Ways to ‘Jazz Up’ your Virtual Classroom20091Created by S. Hendy

This presentation refers to the use of Blackboard as a Virtual Classroom.Virtual Classrooms are more than a place to store resources, it is a place for students to interact and communicate with each other, respond to stimulus and reflect on their learning.The more interesting the Virtual Classroom the more students will want to participate.Here a few ideas:20092Created by S. Hendy

Menu BarTo change the look of the button panel, click here20093Created by S. Hendy

Select Course Design20094Created by S. Hendy

Select Course Design20095Created by S. Hendy

Here you can decide whether to have buttons or a panel of colour with textWhen you have decided you can choose the colour and style here. You might want to stick to a colour scheme20096Created by S. Hendy

Course BannerYou can add a course banner with the title of the subject or you could create a word cloud using www.wordle.net and adding text which is relevant to the course. 20097Created by S. Hendy

You can create a banner image many different ways. PowerPoint is a good alternative because it is quick, easy and effective.These slide dimensions work well for a Title BannerWidth: 35 cm and Height : 10cmSave the image as a .jpeg file.Here is an example of a word cloud which could be used for a Professional DevelopmentBlackboard Community20098Created by S. Hendy

To add a Course Banner, follow the same steps through the control panel and select Course Banner.20099Created by S. Hendy

Browse and upload your Banner image200910Created by S. Hendy

At the top of each section or for a new folder you can add a banner image with a title. You can add it as an item or add the image to a folder.An example of a Title Banner200911Created by S. Hendy

An example of Folder Banners, where you can click on the link and see the section indicated200912Created by S. Hendy

It is useful to create a Glossary section within a Virtual Classrooms. This can be in the form or a wiki where students can edit and add to the list as they learn new words.200913Created by S. Hendy

Paste in a table and add a letter per row. 200914Created by S. Hendy

Tables are great to use in Wikis. It adds structure and makes it easier to use and edit.Here is one which was used as a survey to collect information for a Games Unit. 200915Created by S. Hendy

Embed itemsYou can add interesting items to your Virtual Classroom. This can be done with basically anything that has an embed code.Copy the embed code from the website and then click on Toggle HTML Source Mode icon, Then Paste the code and then click on submit200916Created by S. Hendy

Talking AvatarsCreate a talking avatar. Add text and the voice is generated.Students hear the voice when they press the play button.You can give a welcome, introduction or instructions.http://www.voki.com/200917Created by S. Hendy

Add a map by going to Google maps, click on Links and copying the HTML codeMaps200918Created by S. Hendy

Add an interactive time line, choose one from the site or create your own.Students could create their own and have them added.Timelinehttp://www.xtimeline.com/200919Created by S. Hendy

SlidesEmbed slides, find presentations on related topics or create your own.http://www.slideshare.net/200920Created by S. Hendy

Embed a video or upload your own.Videoshttp://www.teachertube.com/200921Created by S. Hendy

Mind MapsAdd Mind Maps which students have created using any software or websites.You can save as a jpeg, do a screen shot or embed if given the option.Such as: http://www.mapul.com/http://mywebspiration.com/http://www.gliffy.com/http://www.mindomo.com/http://www.text2mindmap.com/http://www.bubbl.us/200922Created by S. Hendy

EbooksCreate your own ebook or browse for others http://www.scribd.com/http://www.myebook.com/http://www.wobook.com/200923Created by S. Hendy

ComicsAdd comics which you find or make yourself:http://www.howtoons.com/http://www.makebeliefscomix.com/http://www.stripcreator.com/make.phphttp://pixton.com/http://www.bitstrips.com/http://www.toondoo.com/200924Created by S. Hendy

http://www.mashon.com/spore/200925Created by S. Hendy

http://yogabbagabba.com/#/mashon200926Created by S. Hendy

http://www.organicallygrowngroup.com/html/e-cards.html200927Created by S. Hendy

http://mashon.com/hero108/ecard200928Created by S. Hendy

2009Created by S. Hendy29http://www.picapp.com/

AvatarsStudents can create their own profile and create an avatarhttp://www1.uk.mypersonalexpression.com/muggins/index.pdhttp://www.faceyourmanga.it/homepage.php?lang=enghttp://www.doppelme.com/http://www.myavatareditor.com/http://www.weeworld.com/http://www.manga.com/content/avatar-face-maker200930Created by S. Hendy