Wimba™ Workshop for the Bloomsburg University Writing Center

Scheduling an Appointment

•Log in to your Bloomsburg University email account.

•In the “To” Line, put the Writing Center’s email: buwc@bloomu.edu

•In the “Subject” Line, put Wimba™ Appointment.

•For the body of your email, provide the time frame(s) and date(s) that you are available so the Writing Center knows when to schedule your appointment. Provide your six-digit Bloomsburg ID # as well.

•Click “Send” to send the email.

Entering a Wimba™ Room

•Check your email for a link to the Wimba™ Set-up Wizard sent by the Writing Center.

•Click on the link provided in the email.

•You will be redirected to run the wizard. Run the software at least 24 hours in advance.

•You will need to do this the first time you enter the Wimba™ room.

•The first time you log in you will have to run a Wizard. A window will pop up asking you to accept the Java™ terms and conditions. Click “Accept”.

•Another window will pop up asking if you want to run or cancel the Java™ software. Click “Run”.

•Check your email again at the time of your appointment for a link to the Wimba™ room on the time and date of the session.

•Click on the link provided in the email.

•You will be redirected to the Wimba™ room.

•Enter the name you wish to be called in the bar labeled “Name” under “Participant Login”.

•Disregard the username and password labeled bars and click “Enter”.

•The Wimba™ software will open and you will see a message saying “Welcome to BUWC Consultant”. You will be redirected to a Wimba™ room.

•Allow time for the room to load and gain a strong internet connection indicated by three green bars in the lower left hand corner.

•To make sure you are in the correct room, you will see your consultant's name in the box under the bar titled “People” on the bottom of the screen as well as your own name.

Using the Chat Function

•Click on the white bar in the lower left hand corner.

•Begin typing a message that you would like to send to your consultant. Click “Enter” and your message has been sent.

•The white window in the lower left hand corner will display the conversation.

•The chat function can be used if you do not have a microphone or webcam on your computer.

Using the Talk Function•The call function is recommended if you have an unlimited minutes plan on your cellular phone (See “Using the Call Function”).

•Click and hold the button labeled “Talk” in order to speak with your consultant through a microphone.

•Release the button when you are finished speaking.

•You can hold the “Ctrl” key or the “F8” key on the keyboard in order to speak. (You can change between these two keys under the drop down menu labeled “Options” then click “Talk Hot Key”)

•Release the “Ctrl” key or “F8” key when you are finished speaking.

•You can speak to a consultant without the video connection only using the “Talk” function.

•The speaker icon indicates the consultant’s sound of speech with a row of bars.

•The person icon indicates your sound of speech with a row of bars.

Using the Video Function•If you would like to video chat with your consultant, let him or her know via the chat or talk function.

•Click on the video camera icon to open the video feed. If the consultant’s video feed does not appear right away, just wait for them to connect.

•1) Click on the eye icon on the left until it opens to connect with the tutor, and click on it again to end the connection.

•2) Click on the square icon in the center to hide the preview video that shows up in the right hand corner of the video screen.

•3) Click on the box with arrows on the right to maximize and expand the video feed screen. On the keyboard, press the “Esc” key to exit the full screen video feed.

•Click on the close button in order to completely leave the video feed.

* Depending on your internet connection, you may wish to change the video bandwidth. To do this, click on the “Options” drop down menu and click the option “Video Bandwidth”.

Using the Call Function•Click on the telephone icon.

•Record the phone number listed and the PIN as well for your reference.

•If you have an unlimited minutes plan, use your home or cellular phone to call this conference number to communicate during the session with your consultant.

•After you dial the phone number you will be asked to enter the PIN (the PIN is located underneath the telephone number).

•This can be used if you do not have a microphone or webcam on your computer.

Sharing Files

• Through any of the communication functions, tell the consultant you would like to share your document.

• The consultant will send an invitation. A window will appear asking if you want to “Share your desktop” with the consultant. Accept the consultant’s request to “App Share” and click “Okay.”

•Open your word document.

•Expand the window indicator to the size of your document. Click, hold, and drag the black boxes on the sides or corners of the window indicator box to expand the box.

•If you want to move the entire window indicator, click and hold the striped edges around the window.

•Toggle between the word document and the Wimba™ room if you are using the chat function or place both screens side by side for your convenience.

•The session can begin when you open your document and center it in the striped box.

•The consultant will end the file sharing at the end of the session.

Closing the Wimba™ Room

• Click on the “Exit” button in the lower right hand corner or click on the close button on the browser window.

Thank You for using this workshop. We hope that it was helpful. If you have any questions or comments please go to: http://www.wimba.com/services/support/

By: Briana Davis, Erin Marion, Sara Hoffman, Jordan Flaherty