Wimba Policies
Wimba Live Classroom Policy & Procedure
The University of Southern Mississippi
Wimba Live Classroom is a fully featured live virtual classroom that supports audio, video, application sharing, and content display. It enables instructors to add vitally important elements of interaction that simply cannot be provided in a text-based course.
The Learning Enhancement Center administers the Wimba Live Classroom service. Announcements for service interruptions will be posted to Blackboard and the Wimba listserv, as well as on the LEC home page.
Training
Attendance at a training session from the Learning Enhancement Center is encouraged to use the Wimba Live Classroom Tool. To access the Learning Enhancement Center training schedule and sign up for a training session please visit http://www.usm.edu/ee/schedule/index.php
Presenter Support (Instructor)
Presenter (Instructor) support and training on the use of Live Classroom and administration is available from the Learning Enhancement Center at 601-266-5518, lec@usm.edu, or in the International Center Room 301 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. For 24/7 Support from Wimba on the use of Live Classroom please visit: http://www.horizonwimba.com/technicalsupport/ or call 1-866-350-4978.
Participant Support (Student)
Participant (Student) support on the use of Live Classroom is available from the iTech helpdesk by phone at 601-266-4357 or in McLemore Hall Room 112 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. For 24/7 Support from Wimba on the use of Live Classroom please visit: http://www.horizonwimba.com/technicalsupport/ or call 1-866-350-4978.
Account Creation
Wimba Live Classroom is accessed via Blackboard CE6. Wimba Live Classroom can not be used outside of Blackboard CE6 due to authentication and privacy issues. All Blackboard CE6 course designers may add the Live Classroom icon to their Blackboard CE6 course and allow access to students in that course. Once students are logged in to Blackboard CE6, their login information is passed on automatically to Live Classroom.
Room Creation
Presenters may create as many rooms as needed, such as lecture rooms for the whole class, group discussion rooms to separate courses into small groups, and breakout rooms for private chat. Rooms are created within Blackboard CE6.
Listserv
Announcements for service interruptions and updated training schedules will be posted to the Wimba listserv. To join the listserv, contact LEC at lec@usm.edu.
Guest Presenters
Southern Miss faculty may request guest presenter access for guest presenters who are not affiliated with Southern Miss by visiting http://www.usm.edu/lec/des/forms/live_classroom_guest_presenter/index.php.
Guest presenters will have an account created to access the instructor’s course for a specified amount of time will provide instructor access to Live Classroom. The faculty member and the guest presenter must agree that the guest presenter will not access any of the student or other private information in Blackboard.
Meeting Request
Southern Miss faculty and staff may request a Live Classroom set up for non-course meetings by visiting http://www.usm.edu/lec/des/forms/live_classroom_meetings/index.php.
The Live Classroom will be accessed via a Blackboard shell. Other Blackboard tools will not be available for use in the shell and you will be provided with a guest access link to send participants of your meeting. The online course fee does not apply for use of Live Classroom for meetings only.
Server Cleanup
On occasion, it is necessary to remove user accounts and rooms that are no longer being used. A schedule will be determined at a later time. Presenters (Instructors) will receive ample notice before any cleanup occurs.