Wimba Collaboration tools allows faculty to retain the highly personal and lively nature of traditional classroom instruction within existing online courses. Find out how instructors across the state are using Wimba. Read about how faculty incorporate the variety of Wimba Collaboration tools to interact with their students.

Pamela Noreen Scheerz, NDSCS- Engineering Drawing Pam teaches an online course on architectural drafting which requires students to articulate what they have learned to provide “hands-on” learning of architectural or civil drafting. Pam uses Wimba to demonstrate the step by step process of developing roof lines. She uploads the drawing plate and adds lines to complete the drawing or has students draw the lines so she can observe if they are doing it correctly. Pam states: “This helps us to see what step was missed in the process and then correct the drawing plate before the drawing plate is mailed for correction by me. I will also upload photographs, or single slides to enhance the learning if needed. In short, 'we build the drawing together'.“ Further, using Wimba Classroom provides one-on-one tutoring for students when they are stumped with a drafting procedure. The result is that the final drafting projects submitted to the instructor by e-mail are done accurately, which also is reflected in the student’s grades.

Aimee Erdman, Dakota College–Bottineau – Job Search Course Aimee teaches a Job Search class which assists students with all the fundamentals of finding a job including interview skills. She sets up a mock interview session for students as a practice session. Information is sent to the students on how to set up Wimba Classroom. Then a specific date and time for the Wimba Classroom session is set, just like a job interview appointment. Aimee said as she is teaching the course online, and the biggest hurdle was to overcome the job interview. The class also puts together an employment portfolio they can then share online via Wimba Classroom.

Kathy Obritsch/DonEhli, Dickinson State University – Fundamentals of Public Speaking   DSU uses Wimba as a presentation tool for students to give speeches in COMM 110, Fundamentals of Public Speaking. This is the third semester that the instructor, Don Ehli, has used Wimba for this purpose. He has established three evenings at different times throughout the week to allow students to sign up to give their speech based on a time zone that works for the instructor and the student. To date, approximately 40 students from 10 states have opted to enroll in this course. Students give their speeches as the instructor and other students watch them in “real time.” Students quickly utilize the “Text Chat Area” to give encouragement, feedback, and assistance regarding technical issues, etc. The “Participant Area” allows the instructor an in-depth view of how the technology is functioning. It also gives the instructor the ability to control student interaction. Now the true test of technology enters the picture. An Equine student asks to submit a videotape of her demonstration speech where she plans to groom her horse in the barn. Since there is no Internet connection in the barn the instructor and student consult with Anthony Willer, Instructional Technology/Online Coordinator and Kathleen Obritsch, Distance Video Coordinator at DSU to devise a plan for the unique presentation. The plan has the student record her presentation in the barn using a camcorder. The camcorder presentation is then transferred to a DVD. This allows the DVD to then be played within the Wimba Classroom for all to observe and be archived. The presentation of the student grooming her horse in the barn is a huge success. Vivid detail, crystal-clear audio resounds throughout the room. Wow, what will be next?

James Boe, Valley City State University – Technology Education Teaching technology education, Jim has always been an innovator. So it was no surprise when provided with an array of technology from the Wimba Collaboration Suite – he would decide to incorporate a variety of them within his classes - Wimba Classroom, Voice-E-mail, Voice Podcaster, Voice Recorder and Pronto. Jim uses Wimba Classroom for observing student teachers at a distance. VCSU is able to observe the teacher at the front of the room but not student interaction. For a better view of the student, the webcam can be set to full screen. Wimba Voice Podcaster has been used as a combination with face to face and online classes. Voice Boards are used to have students review a current event article and respond in place of the Discussion Board in Blackboard. Voice E-mail and Voice Recorder are also useful tools in the Voice Tool suite. Wimba Pronto allows students to ask their instructor questions while working on a project. An example of its use is with demonstrating software. If the student needs further assistance after using Pronto, the instructor can then meet with the student through Wimba Classroom to demonstrate the software. For the rare occasion that Jim may need to be absent from his face to face class, Pronto and Wimba Classroom can serve as the connection rather than seeking a substitute teacher. To find out more, view this Wimba Archive presentation. Click here.

Want to share your story on how you use Wimba Classroom, Wimba Voice or Wimba pronto ? E-mail Cheryl Thompson at cheryl.thompson@ndus.edu