Wimba's Blog

Daily News: Recipe for Success

So what are the ingredients to success for today's student?  Whip up the following dish for a little taste.

1 cup flexible online learning - a growing number of schools nationwide are allowing students to take classes online to catch up, stay on pace or get ahead...and without sacrificing their summers.

1 cup fair and accessible student aid - The Senate passed a bill to make the financial aid process a little easier for students by creating a new, simplified financial aid application form.  The bill also states that banks cannot provide gifts to college financial aid officials in exchange for a position on preferred lender lists.

1 cup affordable student loans - The U.S. House and Senate have also just passed measures to cap student loan payments and put a limit on the amount that low-income borrowers must repay each month.

1/2 cup balanced diet and exercise - a new study in the July issue of Sociology of Education found that overweight students are less likely to attend college, particularly, girls.

Daily News: Let the Games Begin

Who said that learning had to be all work and no play?  Certainly not the Maryland State Department of Education - which is forking over $255,000 in state funds for chess programs across the state.  So, break out your boards, MD pupils, the competition is on!  Then there's the Computer Club for Girls initiative, an after school program promoting the female tech leaders of tomorrow, which is helping thousands of grade school girls get involved in technology by demonstrating its use in music, fashion, celebrity and design.  Sorry, no boys allowed.  The more outdoorsy students might be excited to hear the No Child Left Inside bill may soon be drawing them outside the classroom for a lesson from Mother Nature herself.  And for students who have the most fun on the athletic field, checkout the NFL-sponsored Junior Player Development Camp where kids can learn about life skills while picking up the fundamentals of football.  And finally, at BridgeNet International Summer Camp in Beijing, the hard work of language learning is tempered with a healthy dose of sports and performing arts.  Ah, all in a day's work.

Daily News: Up Up and Away!

In the world of education, it seems as though everything is on the rise.  All too many students can attest that college tuition is ever on the upswing.  An AP report indicates that students in Michigan, much like those in other states including Florida, are currently facing spikes that will well surpass the rate of inflation.  In other news, a recent GAO report alleges that the number of collegiate male athletes is growing steadily, sparking arguments around Title IX compliance, gender equity and reporting methods.  Also going up, on-campus housing for community college students - as more and more fresh-out-of-high-school (and ready to move away from home) students turn to two-year institutions for their education.  Turning our attention to other corners of the world, heightening security on campus in Vietnam is not the result of rioting, protesting or violence.  No sir, authorities are taking measures to discourage a rising number of students desperately cheating on their entrance exams.  And then finally, there's school teacher Barbara Morgan who will soon be on the rise herself, on August 7th, when she boards the space shuttle!

Connecting Different Countries and Different Languages

I was heartened this morning to see an article by Massey University's Palmerston North campus in New Zealand detailing how some of its students enrolled in German classes are collaborating via our Wimba Voice Tools with actual students in Germany.  This is reminiscent of a recent Desktop Lecture Series presentation by Emily Ballou which discussed how she teaches her Spanish students in Calgary, Alberta (Canada) by having them interact with students in Mexico.  This further supports recent studies that show that peer-to-peer learning is a proven means of instruction.

A Great BbWorld 2007!

Most of our team returned from Boston and delivered wonderful anecdotes from BbWorld 2007.  From successful presentations given by the likes of Peter Lafford from Arizona State and Carlos Araya from CSU Chico, to drawing standing-room only crowds in our own sessions, it certainly seems that the Wimba way is being adopted by thousands of educators worldwide.  I just apologize to those who had to stand at our presentations...next time we'll try to find some additional chairs! 

From a more practical side of things, we hope that the attendees learned how their schools can benefit from collaborative technologies.  From a technology standpoint, the Wimba Collaboration Suite brings together our rich array of collaborative tools that allow you to retain the highly personal and lively nature of traditional classroom instruction.  From voice and video, to podcasting, content authoring, and instant messaging, all our tools work seamlessly within your current online courses so you never need to leave your familiar online course environment. And in terms of benefits and value for your students, the Collaboration Suite allows you to build community, address students who are better audible or visual learners, offering highly engaging classes 24-7, spark enthusiasm, and perhaps most importantly, have fun. ...and we certainly had fun in Boston.

Matt

Day One from BbWorld 2007

Greetings from Boston (kind of):
While I'm not actually in Boston myself, many a Wimba staffer is spreading the good word about the value of our collaborative software.  Blackboard, Vista, and Campus Edition users from across the world are learning of the Wimba way.  Day One began with a bang as our CEO, Tommaso Trionfi, our Chief Engineer and Co-Founder, Steve Kann, and our Senior Director of Product Marketing, Annie Chechitelli, treated a standing-room only crowd to breakfast and detailed information about the elements of collaboration which comprise a successful online course. 

As the day continued, our booth was graced by Caryn-Amy King of Hebrew College Online, Lisa Frasier of Great Basin College, and Carlos Araya of CSU Chico, all of whom gave 20-minute presentations about the value they derive from our software at their schools.  I truly want to thank them for going above and beyond the call of duty!  Thanks so much!  Annie also talked later in the day about instant messaging via Pronto.

Stay tuned tomorrow for a recap of BbWorld Day Two.

Bye!
Matt

Wimba at BbWorld 2007 in Boston

Hi,
As many in the education community already know, Blackboard holds its annual conference in Boston July 9-12, 2007 at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston.  I'm pleased to announce that Wimba will have a GIGANTIC presence at the conference.  There will be 15 presentations discussing how Wimba brings valuable elements of collaboration into your Blackboard, Vista, and Campus Edition courses.  Four presentations–including two that come with free breakfast and an iPod drawing–will be given by Wimba, and 11 others will be led by our users. 

Our four highlighted presentations:

* Wimba: Visualize and Vocalize to Learn
Tues July 10 @ 7:15AM
Sheraton Hotel – Room: Conference 3
by Tommaso Trionfi, CEO, Annie Chechitelli, Director of Product Marketing & Steve Kann, Chief Engineer
*includes free breakfast and iPod drawing

* Wimba: Visualize and Vocalize to Learn
Wed July 11 @ 7:15AM
Sheraton Hotel - Fairfax Room
by Tommaso Trionfi, CEO, Annie Chechitelli, Director of Product Marketing & Steve Kann, Chief Engineer
*includes free breakfast and iPod drawing

Tuesday July 10 @ 4:30PM
Pronto Me! IM & Voice Changing Online Course Communication in Blackboard
Hynes Convention Center – Room 102
by Annie Chechitelli, Director of Product Marketing, Wimba & Chris Vento, former EVP R&D & CTO of WebCT and Blackboard and current Executive Vice President of Technology & Product Strategy of Experience

Wednesday July 11 @ 10:30AM
Bringing the Personal Instructional Element to your Online Course with Wimba
Hynes Convention Center – Room 102
by Annie Chechitelli, Director of Product Marketing, Wimba

To prepare in advance, you can learn more about adding collaborative elements to your online courses at: http://www.wimba.com/products/ 

I also hope you stop by booth #115 during the exhibition to learn more and ask us any questions.

See you in Boston!

Matt