Wimba Pronto (Re-Edit)

WimbAPronto
Dr Bex Lewis

Wimba Pronto: The Session
How to create a Pronto account
How to install Pronto at home
Password Recovery
Customisation (e.g. appearance, status update)
Etiquette for Wimba Pronto
Holding an ‘office hour’

Do you have?
USB headset with integrated microphone?
Module on the Learning Network in which you can practice?

Synchronous/Asynchronous
Synchronous e-learning
Works in ‘real time’
Uses tools such as
Videoconferencing
Chat, including Pronto
Aids the development of learning communities
Social Learning, less isolation
Avoids frustration in getting fast responses to queries
Asynchronous e-learning
Occurring at different times
Uses tools such as
Email
Discussion boards
Supports work relations among learners and with teachers
Flexible, especially for part-timers
Learners can log on to an e-learning environment at any time and download documents or send messages to teachers or peers.
Students may spend more time refining their contributions, which are generally considered more thoughtful compared to synchronous communication.
http://www.educause.edu/EDUCAUSE+Quarterly/EDUCAUSEQuarterlyMagazineVolum/AsynchronousandSynchronousELea/163445
Image: http://www.kollewin.com/EX/09-15-11/synchronous-vs-asynchronous-collaboration-by-Ramius.gif

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GO-n3UBjAcY
Every time someone says “Blackboard”, substitute “Moodle/The Learning Network”
Further Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_Z81D3Q2Kg

DISCUSS: Situations for use of Wimba Pronto?
Where are you anticipating using Wimba Pronto?
What benefits is Wimba Pronto offering?
Time?
Environmental?
Opportunity to meet more frequently?
What is Wimba Pronto adding to ‘the student experience’?

Download information for students: http://wblb.wordpress.com/2010/09/14/wimba-pronto-a-guide-for-students/
PRACTICAL

How to create a Pronto account
On the Learning Network: http://learn.winchester.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=1203
Scroll down till you see this link on the right (see below)
Using this link for Wimba Pronto ensures that the system knows you are a member of Winchester staff/students, and makes the process of creating the ID (a one off process) very simple.
To access the system from there just go through your ‘start’ menu as you would for other programs. All programs  Pronto

Wimba Pronto
“Classmates”
Staff/Students are listed according to whether they are in a specific module.
Everyone here is “offline”, but the left-hand dot will change colour as these options demonstrate.

How to install Pronto at home
https://pronto.wimba.com/user/faces/settings.xhtml
“Download Wimba Pronto”
“Save File” (ProntoSetUp.exe)
Run & follow prompts

Password Recovery
https://pronto.wimba.com/user/

CUSTOMISING YOUR OWN ACCOUNT

Customisation: Appearance
Pronto  Preferences  Profile
Add
Email
Short biography (of help internally)
Choose Picture (it resizes it)
Click [+] to add web addresses

Customisation: Status Update
Select [+]
Write in “Title”, note only 1st word easily visible
Select “OK”
Choose from “drop-down box:

Privacy Options
Pronto  Preferences  Privacy
[+] ProntoID (not email address), i.e. Bex is drbexl
Sign in as invisible
Don’t show when I am typing
Make me invisible to anyone not in my classes or contacts

Other Screens in Preferences (1)

Other Screens in Preferences (2)

Options
In Pronto, go to “View”
Show Offline Contacts
Show Blocked Contacts
Show Classmates Without Pronto
Sort Contacts by First/Last Name
Sort Contacts by Availability
Show Group Counts
Expand/Collapse All Groups
Show Status Messages

You will automatically see those from your enrolled modules, so long as they have a Pronto account…
CONNECT WITH OTHERS

Adding “Contacts
By default  “Recently Added”
New Group?
 Actions
 New Group
 Choose Name
Drag & Drop
Double Click to view Bio (if added)

Group Chat
Great for regularly used groups
 Actions
 Invite to Group Chat
Select Group or “New Group Chat”
Option to add more users
Awaiting connection
Just communicate…

Function: Conference Call
Select a name in the right hand list
Select  Headphones
Click on “Talk” to start conversation

Functions: Video Call
Continue from the previous slide
Select  Webcam icon
Select the ‘shut-eye’ to activate your webcam
Click on “Talk” to start conversation
Note: Video uses up more bandwidth, so think whether you need it.

Functions: Whiteboard
Select Whiteboard
Use editing tools
Import Images, or use ‘Gallery’
New Canvas, see edits below
‘Permissions’ allows others to edit
Save (as .wwb)
Save canvas (as .pdf)
Note: Not always available on the University computers.

Functions: AppShare
Share areas of your screen
Select  AppShare
Drag the box to the size you need
The box defines the area of your screen to be shared so ensure that you have shut down email, etc. beforehand
Note: We’ve been having some issues with AppShare, under investigation

Adding an External Contact
Useful for working with other universities which have Pronto
You will need to know their ProntoID
Add to your contacts list, in a group if desired
Actions  Add Contact

Any time of day – you choose and advertise to other staff/students
Not restricted geographically
HOLDING OFFICE HOURS

Holding an ‘office hour’
Drop Down Box
 Office Hours
Your status changes from ‘available’ to Office Hours
Chat Window Opens
Student names appear, they will have been asked for a reason
‘Promote’/Automatic Promotion?
Demote or right-click on a user to remove them from the room
Preferably: You will need to have advised your students what time(s) you will be available

Custom Office Hours
Add “Title”
Change settings, including
Allowing/disallowing student chat in the waiting room
Automatic promotion
not requiring a reason for entering
Add a custom “Greeting” for the waiting room

Students can join…
Student double-clicks the name of the user whose Office Hours they wish to join.
Selects ‘Join’
Provides reason for joining
Joins “waiting Room”

Sending a Message to the Waiting Room

Ending an Office Hours Session
To End an Office Hours Session
Do one of the following:
Close the Office Hours Owner Window.
Change your status in the Status Bar to a non-Office Hours status.
If there are participants in the Waiting Room, the Close Office Hours window opens and gives you the option to send a message to the Waiting Room. Do one of the following:
Type a message in the text box and click Send.
Click Don't Send to end the Office Hours session without sending a message.
If there are no participants in the Waiting Room, a dialog appears asking you if you are sure that you want to close Office Hours. Click Close.

As with all meetings & classes, it’s important to establish the ‘rules of engagement’.
ETIQUETTE

Etiquette for Wimba Pronto
Have some practice sessions with others online before using for key sessions
Before beginning an AppShare, shut down or minimise any items which you do not want visible (e.g. Data which is sensitive)
Be cautious about using video & appshare simultaneously, as they are both bandwidth intensive. Be aware of users on low strength connections.
Arrive early for office hours to ensure that all the technology is working properly, and that you are available at the start of the session.
Check that your audio is working well.
If students are likely to be in the Waiting Room for a while, consider sending a message saying that it will be a while before you can work with them.
Set expectations re: the correct use of grammar, spelling, punctuation, and avoid the use of “text message” speech/acronyms
Retain all chat logs, in case one is needed for a grade appeal, etc.

Chatlogs
If you’re interested in keeping a record, investigate chatlogs – see what they keep a record of.
Do a search for ‘chatlog’ to identify where these save on your computer.
If this is key, consider using Wimba Classroom archiving facilities instead.

More?
Quick-start guides: http://www.wimba.com/services/instructor/pronto/
Further information: http://learn.winchester.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=1203#section-9 on the Learning Network
See more information http://wblb.wordpress.com/tag/wimba-pronto/ on the blog.

DISCUSS: Final Thoughts: Possibilities for Wimba Pronto?
So now what do you think Wimba Pronto can do for you?
What new ideas do you now have?
What further help do you still need?

Thank you for
your timeQUESTIONS?

Further Information
Learning Network: http://bit.ly/bllearnnet
Twitter: http://twitter.com/blwinch
Facebook: http://bit.ly/blfacebook
Blog: http://wblb.wordpress.com/
Email: bex.lewis@winchester.ac.uk

Wimba Pronto (Re-Edit)

by Bex Lewis

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