Wimba Classroom is a live, virtual classroom environment with robust features that include audio, video, application sharing and content display, and MP4 capabilities. It allows students and instructors to interact in a "virtual" classroom in real time.
You can use the following information on the Wimba Classroom interface as a reference.
Content Frame
The Content Frame is the main focus of a presentation. Almost all content, such as images, charts, and text, will appear in the Content Frame. During the presentation, the displayed content will be controlled by the presenter.
Text Chat Area
The Text Chat Area is where you can communicate via text chat with presenters and fellow participants. There are two methods of sending a message in the chat area:
- Public Chat: Messages that can be viewed by everyone logged into the presentation.
- Private Chat: Private messages designated for a particular person in the presentation.
- Public Chat is the default. To send a private message, select the participant’s name from the drop-down menu next to Main Room.
- Instructors can pause the text chat by clicking on the Pause button just to the right of the text chat box. Click the Play button to resume the chat session.
Participant Area
The Participant Area lists all the presenters and participants currently in a presentation. By default, presenters are listed in bold at the top of the list. Participants are listed under the presenters’ names, in alphabetical order.
Next to the list of presenters and participants are additional columns:
- NetStats Indicator: A set of three bars appears to the left of each user's name, indicating their network status.
- Yes/No Indicator: A green check mark (for Yes) or red X (for No) appears next to your name when you click the Yes (check mark) or No (X) button below the participant list. These buttons are used for instant polling.
- Hand Raising: A number appears next to a user’s name when they click the Hand Raise button below the participant list. This number indicates in which order participants raised their hands.
- Status Indicator: An emoticon appears next to a user’s name when they select an item from the Set Status selection box (if enabled) below the participant list. Status indicators listed from left to right are Clear, Away, Approve, Disapprove, Surprise, Confused, Clap, Laugh, Faster, and Slower.
- Speaking Privileges: The Speaking Privilege indicator lets you know if you have the ability to speak during a presentation. If enabled, a circle with a plus (+) sign appears next to your name, beneath the audio column (depicted as a person speaking). If speaking privileges are disabled, a circle containing a minus (-) sign appears.
- Video Privilege: The Video Privilege indicator lets you know if you have the ability to broadcast video during a presentation. If enabled, a circle with a plus (+) sign appears next to your name, beneath the video column (depicted as a video camera). If video broadcasting privileges are disabled, a circle containing a minus (-) sign appears.
- Text Chat: The Text Chat indicator provides you with the ability to enable/disable chat on an individual basis.
- Promotion: The Promotion indicator lets you promote/demote participants to/from presenter-level status. This is referred to as Presenter On-The-Fly.
- Room Pulse: The Room Pulse (located beneath the participant list) provides current room data, including: the total number of people logged in (both participants and presenters), the tally of Yes/No responses and Hand Raises, and a summary of each Status Indicator. The number of individuals currently Away is displayed separately from the list of Status Indicators for quick reference. If Status Indicators are disabled, a limited Pulse consists of current attendance, Yes/No responses, and Hand Raises.
- User Management: The Actions Menu, located at the bottom of the Participant Area, allows you to manage all of your participants’ activities during a presentation.
- Each feature of the User Management menu is described below:
- Enable/Disable Chat: Lets you give or take away the ability for all participants to send public and private text messages during a presentation.
- Enable/Disable Audio: Lets you give or take away the ability for all participants to speak during a presentation.
- Enable/Disable Video: Lets you give or take away the ability for all participants to share video during a presentation.
- Clear Yes/No: Resets the Yes (check mark) and No (X) indicators that reflect participants’ responses after clicking the Yes or No button during a presentation.
- Clear Hand Raise: Resets indicators that note participants who have raised their hands by clicking the Hand Raising button during a presentation.
- Clear User Status: Resets status indicators selected by participants from the Set Status menu.
- Lock Room: Gives Presenters the ability to lock a room and prevent new participants from joining the presentation.
- Start/Stop Chat Log: Allows you to create a transcript of all chat and activities during a presentation.
- Reset Room: Restores the Wimba Classroom to its pre-presentation state.
Media Bar
The Media Bar appears above the Text Chat Area. It is home to the Wimba Media System, a multi-way audio and video means of communication during a live presentation. The Media Bar contains the following items:
- NetStats: Network statistics about your Internet connection.
- Talk button: Initiates your microphone and video broadcast.
- Volume meters: Colored bars indicating you are sending/receiving audio.
- Camera button: Raises/lowers the Video Window.
- Telephone Simulcast: Backup option if you do not have a headset or microphone.
- Options Menu: Advanced audio/video settings.
Presenter’s Console
The Presenter’s Console contains all the features you will need to lead a live presentation. It allows you to display content, start an archive, and manage breakout rooms, among other functions.
- Archive Control: The Archive Status Controls are located at the top of the Presenter’s Console. The controls consist of a Recording button that is used to start/stop an archive.
- Content Tab: The Content tab is active by default when you first enter your presentation. Most of the material you show during a live presentation is controlled from this tab.
- Web Button: The Web button lets you show a web page on-the-fly during a presentation
- eBoard: The eBoard button launches the Wimba Classroom eBoard in the Content Frame for you and all participants. This turns the Content Frame into an electronic whiteboard, on which you can draw, type text, and import graphics.
- Share Button: The Share button launches Application Sharing, which lets you show or share applications running on your desktop with all participants. You can also allow participants to share applications from their own desktop.
- Previous Button: The Previous Slide button allows you to show the previous slide listed in your slide list.
- Next Button: The Next Slide button allows you to show the next slide in your slide list.
- Import PowerPoint Button: The Import PowerPoint button allows you to add PowerPoint presentations on-the-fly during a presentation. To add a new PowerPoint file, simply click this button and browse your computer/network drive. Each new PowerPoint presentation that you add is created as a separate content folder in the drop-down list.
- Slide List: The Slide List displays content that you have prepared to show your participants during a live presentation. Content that can appear in the Slide List may include PowerPoint presentations, Wimba Classroom polls, graphic files, HTML files, websites, and PDFs. You can organize this content into Content Folders, which you can easily select using the Content Folder drop-down list.
