Web Conferencing Tool on the Horizon: Teach & Meet Live Online

By Jane Himmel, Associate Director, Center for Distributed Learning

UNT has purchased a license for Horizon Wimba’s Live Classroom, a web conferencing tool that enables users to meet online in a “virtual classroom” using voice video, text chat, whiteboard, polling and application sharing. Users need only a computer (PC or Mac), Internet access and a headset (or speakers and a microphone) to participate in a Live Classroom session. A set-up wizard helps users configure their system settings before joining a conference.
 

Figure 1. Screenshot of Live Classroom presentation window with PowerPoint file uploaded to the content area. This area can also be used with the whiteboard tools and application sharing.

 Who Should Use Live Classroom?

While the software was designed with the online learning environment in mind, Live Classroom meets the needs of a variety of users. It provides faculty who teach online with a new way to promote interaction and collaboration in class. Instructors who teach face-to-face can extend class discussion beyond the physical classroom, host guest lecturers, and conduct office hours. University staff may wish to use Live Classroom for meetings with participants at different geographic locations or when a physical meeting room is unavailable. Additionally, Live Classroom is currently the only software of its kind that is accessible to the hearing and visually impaired. (See Accessibility of Live Classroom at the product Web site: http://www.horizonwimba.com/demos/archived.php?archiveid=181.)

Overview of Features

• Multi-way audio allows presenters and participants to communicate by voice using VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol). Users without microphones have the option to use a telephone dial-in number.
   

• Text chat provides an alternative for users who prefer to communicate by text.
   

• An electronic whiteboard enables participants to work out problems visually or hold brainstorming sessions in real time.
   

• A polling feature allows presenters to survey participants during the session and instantly display results on screen.
   

• A content sharing space allows presenters to display documents in a variety of formats including PowerPoint, Word, Excel, HTML, web pages, images, movie clips, PDF, and Flash.
   

• Application sharing enables presenters to demonstrate other software applications or Web sites. Presenters can also pass control to participants, encouraging practice and active participation.
   

• Archiving enables the presenter to save live sessions for later review.

When Will Live Classroom Be Available?

Instructors using WebCT Vista can access Live Classroom now within Vista courses. Staff and faculty who do not use WebCT Vista will access Live Classroom from a public login page on the Web following pilot testing later this spring.

Training

Horizon Wimba provides free demos and training on Live Classroom. To view a 3-minute demo or register for an upcoming live demo, please visit the Live Classroom product page at http://www.horizonwimba.com/products/liveclassroom/.

Faculty and staff interested in learning to use Live Classroom should register for Presenter Training 101 by visiting Horizon Wimba’s Public Online Training page at: http://www.horizonwimba.com/support/liveclassroom/training.php.

For questions about Horizon Wimba’s Live Classroom or to participate in the pilot, please email Jane Himmel.  (jhimmel@unt.edu).

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