© 2008 Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois 60115 | www.facdev.niu.edu

Conducting Online Office Hours Conducting Online Office Hours Using Wimba ClassroomUsing Wimba Classroom

Conducting Online Office Hours Conducting Online Office Hours Using Wimba ClassroomUsing Wimba Classroom

Jason Rhode, Assistant DirectorFaculty Development and Instructional Design

Center

Faculty Development and Instructional Design Center, Northern Illinois University | www.facdev.niu.edu

Do you hear the presenter?Do you hear the presenter?

• If yes, please select the button

• If no, please select the button for assistance

For technical support, please call toll free (866) 350-4978

To dial-in for audio by phone(201) 549-7592 this is not a toll-free number

PIN: 44200090

Faculty Development and Instructional Design Center, Northern Illinois University | www.facdev.niu.edu

General GuidelinesGeneral Guidelines

1) Raise hand to ask a questionor ask via text chat

2) Please only click when asked to volunteer

Faculty Development and Instructional Design Center, Northern Illinois University | www.facdev.niu.edu

AgendaAgenda

• Brief introduction to Wimba Classroom collaboration tool

• Getting acquainted• Why online office hours?• 10 tips for smooth online office

hours• Configuring online office space

using Wimba Classroom in Blackboard

Faculty Development and Instructional Design Center, Northern Illinois University | www.facdev.niu.edu

Wimba Classroom InterfaceWimba Classroom Interface

Content FramePresenter’s Console

Text Chat Frame

Participant Frame

Branding Frame

Audio and Links

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Maximize Your ScreenMaximize Your Screen

Clickthis

button

Faculty Development and Instructional Design Center, Northern Illinois University | www.facdev.niu.edu

Wimba Classroom OverviewWimba Classroom Overview

Opportunities for live collaboration with and among learners

Faculty Development and Instructional Design Center, Northern Illinois University | www.facdev.niu.edu

Features IncludeFeatures Include

• Voice Presentations with PowerPoint

• Text Chat• eBoard – Synchronous Virtual

White Board• Desktop / Application Sharing• Web Sharing• Polling• Breakout Rooms• Archives

Faculty Development and Instructional Design Center, Northern Illinois University | www.facdev.niu.edu

More Features…More Features…

• Accessibility• eBoard Integration with

Sympodium• Presenter Video Sharing via

Webcam• Integration with Blackboard• Import New Content On-The-Fly

to Share

Faculty Development and Instructional Design Center, Northern Illinois University | www.facdev.niu.edu

Where Are You Connecting From?Where Are You Connecting From?

Faculty Development and Instructional Design Center, Northern Illinois University | www.facdev.niu.edu

Why Online Office Hours?Why Online Office Hours?

• What benefits do you see to offering office hours online as opposed to face-to-face?

• What challenges or limitations do you foresee you might encounter?

Faculty Development and Instructional Design Center, Northern Illinois University | www.facdev.niu.edu

Possible ReasonsPossible Reasons

• Flexibility• “Green” solution• Less hassle (travel, parking, etc.) • Time Savings• Recreating successful elements of F2F communication online

• Ability to archive

for future reference• Comfortable means of communication for many students • Others?

Faculty Development and Instructional Design Center, Northern Illinois University | www.facdev.niu.edu

Questions to ConsiderQuestions to Consider

• How are you currently using f2f office hours?

• What is your purpose for online office hours?

• Is attendance mandatory?• What incentive do students have

to attend?

Faculty Development and Instructional Design Center, Northern Illinois University | www.facdev.niu.edu

What is Your Purpose?What is Your Purpose?

• Answer student questions• Introduction/conclusion to unit

of study• Online lecture/presentation• Guest presentation• Other?

Faculty Development and Instructional Design Center, Northern Illinois University | www.facdev.niu.edu

Why Use Wimba Classroom?Why Use Wimba Classroom?

• Integration with Blackboard• Screen sharing• Access anytime/anywhere• Instructor control of settings• Breakout rooms for private

discussions• Archived audio can be exported

as .mp3 and distributed as podcast for mobile access

Faculty Development and Instructional Design Center, Northern Illinois University | www.facdev.niu.edu

Example Use in Fully Online CourseExample Use in Fully Online Course

• Office hours each week from 8-9pm• Attendance strongly encouraged• Session archived• Roll call activity• Introduction to the module offered• “Points to Ponder”• Questions posed for synchronous

discussion to stimulate asynchronous discussion

• Additional Q&A

Faculty Development and Instructional Design Center, Northern Illinois University | www.facdev.niu.edu

Sample Welcome SlideSample Welcome Slide

Faculty Development and Instructional Design Center, Northern Illinois University | www.facdev.niu.edu

Sample Roll Call SlideSample Roll Call Slide

Faculty Development and Instructional Design Center, Northern Illinois University | www.facdev.niu.edu

Top 10 Tips for Online Office HoursTop 10 Tips for Online Office Hours

10. Establish a consistent day/time 9. Set expectations 8. Be on time (early!) 7. Have a welcome slide on

whiteboard 6. Practice before your first

session 5. Have a plan B for when the

technology doesn’t work

Faculty Development and Instructional Design Center, Northern Illinois University | www.facdev.niu.edu

Top 10 Tips for Online Office HoursTop 10 Tips for Online Office Hours

4. Archive the session 3. Have students prepare to

participate 2. Encourage interaction

throughout 1. Remind students of the

availability of the sessions

Faculty Development and Instructional Design Center, Northern Illinois University | www.facdev.niu.edu

Demo in BlackboardDemo in Blackboard

• How to configure a virtual office room

• How to place a link to the room in the Blackboard course navigation menu

** Please make sure your screen is maximized for optimal viewing of the demo**

Faculty Development and Instructional Design Center, Northern Illinois University | www.facdev.niu.edu

More DetailsMore Details

www.niu.edu/blackboard/resources/wimbaclassroom.shtml