Chris Higgins, Manager, Learning Technologies Student Collaboration via Wimba Classroom: Extending Group Study Beyond the Physical

Office of Information Technology Providing Computing and Communications Resources and Services to the University of Maryland Community 2 It's hard to work in groups when you're omnipotent. Q., Star Trek, the Next Generation

Office of Information Technology Providing Computing and Communications Resources and Services to the University of Maryland Community 3 Agenda Background Group Study at UM Solutions Virtual Group Study Rooms Lessons Learned Student Feedback Questions A leader is someone who steps back from the entire system and tries to build a more collaborative, more innovative system that will work over the long term. Robert Reich

Office of Information Technology Providing Computing and Communications Resources and Services to the University of Maryland Community 4 Background TLC-Terrapin Learning Commons  ACCESS,  CREATE,  COLLABORATE. Need for group study options Planning for student collaboration Identifying appropriate solutions

Office of Information Technology Providing Computing and Communications Resources and Services to the University of Maryland Community 5 Collaboration in the TLC  Users will have the opportunity to COLLABORATE in spaces designed for collaboration, both physical and virtual, with a full range of resources to bring people and technology together in ways that transform their academic experience.

Office of Information Technology Providing Computing and Communications Resources and Services to the University of Maryland Community 6 Group Study at the University Shortage of group student space Only 12 group study rooms in library + informal spaces Non-traditional Students Extension students One would think that if you're anonymous, you'd do anything you want, but groups have their own sense of community and what we can do. John AllenJohn Allen, A network called 'Internet', CBC,

Office of Information Technology Providing Computing and Communications Resources and Services to the University of Maryland Community 7 Planning for Student Collaboration Researched Brainstormed Got input from potential users Visited other institutions Same time Same place Different times Same place Different times Different places Same time Different places , Wikis, blogs TeamSpot Virtual Group Study X

Office of Information Technology Providing Computing and Communications Resources and Services to the University of Maryland Community 8 Solutions 2 approaches based on needs Increase number of physical spaces Provide alternate modes of collaboration Address access issues Space limitations Ensure cross platform-Mac & PC 2 different technologies TeamSpot

Office of Information Technology Providing Computing and Communications Resources and Services to the University of Maryland Community 9 People Teach People Tommaso Trionfi, Wimba Connect 2008 March 4, 2008

Office of Information Technology Providing Computing and Communications Resources and Services to the University of Maryland Community 10 People Teach People Tommaso Trionfi, Wimba Connect 2008 March 4, 2008

Office of Information Technology Providing Computing and Communications Resources and Services to the University of Maryland Community 11 Technical Requirements Capability to share workstation desktops with all participants The capability for communication text-based chat tool, voice (VoIP) Telephone The inclusion of an electronic whiteboard Browser-based multi-platform accessibility No moderator is required to conduct a session

Office of Information Technology Providing Computing and Communications Resources and Services to the University of Maryland Community 12 Technical Realities Phone access not an issue Java versions

Office of Information Technology Providing Computing and Communications Resources and Services to the University of Maryland Community 13 Administrative Requirements Unlimited number of workspaces/”rooms” The virtual rooms shall not be session based only A capacity for unlimited number of participants in each workspace Spaces can be available for both reserved and ad hoc usage The ability to limit usage of the spaces to specific users Administrative control time limits User access and usage control

Office of Information Technology Providing Computing and Communications Resources and Services to the University of Maryland Community 14 Administrative Realities Number of rooms unlimited but… Reserved not possible Access control minimal

Office of Information Technology Providing Computing and Communications Resources and Services to the University of Maryland Community 15 System Integration Requirements Integration with the University Directory (LDAP) System shall be available in both hosted or locally installed configurations Compatible with the current enterprise learning management system, Blackboard Academic Suite 7.1

Office of Information Technology Providing Computing and Communications Resources and Services to the University of Maryland Community 16 System Integration Realities LDAP – based in CMS would need to program for direct access Local installation desired – hosted recommended Move to Shibboleth Local Accounts

Office of Information Technology Providing Computing and Communications Resources and Services to the University of Maryland Community 17 Implementation Challenges Access for all students for projects not associated w/ Bb courses Include non-course users in Bb Permissions and buy-in

Office of Information Technology Providing Computing and Communications Resources and Services to the University of Maryland Community 18 Implementation Schedule Summer and fall 06-research and procurement Spring 07 obtain license and work on Bb integration Summer 07 soft rollout Fall 07 formal rollout

Office of Information Technology Providing Computing and Communications Resources and Services to the University of Maryland Community 19 To succeed as a team is to hold all of the members accountable for their expertise. Mitchell Caplan, CEO, E*Trade Group Inc. Mitchell Caplan

Office of Information Technology Providing Computing and Communications Resources and Services to the University of Maryland Community 20 Wimba Live Classrooms & Virtual Group Study Let’s take a look.

Office of Information Technology Providing Computing and Communications Resources and Services to the University of Maryland Community 21 Setting up the VGSR

Office of Information Technology Providing Computing and Communications Resources and Services to the University of Maryland Community 22 VGSR in ELMS

Office of Information Technology Providing Computing and Communications Resources and Services to the University of Maryland Community 23 Virtual Group Study Room Guide

Office of Information Technology Providing Computing and Communications Resources and Services to the University of Maryland Community 24 General Guidelines

Office of Information Technology Providing Computing and Communications Resources and Services to the University of Maryland Community 25 VGSR Getting in

Office of Information Technology Providing Computing and Communications Resources and Services to the University of Maryland Community 26 VGSR Getting in 2

Office of Information Technology Providing Computing and Communications Resources and Services to the University of Maryland Community 27 VGSR – Setting up the room

Office of Information Technology Providing Computing and Communications Resources and Services to the University of Maryland Community 28 VGSR – Setting up the room 2

Office of Information Technology Providing Computing and Communications Resources and Services to the University of Maryland Community 29 The Interface

Office of Information Technology Providing Computing and Communications Resources and Services to the University of Maryland Community 30 VGSR – A room with a view

Office of Information Technology Providing Computing and Communications Resources and Services to the University of Maryland Community 31 Lessons Learned Implementation detail Be creative Wow vs. need Marketing Student involvement in the process Faculty involvement

Office of Information Technology Providing Computing and Communications Resources and Services to the University of Maryland Community 32 Student Feedback “Cool! I wish we had this last semester.” Undergraduate, tech support student “With all of us working and having families, this has really helped my group get our project done” Graduate Library Media Specialist student “Our teacher set it up in ELMS. It has been great especially for review sessions.” Life Sciences undergraduate student “Once I got it working it was nice to have everyone talking and working on our paper.” Writing center undergraduate student

Office of Information Technology Providing Computing and Communications Resources and Services to the University of Maryland Community 33 Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed (people) can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. Margaret Mead Margaret Mead US anthropologist & popularizer of anthropology ( )

Office of Information Technology Providing Computing and Communications Resources and Services to the University of Maryland Community 34 Simon Says – The End Questions Chris Higgins, Manager, Learning Technologies