VIRTUAL CLASSROOMS

What is a virtual classroom?

A virtual classroom is a virtual online meeting space where learning takes place. It's a space where you interact with people through specific media, namely, a computer with a reasonable Internet connection and software that you may need to download when you log in. (This is the case of Elluminate. They ask you to download a Java program and it's absolutely safe.) Some vClassrooms are browser-based and there's no need to download any software. (It's the case of WiZiQ.)

To hear people and talk with them, you need a headset if you have a PC, or the built-in mic and speakers if you have a laptop.

When a virtual classroom opens you see the following main components:

• the menu bar at the top
• a whiteboard where content is shown
• a list of the participants
• a white slot where you write your messages and above it a small window where the text from the different participants appears
• a microphone button that you click to speak and click again to give the mic to someone else.

Some uses of a vClassroom

A vClassroom is an ideal platform to have a collaborative session with a distant class, to have a guest speaker talk to a class about a specific topic or demonstrate something, to give a presentation for people who are all geographically apart, or even to hold an online conference.

Guest speaker at WiZiQ

Today we have a guest speaker with us, Evelyn Izquierdo* (short bio below) from Caracas, Venezuela. She will show you a free virtual classroom and talk about some of the different features of WiZiQ.

A short bio

Evelyn Izquierdo is an ESP/EAP teacher at the School of Education of Universidad Central de Venezuela . She holds a Master's degree in EFL and has been interested in online activities since she joined Becoming a Webhead in 2005. After that her teaching life changed for the best. Nowadays, almost all her courses are blended, and a few of them totally online under the Moodle platform. She's been attending several EVO sessions since 2005, both as a participant and as a session moderator. It is a must to attend EVO sessions each year if you want to learn a lot, keep updated, share your online work and experiences, enjoy hands-on activities and have fun with colleagues. Evelyn is also part of the VenTESOL board this year as well as an ICT coordinator.

Evelyn's tutorial   http://www.blip.tv/file/2678259

Computer lab activities (suggestions)

1. Get your vRoom at WiZiQ

  Join WiZiQ

  Get your free Virtual Classroom

Other useful links

Elluminate vRoom at Learn Central (free; allows for 3 people/computers to be connected at the same time)

When you have your vRoom, you can do three things: Open your vRoom, Schedule a session and Invite friends to your session.