Virtual Classroom

You can use the Virtual Classroom to set up real-time online classroom discussions, extra-help sessions, and office hour question-and-answer forums. You can use the Virtual Classroom toolbar to control or clear the display, select the features available to passive and active users, end the session, or create small group discussions.

After you enter the Virtual Classroom, you can perform a variety of tasks, including:

• Managing a Virtual Classroom session, such as adding content, answering questions, and so on

• Using the whiteboard, such as by drawing or selecting objects

Here is the instructor view of the Virtual Classroom:

You can create a recording of everything except private messaging that occurs during a Virtual Classroom session by recording it. Archives are saved by date; if two or more collaboration sessions occur on the same day, they are included in the same archive. You can create recordings, browse recordings, and remove recordings.

When working with the Virtual Classroom, consider the following:

• Virtual Classroom is a Java applet and therefore may take a few minutes to load into a browser window.

• To participate in a Virtual Classroom session, all participants (instructors and students) must have the Java Plug-in installed.

• Unlike the Discussion Board, the Virtual Classroom is synchronous (occurs in real-time). Be sure to notify students about a scheduled Virtual Classroom session to ensure attendance.

• Sometimes a Virtual Classroom session can be overwhelming if there are too many users. Consider dividing students into several small groups to keep the conversation manageable.

• You cannot print from within the Virtual Classroom Java applet. However, you can print a recording of a Virtual Classroom session.

• If you are planning to use the Virtual Classroom a lot in your course, you might want to add a Virtual Classroom button to the course menu so you and your students can access the Virtual Classroom with a single click.

Notes:

• You determine what students can do and which features they can use in a Virtual Classroom session.

• You can make students active or passive in a Virtual Classroom session.