Forums

Professional Development across Hawaii schools

2008-11-12T15:25:50-05:00

Located in beautiful Honolulu, Mid-Pacific Institute provides a private, independent coeducational college preparatory education to Pre-K through 12th -grade students, giving them the academic challenge and individual attention needed to reach beyond themselves and grow. To ensure its students learn from technologically savvy teachers, Mid-Pacific Institute faculty take professional development courses to learn how to utilize Wimba and other education technologies that address the needs of Hawaii’s 21st century online learners.

How do you use Wimba for professional development at your school?

Streamlining the connection to Wimba Classroom

2009-02-04T10:56:18-05:00

We are in the process of implmenting a monthly informational session on our virtual learning program. We want to use Wimba Classroom to do this. We use Blackboard and most of our WC sessions are run through BB. In this case, however, we have setup a WC outside of Blackboard and will provide a link on our website (with dates and times that it will be open) to allow parents, students, etc. to join one of us for an info session.

My question is: what is the minimium amount of information I need to provide to potential guests regarding entering the classroom. We have no idea how many might join us, and we will not necessarily be able to ask all of them to run the wizard before hand; i.e. many of them will come to the website minutes before the session, click the link and try to join us. I realize the vast majority of the time that the wizard will run smoothly for them and they will be able to connect, but in a case like this, should the wizard eve be run? Could I not just tell everyone to make sure their pop-up blocker is turned off? We will not likely be able to troubleshoot if someone has anything other than a minor problem, and even then, they will have no other connection with us beside the WC, a phone number(potential nightmare) or email.

Am I making sense? Is there a way to bypass the wizard in a case like this. Is that a good idea?

Thanks for your input.

Ryan Fuller
Program Specialist
Cobb Virtual Academy

Professional Development in Quebec - and Cirque de Soleil too!

2008-10-02T06:33:12-05:00

LEARN, an educational foundation supported by funding from the Quebec-Canada Entente for Minority Language Education, leads the charge when it comes to Wimba and other instructional technologies. LEARN offers e-learning services and support to all of Quebec’s English school boards, private schools, community organizations and the private sector in rural and urban settings within the province. It also supports and promotes pedagogical collaboration and innovation using information technology, works to model best practices, and publishes quality learning materials to support educators who are implementing competency-based practices in the classroom. Of course, several of LEARN’s most important programs rely on Wimba (it even supports children of Cirque de Soleil performers in Tokyo!).

http://www.wimba.com/customers/customer-spotlights/learn_case_study