For example, we might have a handful of full-time English professors on one of our campuses who need to connect with the hundreds of other English professors at our 29 other sites. We wanted, and needed, to promote new kinds of teamwork across our staff, and we wanted them to be able to interact on their own terms – comfortably.
Our solution had to be a tool that was easy to use and one that would integrate our resources in a better, faster, and more efficient way. In the past, we relied on our learning management system (LMS) for a great deal of resources.
Why not factor instant messaging (IM), along with voice and web conferencing, into that equation? Since we trusted our LMS – Blackboard Learn – and our faculty was more than satisfied with it as an engagement platform, we looked to leverage that platform as a base for a range of other tools.
Ivy Tech adopted Wimba in 2006 to meet our basic needs in instant messaging.
In 2010, in order to satisfy our growing requirement for more robust and resourceful engagement tools, we made the decision to adopt Blackboard Collaborate, a new interactive learning environment combining the strengths of Wimba and Elluminate. A driving force behind our decision to adopt this new type of social learning technology was the fact that the platform was built solely for education.
Instantly, we saw a transformation in the way our faculty worked together at our institution. Blackboard Collaborate gives our staff members the tools they need to create audio and video presentations quickly and effectively.
Our goal was to allow faculty to move ahead with their planning, teaching, and meetings without wasting time. One of the most powerful elements of using collaborative, real-time solutions is that our faculty can now access any part of any campus at any time, a reality that improves education on an individual level and enhances instructor effectiveness.
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