Distinguished Lecture Series
Upcoming Distinguished Lectures
An Experimental Inquiry Into The Effectiveness of Virtual Classroom Software In The College Classroom (i.e. This Stuff Really Works)
Sorry, this presentation is sold out
In 2004 Saint Francis University, a small university in Central Pennsylvania, began a multiple year study designed to identify and evaluate available virtual classroom software (VCS). By conducting a comprehensive review of VCS technology, the team hoped to select the best tool for its own synchronous distance learning program and develop a framework that could be used by other distance educators to evaluate future entries into the VCS marketplace.
This presentation provides a ranking of currently available VCS tools, offers guidelines for selecting a VCS tool, and provides evidence that VCS tools work in the classroom.
Date and Time:
Thursday October 16, 2008 at 3pm EDT / 12pm PDT / 8pm BST
Presented by:
Robert Griffin, Director of Distance Education, Saint Francis University / CERMUSA
The Next Step in your Blackboard Installation: Spotlight on Wimba's Blackboard Building Blocks
When you think of web conferencing, do you debate the value of a "talking head"? Do you worry that web conferencing isn't interactive or engaging? Do you feel that it does not meet the needs of today's students and teachers? Come learn how the Wimba Collaboration Suite brings Web Conferencing into the 21st Century. This demonstration explains how the Wimba Collaboration Suite integrates with Blackboard to help Blackboard users add a personal, collaborative touch to their existing online courses.
Date and Time:
Tuesday October 21, 2008 at 11am EDT / 4pm BST / 8am PDT
Presented by:
Matt Wasowski, Wimba
Current and Evolving Accessibility Practices: Practical Advice from Two Institutions
Online learning environments hold great promise for expanding access to education for students with time and geographic challenges. Providing a supportive learning environment involves considering the needs of a wide range of learners and instructors, including those with physical and cognitive disabilities or technical limitations. The ability to do this can be somewhat challenged within the structure of a course management system such as Blackboard (WebCT) Vista, as full control of the web interface may not be possible. In response to student and faculty needs, educational developers from two institutions, the University of British Columbia and Utah State University have worked to determine how some of the issues may be addressed through instructional design, rigorous web design methodologies and some technical applications. Please join us as we share current and evolving practices in this important area of online learning.
Date and Time:
Tuesday October 21, 2008 at 1pm EDT / 10am PDT / 6pm BST
Presented by:
Afsaneh Sharif & Donna Scalzo, Office of Learning Technology, University of British Columbia, John Louviere & Neal Legler, Faculty Assistance Center for Teaching, Utah State University
Instant Messaging with Wimba Pronto
The educational experience does not end when a student leaves a classroom; it carries over into hallways, the library, computer lab and common areas. Come learn about how the newest version of Wimba Pronto replicates these informal learning settings in the online environment that are imperative to student retention, engagement, and successful learning outcomes.
Date and Time:
Tuesday November 4, 2008 at 10am EDT / 7am PDT / 3pm BST
Presented by:
Matt Wasowski
Demonstration of Wimba's Moodle Integration
Want to add a human touch to your Moodle course? Learn how Wimba integrates with Moodle to enable its Wimba Collaboration Suite to seamlessly integrate within your CMS.
For British Summer Time, please add 5 hours. Convert to your time zone here: http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/
Date and Time:
Wednesday November 5, 2008 at 1pm EST / 10am PST / 6pm GMT
Presented by:
Matt Wasowski, Wimba
Demonstration of Wimba's PowerLinks for Campus Edition & Vista
Want to add a human touch to your WebCT course? Learn how Wimba's Vista and Campus Edition PowerLinks enable its Wimba Collaboration Suite to seamlessly integrate within your CMS.
Date and Time:
Monday November 10, 2008 at 2pm EST / 11am PST / 7pm GMT
Presented by:
Matt Wasowski, Wimba
Enhancing Cognitive Engagement in the Online Classroom: Tips, Tricks & Techniques
Sorry, this presentation is sold out
Cognitive engagement is rooted in a combination of personality, affective, motivational and persistence factors applied to the learning process; it goes beyond simple emphasis on learning to highlight students' active role in the educational processes. While these attributes are important in all learning environments, cognitive engagement becomes imperative in the virtual classroom where students are learning in an independent, physically isolated environment. Presentation will examine unique considerations of student engagement in the virtual classroom and will introduce instructional and assessment strategies to enhance online students' cognitive engagement.
Date and Time:
Tuesday November 11, 2008 at 2pm EST / 11am PST / 7pm GMT
Presented by:
Jean Mandernach, PhD, Associate Professor of Psychology and Online Learning, Park University
Podasting with Wimba
Podcasting has arrived in Wimba! Now faculty have the easiest means of creating their own podcasts! Wimba Voice features the Wimba Podcaster - the easiest tool available that enables faculty and staff to record their own podcasts. This presentation shows you how the Wimba Podcaster allows your instructors to combine Wimba, RSS Feeds, and iPods to bring their voices to the students!
Date and Time:
Wednesday November 12, 2008 at 11am EST / 4pm GMT / 8am PST
Presented by:
Matt Wasowski, Wimba
How Using Wimba Supports Cognitive Processes Resulting in Higher Retention Rates
One of the world's leading experts when it comes to online instruction, Lisa Frazier of rural Nevada's Great Basin College has found that visual and audible elements in online courses significantly improve school retention rates and student performance. Learn from Lisa's research and how it can be applied to your own distance learning programs.
Date and Time:
Thursday November 13, 2008 at 3pm EST / 12pm PST / 8pm GMT
Presented by:
Lisa Frazier, MED, Curriculum Development Specialist/ Instructional Technologist, Great Basin College
Getting a Small College Up to Speed with Collaborative Learning
Gettysburg College is a small liberal arts college in southern Pennsylvania. Its language department has been using Wimba for more than three years in order to help its students learn new languages more easily by having vocal and audio experiences online. This presentation will discuss the reasons Gettysburg selected Wimba, the process of getting instructors up-to-speed, and the benefits the college has subsequently enjoyed.
Date and Time:
Tuesday November 18, 2008 at 2pm EST / 11am PST / 7pm GMT
Presented by:
Takeshi Sengiku, Director of Language Resource Center at Gettysburg College
Overview of Wimba Create (formerly Course Genie)
Now that you've downloaded Wimba Create (formerly Course Genie), let us show you how to use it effectively! Besides showing you how to convert your Word documents into CMS-ready content, we'll demonstrate how to create quizzes, Flashcards, embed HTML (in Wimba Voice), and create tables for easier editing.
Date and Time:
Wednesday November 19, 2008 at 1pm EST / 10am PST / 6pm GMT
Presented by:
Matt Wasowski, Wimba
Demonstration of Wimba's Angel Integration
When you think of web conferencing, do you debate the value of a "talking head"? Do you worry that web conferencing isn't interactive or engaging? Do you feel that it does not meet the needs of today's students and teachers? Come learn how the Wimba Collaboration Suite brings Web Conferencing into the 21st Century. This demonstration explains how the Wimba Collaboration Suite integrates with Angel to help Angel users add a personal, collaborative touch to their existing online courses.
Date and Time:
Monday November 24, 2008 at 2pm EST / 11am PST / 7pm GMT
Presented by:
Matt Wasowski, Wimba
The Next Step in your Blackboard Installation: Spotlight on Wimba's Blackboard Building Blocks
When you think of web conferencing, do you debate the value of a "talking head"? Do you worry that web conferencing isn't interactive or engaging? Do you feel that it does not meet the needs of today's students and teachers? Come learn how the Wimba Collaboration Suite brings Web Conferencing into the 21st Century. This demonstration explains how the Wimba Collaboration Suite integrates with Blackboard to help Blackboard users add a personal, collaborative touch to their existing online courses.
Date and Time:
Tuesday November 25, 2008 at 12pm EST / 9am PST / 5pm GMT
Presented by:
Matt Wasowski, Wimba
Creating Dynamic Online Learning Environments: Wimba Connects With Brain Research
What does the latest research on the physiology of the brain and the biology of learning have to say about effective online learning? This session will take a look at the works of James Zull and John Medina, relating the science of learning and effective teaching online. Within the context of brain research, strategies for using Wimba to encourage learning synchronously and asynchronously in an interactive, engaging, participatory and experiential environment will be discussed using a variety of Wimba examples.
Date and Time:
Thursday December 4, 2008 at 2pm EST / 11am PST / 7pm GMT
Presented by:
Janice Butler, University of Texas at Brownsville
Implementing a One-to-One Program
One-to-One Institute will provide an overview and discussion around implementing a one-to-one program. OTO will highlight best practices within a one-to-one program as well as provide examples of one-to-one teaching and learning. Research results of the Michigan Freedom to Learn program will also be provided.
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http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/meeting.html
Date and Time:
Thursday December 11, 2008 at 2pm EST / 11am PST / 7pm GMT
Presented by:
Kate Kennedy, One-to-One Institute
Archived LecturesEconomic & Environmental Savings of Wimba and Online EducationThe University of Georgia's Cooperative Extension has been using Wimba Classroom to deliver training sessions in an online environment. This has allowed Extension personnel to overcome common constraints such as: limited travel budgets, rising fuel costs, and time spent away from county offices and local clientele. This archive discusses the:
1) Economic benefits in terms of travel dollars and travel time gained, as well as
2) Environmental impact of reducing statewide travel.
Creative Uses of Online Technologies for Campus Communication & Disaster RecoveryA fire broke out in the main campus building of Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio, TX on May 6th at 7:30 p.m. and burned into the early morning hours of May 7. No one was injured at this small, close-knit college. More than 100 firefighters fought the flames, which were started accidentally by something electrical in the attic. Rebuilding will take three years or longer. This presentation explains how OLLU used technologies such as Wimba Pronto to communicate among faculty and staff, thereby facilitating a successful end to the Spring 2008 semester. Moncado will explain how the school creatively used technology to cope with the damage to its classrooms, computer labs, faculty and administrative offices, conference rooms and more.
Best Practices for Enhancing Learning and Creating Community Using Wimba ClassroomAmong the fundamental challenges faced by distance education instructors and administrators is keeping learners satisfied and engaged despite the asynchronous and independent nature of online learning. This presentation will explore best practices for reducing learner anxiety, improving comfort levels with the platform, decreasing Transactional Distance, and creating community, by examining the working strategies of the Lookstein Center online professional development program.
