I found Wimba interesting. I have been a student in classes that used Wimba but found during the class demonstration that it can be used in many new and innovative ways. 21st century students are growing up in a world where they are as comfortable texting and facebook posting as they are with face to face communication. Many students start college later in life, stay in school longer and juggle work and school commitments. The tools are available to allow instructors to be more creative in the way they engage an increasingly diverse student population.
Having been exposed to Wimba classroom as a student, I found myself interested in how Wimba can be used to increase student engagement with teachers and other students. I wondered what practical or creative uses instructors found to remove geographic barriers to learning and enrich traditional classroom experiences.
Wimba can be used to archive lectures. While especially appropriate for an auditory learning style, archived lectures benefit all learners. Students like to be able to review lectures and “rewind their instructors.” Lectures can be archived MP4 files that students can access on computers, ipods or MP players.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_3JYflilHI
During the demonstration Professor Engle mentioned using the doorbell feature for office hours which led me to consider if there are other ways to bring services to students via Wimba.
Some schools are using Wimba Pronto to offer school services. The Pronto application has been very successful for community colleges. Pronto gives immediate access to school services for commuting students. Providing easy access to services can be challenging for schools when the student body does not reside on campus.
Pronto is instant messaging that integrates with Wimba classroom. Students can check who is online and discuss class materials anytime, anywhere, and share applications with one another. Computer help, library services, tutoring, financial aid and advising can be set up and manned by university employees. Schools can provide students access to these services during hours that services are available on campus. Surveys have shown that most students that live on campus still prefer to use Wimba Pronto when given the choice.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Z39qYKDQAk&feature=related
As technology has increased, the needs and demands of students have changed. Technology has changed the role of students, educators and administrators in higher education.
