Facilitating+a+Virtual+Classroom


 * Facilitating a Virtual Classroom

Description of Assignment: ** This is assignment was designed to teach us how to use what tools we have in order to make a virtual classroom as close to as face-to-face traditional class possible. We could use Wimba or Jing to video computer processes along with a vocal description. I chose to use Jing. My project was designed to walk students through our Reading Corner Class set up on Blackboard. I took a screenshot of the homepage of our classroom and explained what the purpose of each part of our classroom via the course menu. This would be used in a real virtual classroom setting by everyone logging in to an established Wimba Classroom. Here the students would be able to watch the key strokes and mouse clicks as I navigate through our classroom Blackboard. While do the actual navigating, I would also be able to talk them through it. As I give a lecture type of lesson, the students would be able to chime in themselves or post instant messenger type comments about the lesson. This is a create tool when there face-to-face option is needed but not available.

[|Virtual Classroom Instructional Activity] This is the Instructional Activity created with Jing and Screencast.com.

Below is the mp4 of the archive created in the Wimba Classroom. media type="file" key="_wilmu_s__304199_1_321539_2010_0226_1740_27.m4v" width="300" height="300"

After completing this assignement, I can look back and say that I truly love the capabilities of this application. Sometimes text does not answers all questions, especially with visual learners. I feel that Instructional Virtual Classrooms Activities can fill in the holes created by a total distance learning class that can not be fileld through email, discussion boards, and webpages. From the creation standpoint, I personally had some difficulties when using Wimba to record the assignment being I wanted to show and say so many things at once. Jing seemed to better suit my presentation, giving a visual representation of key stokes on my compture, in this class but would not provide the feedback option that Wimba would. Once a Jing file is created I could upload the Jing file into the virtual classroom and use the screen editing tools along with the other Wimba tools to create a merge between the two. I would be very interested in trying the Wimba Classroom in a live virtual instruction setting. I think that it would present the students with the best of both worlds, traditional and technological education.
 * Reflection:**