact and interaction with the instructor was the primary contributor to student satisfaction

VIRTUAL CLASSROOM MODEL“IT’S ALL ABOUT COMMUNICATION”

Technology serves to facilitate teacher/student and student/student interaction at a distance.

Enriched interactive communication through integrated voice, video, and data.

The Web plays a supporting role.

DEFINITION: Virtual classrooms are complete programs of

learning .They consist of a mixture of synchronous and asynchronous events.

They are special application of computer and network technologies to the task of education.

WHAT IS A VIRTUAL CLASSROOM ?

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Virtual = something whose existence is simulated with software.

A teaching and learning environment located within a computer-mediated communication system.

All activities and interactions take place through the computer instead of face-to-face.

Virtual classrooms may involve three overlapping scopes of interaction technologies: VC courses, meetings and presentations.

Among the synchronous events are online meetings, which may include online presentations.

VirtualClassroomCourse

OnlineMeeting

OnlinePresentation

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• Usually refer to the fact that the students are at a distance, but the greatest benefits is to

be able to use teachers at a distance.

EDUCATION AT A DISTANCE

:FEATURES Virtual classrooms provide the community and

control some learners need. Classroom learning is familiar and proven. Flexible time: students may participate at

any time of the day..(Learning is flexible).

Economical

Efficient learning

Location: students are not limited to courses offered in their geographic locality.( Overcome distances)

More active learning: the computer forces response and attention.

LIMITATIONS:

Limited offerings: the choice of courses is limited at present.

Equipment requirements: students who do not have a computer will have to travel to use the necessary equipment.

Delayed feedback: it may be hours until a question is answered by the teacher.

COULD YOU THINK IN OTHER LIMITATIONS??

CONCERNS: Select a qualified instructor. Provide complete instruction. Simplify tasks for learners. Manage teams and deal with problem

learners. Enable interpersonal communication. Pick tools to suit learners:

Language fluency. Accents. Typing skills. Technical expertise.

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When Creating a virtual classroom :

Who will use it and how they will use it?

Wholly online or a supplement?

Available for all the Internet users or only to those enrolled in the course?

What is necessary in use of a virtual classroom?

Well-designed web pages.

Necessary equipment.

Consider the speed of learners’ network connections.

Layer learning activities:

Office hours

One-to-one synchronous

•Meetings

•presentations

Group synchronous

•Discussions

•Team projects

Group asynchronous

•Readings

•Research

•Labs

•Papers

Individual asynchronous

WIMBA COLLABORATION SUITE

- Wimba is a company focused solely on education and dedicated to the principle that people learn more when they are drawn closer together

- Wimba offers a rich array of collaborative tools that support interactivity at a distance.

- The suite contains: Wimba Classroom Wimba Create Wimba Pronto Wimba Voice

WIMBA CLASSROOMBRING CLASS TO LIFE

Reduce Senses of Isolation and Create Community Offer Anytime Access Ensure Comprehension Appeal to Different Learning Styles

Integrate with other Educational Technologies

WIMBA CLASSROOMBRING CLASS TO LIFE

eBoard

Tools

Chat board

Participants

Content display

area Additional

Tools

Presentation

Slides

Audio tools

WIMBA CLASSROOM FEATURES

Wimba live virtual classroom supports: Multi-way audio and video

AUDIO TOOLS

Talk Key: Allows you to communicate using a headset and microphone

Simulcast: Use your telephone to communicate (Listen & Speak)

Netstats: A faculty visual indicator of participant internet connection strength.

Audio functions

Wimba Classroom Server

Phone Only

Browser + Wimba Media

Browser + Phone

• Join via cell phone, or landline• Speak, listen and collaborate together without being tied to a

computer

Phone SimulcastPhone Simulcast

WIMBA CLASSROOM FEATURES

Application SharingApplication Sharing allows you to share all or part of your desktop with

participants.

APPLICATION SHARING

Web Page Display: Displaying a web page within Wimba Classroom

WIMBA CLASSROOM FEATURES Slide Annotation

Integrate wimba classroom into your CMS as Blackboard, Angle, Moodle.

other collaborative features:

* Follow-The-Speaker Video* Public and Private Chat* Emoticons* Break-Out Rooms* Full-Featured Archives* Content Upload and Storage* Electronic Whiteboard* Polls, Quizzes & Surveys* Accessible to the Impaired

WIMBA CREATE COURSE GENIE

With Course Genie, anyone who can use Microsoft Word can easily create, edit, and maintain robust online courses.

WIMBA PRONTO

Communicate with studentsand teachers instantly;

courses,organizations, and classmatesautomatically appear.Instructors can provide students support during Office hours

WIMBA VOICEStudents and instructors can have live discussions any

time, any where using Wimba voice software

Time of interactionSynchronous

Asynchronous

Type of interaction

Student-student

Student-teacher

Student-content

Student-machine

Learning styleGroup-based

Self-based learning

Flexibility

Anytime

Anyplace

Ease of access/use

Speed

Development

Feedback

Delivery

InstructionStand-alone medium

Multimedia support

Cost