Wimba's Blog

Creative Uses Abound - from Sign Language to Online Conferences

I'm amazed on almost daily basis by the creative ways in which schools worldwide use Wimba to collaborate.  From teaching yoga online in California to having students in Singapore learn about wildlife in the Arctic, novel uses of our collaborative products crop up every day.  In fact, in just the last few hours we learned of two more creative uses of Wimba.

Linda Briggs at Campus Technology Magazine just wrote an amazing feature article about how Bloomsburg University in central Pennsylvania has one of the world's foremost accessibility programs.  Led by Dr. Sam Slike's introductory course on the history, education, and guidance of the deaf and hard of hearing, Bloomsburg offers a master of science program for teachers of the deaf and hard of hearing; Bloomsburg is well known for providing educational opportunities for the deaf. "We're making it possible for deaf and hard of hearing people to have equal access to information via the Internet."  Great job, Bloomsburg!

We also just learned this morning that the Iowa Small Library Association (ISLA) along with Northwest, Southwest, and Central LSAs, are organizing a totally online conference via Wimba slated for January 16, 2008. “Connection, Collaboration, Community: The Iowa Small Libraries Online Conference (ISLOC)” will be in the dead of winter, and, as they on its blog, you don’t even have to leave town!

More additions to Wimba

I'm happy to announce a few new additions to the Wimba family.  First, as many of you know, we've already doubled our staff since this time last year.  One of these additions is Donna Krausman, our brand new Director of Corporate Marketing, who, among 2,482 other duties, will be co-writing this blog with me.  So I want to welcome Donna to our Wimba ways; you'll all be hearing from her very shortly. 

Second, on Wednesday November 28, be on the look out for an announcement about several more institutions throughout the UK adopting the Wimba Collaboration Suite.  Our UK team is quite proud to be working with these elite institutions, and myself, here in the States, wish to welcome these new institutions aboard (from abroad) as well.

Matt

Sessions and workshops announced for Wimba Connect 2008

The Wimba Connect 2008 sessions and pre-conference workshops have been announced!

Sessions
Whether you want to learn about Best Practices, Effective Instructional Design, Lessons Learned, or Adoption, the program for Wimba Connect features more than 40 presentations geared toward Wimba users - and prospects - of all levels. Wimba users from as far as Israel and from institutions as varied as business schools, 4-year colleges, K12, and community colleges will share their years of expertise with you.

Pre-Conference Workshops
For only $99, you can attend as many as four 3-hour hands-on pre-conference workshops to ensure you learn the nitty-gritty about using Wimba. Workshop topics range from Succeeding In Wimba Classroom to Mastering Wimba Voice to Managing Your Wimba Implementation and even allow you to get on track to becoming a certified Wimba Product Specialist. Please note that space is limited for these workshops, so please sign up as soon as possible!

Please go to http://www.wimba.com/connect08 to view the entire program.

See you in Orlando!
Matt

Wimba Connect 2008 Schedule Is Imminent...

I'm back!  Sorry for the long delay and subsequent lack of blogging.  Between the move to our new office, EDUCAUSE, a number of on-campus visits, and going through another funding raise, we've been swamped.  But now I come bearing exciting news....

We're days away from announcing the complete sessions and pre-conference workshop schedules for Wimba Connect 2008!  We know that our first global users conference will allow the Wimba (and greater educational) community to finally collaborate face-to-face.  Whether you're an instructional designer who wants to learn about best practices, a faculty member seeking unique ways to engage learners, or a CIO who needs to understand how Wimba can help his or her institution increase retention rates, increase student engagement, enhance learning, and improve outcomes, Wimba Connect will be useful for staff at all levels of an institution.  Please watch http://www.wimba.com/connect08 for the schedule to be posted...

Sessions
Whether you want to learn about Best Practices, Effective Instructional Design, Lessons Learned, or Adoption, the program for Wimba Connect will feature more than 40 presentations geared toward Wimba users - and prospects - of all levels. Wimba users from as far as Israel and from institutions as varied as business schools, 4-year colleges, K12, and community colleges will share their years of expertise with you.

Pre-Conference Workshops
For only $99, you can attend as many as four three-hour hands-on pre-conference workshops to ensure you learn the nitty-gritty about using Wimba. Workshop topics range from Succeeding In Wimba Classroom to Mastering Wimba Voice to Managing Your Wimba Implementation, and even allow you to get on track to becoming a certified Wimba Product Specialist. Please note that space will be limited for these workshops, so once they're announced, please sign up as soon as possible.

Have a great weekend!

Matt

New Wimba Offices

I apologize for my infrequency of postings lately, but it's for a good reason...we've spent the last couple of weeks getting our NEW OFFICE in order!  Yes, thanks to the growth of our company and industry, we just parted ways with the office in which we resided since June 2000 and have moved in to a better spot in Midtown Manhattan.  In fact, I can see the main branch of the New York Public Library as I write this!  -you might remember it from Ghostbusters...it was the setting of the opening scene when the 'busters saw the first ghost.

Needless to say, we're ecstatic for the upgrade but want to point out that the growth we've seen of late has made us incredibly humble.  We've been humbled by the fact that colleges, universities, and K12 schools worldwide are now ready to make their online courses more collaborative than ever before, and we're excited to be a big part of this sea change.  We look forward to seeing a lot of you in Seattle in 2 weeks at the EDUCAUSE annual conference and hope to tell you more about our new offices and new plans for expanding our Collaboration Suite.

Here's to new beginnings...!

Matt 

Daily News: Movement Among Us

In a recent Financial Times interview, US Secretary of Education Margaret Spelling discussed the business community’s recognition that if education is not improved and America is not producing enough skilled workers, then companies may take their operations elsewhere.  But is it really that bad here?  Spelling herself claims that in the K-12 space, “Student achievement is on the rise" and that “No Child Left Behind is working."  And a report issued by Shanghai Jiao Tong University listed US higher education institutions filled the vast majority of the top twenty slots in a ranking of the world’s top universities.  So, big business, don't pack your bags yet - perhaps we're in pretty good shape after all.

Daily News: Speaking of Education

Addressing the U.N. today, President Bush emphasized the United Nations’ underlying mission of “liberating people from the chains of illiteracy and ignorance” and how America is helping to advance that mission worldwide. He stated, “When nations make the investment needed to educate their people, the whole world benefits. Better education unleashes the talent and potential of its citizens and adds to the prosperity of all of us.” It seems Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke couldn’t agree more. On Monday, in a presentation before the workforce summit hosted by the Chamber of Commerce, Bernanke said "Education — lifelong education for everyone — from toddlers to workers well advanced in their careers — is indeed an excellent investment for individuals and society as a whole." Something tells me that Iranian President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who spoke today at Columbia University, might have a different perspective.

Daily News: NCLB Under Debate

The New York City public school system was the top urban school district honored this year by the Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation’s annual Broad Prize for Public Education.  The foundation recognized NYC for improvements in student performance and for narrowing the gaps in achievement among poor and minority students.  Many credit Mayor Bloomberg for his diligence and dedication to reforming the system. U.S. Education Secretary Margaret Spellings, who was present when the awards were announced, might be more inclined to tribute the No Child Left Behind Act, which is up for renewal soon – and which Spellings is aiming to drum up some support for through a road tour.  But the debate continues, and while some support the bill, others are calling for drastic changes.  Education writer Jonathan Kozol has even gone so far as to embark upon a partial fast to demonstrate his disdain over the act, which he claims to be wrought with racial inequality.

Daily News: You Dirty Rat

When heading off to school, some students may be worried about how well they’ll do on a big test or exam.  Some may be worried about the homework they didn’t get around to finishing the night before.  Some may be more concerned what they’re wearing or whether they’re equipped with the hippest tech gadgets.  Others, it seems, have to worry about their health.  Texas students seem to be taking the heavy lately.  A mysterious outbreak popped up recently at a middle school in Houston leaving teachers, staff and students suffering from scary symptoms including chest pains and breathing problems.  A high school in Plano, Texas, was alarmed by a possible food tampering incident.  And at Texas Southern University, hundreds of dorm residents are contemplating the need for rabies vaccinations after a bat infestation.  And if that sounds bad, consider a school in The Republic of Trinidad & Tobago where teachers went on strike – not over wages, benefits or the like – but to avoid the rats infesting the school property.

Daily News: Student Loans See Some Relief

It seems like only days ago that we were reading about students’ tuition woes, and already some good news from our friends in Congress.  It seems they’ve just approved a deal to decrease $20 billion in government subsidies to banks that issue student loans — and use that money to boost maximum Pell grants from $4,310 to $5,400 and cut interest rates on federally backed student loans by more than 3%.  Not great news for the banks, but we bet students will be more than grateful for the aid. 

Finding and keeping qualified teachers is also a neverending issue, and this year’s not any different.  For some not-so-light reading on the challenges involved in identifying, hiring, and keeping good teachers, read here, here, and here.