The Wimba Collaboration Suite 6.0 integrates video, voice, chat, application sharing and white boarding into typically static, text-based online classes or the traditional classroom to enhance the learning experience through greater collaboration and interaction.
By adding real-time communication and multimedia tools to a rich learning environment teachers and students have a safe “virtual venue” in which they can improve student achievement and address multiple learning styles.
What does your classroom look like?
Wimba offers more than what the physical classroom can offer – wherever the lesson takes place,
• Teachers and students utilize lectures and discussions to extend the learning continuum and optimize student achievement with MP4 files.
• Imagine students being able to use a whiteboard in ad-hoc learning sessions, group study sessions, for tutoring, or even in hallway conversations.
• Because assessment is important, teachers can grade voice discussion boards from within Wimba Voice and automatically add them to your CMS gradebook.
The Wimba Collaboration Suite 6.0 includes:
• Wimba Classroom 6.0 virtual learning environment - now with advanced MP4 capabilities
• Wimba Pronto 3.0 academic-centric instant messaging platform - now with state-of-the-art whiteboard
• Wimba Voice 6.0 audio solution - now with an integrated gradebook
Wimba learning solutions allow each student in online, blended and traditional classes to:
• research topics and share online
• download coursework and reference materials,
• log on to real-time and archived classes and lectures,
• collaborate with teachers and peers for tutoring and individualized or group study,
• work in teams with others
• submit assignments using voice and conferencing technology,
• compare, interpret, discuss and collaborate via chat technology,
• and apply critical thinking skills.
For teachers Wimba supports:
• virtual classes and office hours
• professional development
• the ability to bring alternative content into the classroom to enrich and enhance learning objectives
• the ability to deliver content outside the classroom, extending reach both intra- and inter-district
• multimodal delivery to address diverse learning styles
• learning approaches that facilitate cooperative learning, problem-based learning and the use of case methods and simulations
• virtual parent-teacher conferences and office hours
• accelerated, more efficient interactions with administrators, teachers, parents or students on an unplanned or scheduled basis
For administrators Wimba supports:
• remote meetings
• more effective meetings through the use of audio and web technologies that offer a rich context for enhanced communications
• the ability to host sessions with teachers, staff, parents and other stakeholders
• the ability to release consistent important messages to large dispersed groups in a timely fashion
• in selected schools, multi-disciplinary meetings with individualized education plans for special-ed and at-risk children.
For students Wimba supports:
• access – learners gain more timely access to resources that are outside the classroom.
• collaboration in shared classrooms and group projects
• home access and alternative access to missed class work or assignments and makeup sessions
The Wimba Collaboration Suite is designed specifically for educational use and provides a secure environment that teachers control.
E-Rate Reimbursement
Wimba solutions can qualify for E-Rate reimbursement within some categories of service, saving schools, libraries, districts, and consortiums 20% to 90%.
The E-rate program, administered by the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) makes the already affordable Wimba Collaboration Suite a reality for all schools regardless of budget.
Additional information can be found at the USAC website or by contacting a Wimba K-12 Regional Sales Manager.