Wimba and the Virtual School: Embracing the Digital Age

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• Wimba and the Virtual School Embracing the
  Digital Age
• Presenters
• Yahrasiel Colbert
• Amanda Brooks

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Wimba and the Virtual School

• Embracing the Digital Age

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The Virtual School DeKalb Online Academy

• DeKalb Online Academy (DOLA) is a part of the
  DeKalb County School System (DCSS)
• DCSS serves 102,000 student in 143 schools and
  centers.

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The Virtual School DeKalb Online Academy

• Conceptualized in 2003
• Launched in 2004 with 74 students and 12 course
  offerings
• Currently serve over 2,250 students and 40 course
  offerings including six Advanced Placements
  courses

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The Virtual School DeKalb Online Academy

• Dr. Regina Merriwether- Principal
• Meta Lee- Instructional Technology Specialist
• Angela Robinson- Computer Support Specialist
• LaSonya Kirkland- Instructional Paraprofessional
• Amanda Brooks- Social Studies Instructor
• Yahrasiel Colbert- Health/Physical Education
  Instructor
• Dr. Diane Langston- English/Language Arts
  Instructor
• Sharon Sutton- Career Technology Instructor
• Ashleigh Thacker- World Languages Instructor
• Steven Thedford- Science Instructor
• Melissa Walker- Mathematics Instructor

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The Virtual School DeKalb Online Academy

• The Mission of DeKalb Online Academy is to
  provide virtual educational experiences that
  afford access to learning and achievement which
  are accessible anytime, anyplace, and at any
  pace, which reflects the desires and needs of the
  community.

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The Virtual School DeKalb Online Academy

• The Vision of DeKalb Online Academy and all
  stakeholders is to create a virtual K-12 school
  that prepares students to be global learners in
  the digital age, ensuring their individual
  potential to become contributing citizens and
  life-long learners.

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What DOLA Offers

• English/Language Arts
• Mathematics
• Science
• Social Studies
• Health/Physical Education
• World Languages
• Latin
• Spanish
• French
• Business/Instructional Technology
• AP Courses
• Calculus
• English Lit/Comp
• World History
• U.S. History
• Computer Science

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The Many Facets of DOLA

• During the Day
• Beyond the Day
• Credit Recovery
• Senior 20-Day Mini Session

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Why Our Students Love DOLA

• During the Day courses are at no cost to the
  student.
• Great options for scheduling conflicts,
  singletons, remediation and acceleration.
• Teacher shortages in World Languages, Science and
  Mathematics
• Hospital Homebound Students
• Alternative Schools
• Students needing half Carnegie Units
• Transfer students who need additional credits

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How Wimba Enhances DOLA
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Wimba Bridging the Gap Benefits of the Wimba
Classroom

• PowerPoint Guided Instruction
• Multi-way and follow the speaker video
• Polling and survey capabilities
• Application Share feature
• Webquests
• Simulations
• Access to desktop
• Web Share feature
• E-Board features

Wimba. (2009). Wimba Classroom for K-12 and
Schools. Retrieved from www.wimba.com on March
23,2009.
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Wimba Bridging the Gap Benefits of the Wimba
Classroom

• Anytime Access
• Office Hours
• Tutoring Sessions
• Study Groups/Meetings
• Call in feature
• Text/Chat capabilities
• Eliminates Traditional Classroom Distractions
• Engages Multiple Intelligences
• Archiving Capabilities

Wimba. (2009). Wimba Classroom for K-12 and
Schools. Retrieved from www.wimba.com on March
23,2009.
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Wimba Bridging the Gap Benefits of Wimba Voice

• Voice Recorder
• Voice Podcaster
• Voice Presentation
• Voice Discussion Board

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Wimba in Action
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Polls and Surveys

• Icebreakers
• Data Collection
• Promotes interaction amongst students

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Simulations

• PowerPoint Games
• Flash Games
• Web Links
• Web Quests

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Breakout Rooms

• Collaboration
• Group Assignments
• Multiple Content Management

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The eBoard

• Acts like a white board
• Annotate Slides
• Import Images
• Take Screenshots
• Ability to enable participants to use eBoard tools

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Wimba Voice Recorder

• Add instructors voice to enhance presence
• Verbally explain complex material
• Add spoken announcements to course sites
• Teach pronunciation, rhythm, stress, and emphasis

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Wimba Voice Podcaster

• Create and Distribute podcasts
• Import/ Export Capabilities
• Subscribe Features
• RSS Feed

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Wimba Voice Presentation

• Vocal messages with web content
• Author Narrated Web Tours

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Wimba Voice Discussion Board

• Engage in audio based threaded discussions
• Verbal Assessment

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The Benefits of DOLA

• Enjoyed an 88 passing Rate!

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Questions and Answers
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Contact Information

• Yahrasiel Colbert-
• Yahrasiel_Colbert_at_fc.dekalb.k12.ga.us
• http//208.185.32.85/launcher.cgi?roomHealth
• 678-676-1059
• Amanda Brooks-
• Amanda_D_Brooks_at_fc.dekalb.k12.ga.us
• http//208.185.32.85/launcher.cgi?roomABrooksTuto
  rial
• 678-676-1145

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References

• www.dekalbonlineacademy.org
• www.dekalb.k12.ga.us
• www.wimba.com