What are the features of the virtual classroom?
The VIRTUAL CLASSROOM Interactive Learning Tools are:
Handraising
LearnLinc instructors can view the list of students in a LearnLinc class. When a student clicks on their handraise icon, the instructor can see a hand appear next to their name on the student list. The instructor can then highlight the student name and give control of the LearnLinc classroom including course content and audio or video conferencing to the student, who is seen or heard by the entire class.
The interaction between students and between instructor and student is an important element of a successful class environment leading to greater involvement and student retention of course material.
Floor Control
LearnLinc Floor Control provides instructor control and classroom coordination. Currently, there are two floor control policies for LearnLinc classes: instructor-led and open discussion. Floor control determines three key elements during a LearnLinc class:
- who may launch applications for everyone in the class
- who has control of course content
- whose voice or video image is featured in the audio or video conferencing portion of the class.
Instructor-led Floor Control
Instructor-led Floor Control maximizes the control of the instructor. He or she decides who has the floor, when to give the floor to a learner, and when to take back the floor. The instructor can use "Privacy" to jump ahead in course content or use tools without being synchronized with the students. Learners can raise and lower their hands to be recognized by the instructor and address the entire class, just as in a traditional classroom.
Open Discussion Floor Control
Open Discussion Floor Control is similar to a roundtable discussion. During an open discussion class the instructor has no additional authority, and any learner can take control of the floor at any time. The open discussion floor control policy allows small groups to collaborate in highly dynamic class. Open discussion gives learners maximum freedom while maintaining order through floor control.
Q&A (Question & Answer)
LearnLinc Q&A can be used by an instructor or student to ask multiple choice or true/false questions during a class. The floor holder can ask one question at a time with up to five multiple-choice answers. Questions may be written ahead of time or composed spontaneously during a class. The answer results are displayed for the floor holder in easy-to-read percentages. Results can be shared with other class participants, or reviewed privately.
Q&A is a dynamic method to verify learner progress and comprehension. It encourages interaction and participation during a LearnLinc class, while allowing the instructor to assess learning results.
Feedback
Instructors can use LearnLinc Feedback to continuously poll learners about the progress of the class. Students select feedback answers such as "Faster," "Perfect," "Slower," and "Please Review." The instructor can see the percentages for each response. Instructors may create custom response sets or choose several default answer sets, including:
- Pace – Faster, Perfect, Slower, Please review
- Agreement - Strongly agree, Agree, Disagree, Strongly disagree
- Assignment Status - Not much progress, Still working, Almost finished, Completed
- True/False
- Yes/No
- A, B, C, D
Text Chat
LearnLinc Text Chat is a text-based communication tool that instructors and students can use to compose and exchange ideas and comments with everyone in a LearnLinc class. Students can also send private messages to the instructor. Everyone in the class can save text, paste text from other documents into text chat, and print a transcript of the text generated during a class. The instructor can allow all learners to use text chat, or restrict text chat to him or herself and the floor holder only.
LearnLinc Text Chat allows the exchange of ideas, brainstorming, and discussions without interrupting the flow of the class. Private messages allow students to ask questions they might not ask in a public forum.
Glimpse
Instructors can use LearnLinc Glimpse to grab a screen capture of any student desktop. The instructor can then see the status of the student work to correct a problem, or view an assignment.
