We have now added the Wimba Voice Tools to Blackboard.

What are the Wimba Voice Tools?  They provide the ability to add your voice, and your students' voices, to your Blackboard courses.  There are five tools:

Icon	Tool	Function
	Voice Authoring	Make an audio recording in any course content area.
	Voice Email	Send audio messages via email.
	Voice Board	Conduct an audio threaded discussion.
	Voice Presenter	Create an audio-enhaced, web-based slide show.
	Wimba Podcaster	Distribute your audio files via RSS syndication.

While the voice tools have obvious advantages for ESL and Foreign Language classes, they bring a new dimension to any class.  They can be used to

• Enhance the instructor’s presence and involvement with course materials
• Add additional, re-usable explanations of complex concepts
• Personalize engagement between instructors and students
• Teach correct pronunciation and provide audible learning cues to students
• Enhance the instructor’s ability to reach students who learn best by hearing,
• To better address students with visual and print disabilities,
• Add energy and interactivity to class discussions

Before beginning to work with the Voice Tools, run the Wimba Setup Wizard to be sure your computer can support them.  It will check for supported operating system, browser, java version, and microphone and speaker capabilities.  Click here ( 120K) for a PDF document that explains the technical requirements for running the Wimba Voice Tools.

We have developed an extensive set of training screencasts and PDF documents on how to use the new Voice Tools, linked from the table below.  Click the icon after the topic for access.

Topic	Screencast	PDF
How to use the Voice Authoring Tool (voice recorder)	(7:05)	(104K)
How to create a Voice Email in a Blackboard content area.	(15:18)	(219K)
How to create a Voice Email in the Blackboard communication area.	(8:20)	Use PDF  above
How to use a Voice Email archive.	(8:47)	Use PDF  above
How to create a Voice Board.	(14:12)	(306K)
How to use a Voice Board.	(12:36)	Use PDF  above
How to import an audio file to a Voice Board.	(7:50)	Use PDF  above
How to export audio files from a Voice Board.	(7:53)	Use PDF  above)
How to publish an audio message from a Voice Board as a stand-alone audio message.	(7:04)	Use PDF  above
How to use the Voice Presentation tool.	(16:22)	(249K)
An alternate method for creating an audio slide show with the Voice Presentation tool.	(7:46)	Use PDF  above
How to use the Wimba Podcaster.	(16:18)	(208K)
How to subscribe to a podcast created with the Wimba Podcaster.	(7:52)	Use PDF  above
How to save any individual audio message.	(5:13)
Warning about the Wimba Voice Announcement Tool	(3:38)

You will also find these screencasts and PDFs, along with some other materials, samples and an "experimentation area" in the Blackboard Academic Technology training course.  To access it, just login to Blackboard and click on "Academic Technology Training" in the My Courses area listed under "Courses in which you are enrolled".  If you want to play with the voice tools without actually deploying them in your Blackboard courses, you can always do so on the Blackboard sandbox.

If you need assistance in setting up or using the Wimba Voice Tools, do not hesitate to request technical support from Academic Technology.  There are three ways to get support:

1) Submit a Help Ticket
2) Email onlineclasses@palomar.edu, or
3) Call (760) 744-1150 ext. 2862

Other Resources

• Wimba web site
• Wimba Voice products
• "Wimba Voice: Give Students a Voice" pamphlet (752K)
• "Wimba Voice Tools" - the podcaster and presentation tools - pamphlet (587K)