Resources
Wimba User Guides
Resources for Synchronous e-Teaching
Practice: Large Enrollment Courses - Managing Effectively - Murray Turoff, New Jersey Institute of Technology
Six key principles that enable large upper division and graduate courses to be delivered successfully using online discussions.
Managing--and Motivating!--Distance Learning Group Activities - Barbara Millis, Helpful and straightforward tips for having online group activities.
- pedagogically sound practices
- RCE website
- distance education class schedule
Synchronous Teaching Tools & Practices
What is Synchronous Online Teaching?
Synchronous online teaching is live, real-time facilitated instruction, that takes place through electronic means and is usually conducted in a software designed to simulate a classroom setting. It is different from other synchronous online events such as conferences and demonstrations in that it is learning centered.
Wimba Live Classroom
Wimba Live Classroom is the main tool supported by CSU Chico. This software is generally used by faculty who are teaching from an origination room on campus to students at a distance. It is common for these instructors to not only have a distance audience, but also some face-to-face students. During class students are able to hear the instructor lecture, view notes and other visuals and see the instructor as they teach. An in-class assistant is assigned to every class to help online students and ensure that instructor needs are being met. Additionally, every class session is archived and available for students to view on an as needed basis.
Product Description
Wimba Live Classroom gives instructors the ability to teach and meet with students live online. These live virtual classrooms support audio, video, application sharing, and content display, enabling instructors to add vitally important elements of interaction that otherwise cannot be done in a text-based course.
This synchronous teaching software also enables instructors to hold classes, virtual office hours, guest lectures, webcasts, and meetings. Other important aspects of this software include: voice, video, application sharing, polling, and whiteboarding. Faculty and students can talk to each other and feel as if they're part of a single community.
Wimba Live Classroom Information
Wimba Live Classroom Demonstrations
Wimba Voice Direct
Wimba Voice Direct, a live voice and chat application, enables instructors and students to have two-way audio communication over the Internet. This software lets participants conduct a live conversation from anywhere there is Internet access, anytime of the day or night, regardless of time zones and long-distance calls. Voice Direct is an online conference center that can act as a classroom, practice arena, tutoring center, or office. This software can be added to WebCT/Vista with only one click.
Accessibility Considerations
Wimba Live Classroom software has been designed to accommodate users with disabilities. Closed captioning and screen readers are the two methods by which accommodations can be made.
To accommodate those with visual impairment, Live Classroom requires the user of a browser and a screen reader. The recommended combinations are:
- Internet Explorer 6.2 and Jaws 7.X
- Internet Explorer 7.0 and Jaws 8.0
Shortcut keys and text-based commands are used to utilize the software features. Content used in Live Classroom is made accessible via content descriptions that provide textual details of the material displayed during a class and may be formatted with accessible HTML. Screen magnification products are also compatible with Live Classroom within most browsers.
To accommodate those with hearing impairment, Live Classroom can be enabled with closed captioning. This captioning appears in the Text Chat Output Area during a live presentation and is entered by a trained captioner who is logged into the live session. Students may also utilize a phone to receive audio and utilize a TDD service to communicate.
For more information about arranging this accomodation, contact Disablity Support Services.
Faculty can create accessible instructional material with guidance from TLP. See our accessible instructional materials resources.