Wimba Classroom 5.2 Expands Classroom Capture Support, Adds MP3 Downloads

At the NECC 2008 conference in Texas this week, Wimba launched a new version of Wimba Classroom, the virtual classroom component of the company's Collaboration Suite. The new 5.2 release expands options for classroom capture and adds a variety of other functional and ease of use features.

Wimba Classroom is a virtual classroom that supports audio, video, application sharing, and other interactive features for online classroom environments. It's designed for pure online classes and blended learning situations and is targeted toward both student instruction and teacher professional development applications for both K-12 and post-secondary education.

The new version 5.2 expands some of the existing features from the previous incarnation of Wimba Classroom and also adds new enhancements. Some of the new features include:

  • Integrated support for downloading MP3 files stored as classroom content;
  • Support for more devices for classroom capture;
  • New features for the whiteboarding toolkit, including highlighter and rectangle tools;
  • New features for students taking over presentations (called "Presenter On-The-Fly");
  • Enhanced user interface, including the ability to resize participant and chat areas; and
  • An Analytics API tool for reporting on attendance and participation.

Wimba Classroom 5.2 is available now. It supports Mac OS X, Windows, and Linux. Further information is available here.

About the Author

David Nagel is the former editorial director of 1105 Media's Education Group and editor-in-chief of THE Journal, STEAM Universe, and Spaces4Learning. A 30-year publishing veteran, Nagel has led or contributed to dozens of technology, art, marketing, media, and business publications.

He can be reached at [email protected]. You can also connect with him on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidrnagel/ .


Featured

  • glowing digital shield with a checkmark in the center, surrounded by interconnected lines and nodes on a dark blue background with subtle circuit patterns

    Navigating CMMC 2.0: New Cybersecurity Standards Impact Higher Education

    In October 2024, the Department of Defense published a new update to its Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification enforcing new cybersecurity standards on universities and colleges. With Phase 1 beginning this year, here's what the new requirements mean for higher ed.  

  • glowing futuristic laptop with a holographic screen displaying digital text

    New Turnitin Product Brings AI-Powered Tools to Students with Instructor Guardrails

    Academic integrity solution provider Turnitin has introduced Turnitin Clarity, a paid add-on for Turnitin Feedback Studio that provides a composition workspace for students with educator-guided AI assistance, AI-generated writing feedback, visibility into integrity insights, and more.

  • Stylized illustration showing cybersecurity elements like shields, padlocks, and secure cloud icons on a neutral, minimalist digital background

    Microsoft Announces Security Advancements

    Microsoft has announced major security advancements across its product portfolio and practices. The work is part of its Secure Future Initiative (SFI), a multiyear cybersecurity transformation the company calls the largest engineering project in company history.

  • Two digital hands made of interconnected lines and nodes shaking hands firmly against a minimal technological background

    IBM to Enhance Watsonx Portfolio Through DataStax Acquisition

    IBM has announced it will acquire AI and data solutions provider DataStax, in a move aimed at enhancing its watsonx portfolio and advancing generative artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities for enterprises.