WiZiQ Blog

Scheduled Maintenance on WiZiQ

We are performing routine maintenance on WiZiQ, which will not be available on:

Dec. 2, 2007, from 11:00 PM to Dec. 3, 2007, 4:00 AM (GMT)

During this time, access to all sections of WiZiQ, and virtual classroom sessions will be impacted. If you schedule a session during this time period, you will not be able to run it. We therefore recommend not to schedule a session for the above-given duration of maintenance downtime.

This is important so that WiZiQ remains in top shape to serve you better. You can add a comment here or send us an email at support@wiziq.com if you have any questions. Thanks in advance for your patience.

This time conversion tool is quite helpful to convert GMT to your time zone.

Jagdeep Singh Pannu

Video Feedback on Mark's WiZiQ Demo

Mark Cruthers recently did a demo with Nellie from Israel. Nellie wants to use WiZiQ for distributed learning, using audio and video for synchronous and asynchronous instruction. She sent us this video comment as feedback. Thank you very much Nellie. We would love to have you on WiZiQ.

Jagdeep Singh Pannu

Virtual Classroom Protocol and Enhancements

WiZiQ Session with Vance and the Gang

Hala writes on the Webheadsheaven blog about the "WiZiQ session with Vance and the gang". The session was a lot of fun, writes Hala, but:

"The only thing which was annoying was the echo and the delay of voice." Hala also writes that the font was not very user friendly, and, "However, it does hold great potentialites to be used with students.I am glad I made it there!!"

Yes, you are absolutely right Hala, about using it effectively for teaching; just like in a brick and mortar classroom, if protocol is followed in a virtual classroom, the results can be awesome. We know quite well that if the teacher permits all students to speak at once, there is utter chaos; similarly protocol needs to be followed in WiZiQ's virtual classrooms, if the teacher wants to have an effective session.

Protocol for the Virtual Classroom

For this, it is highly recommended that all attendees use headphones, and the teacher transfers control selectively to attendees who want to interact. I would do it one attendee at a time and see if the audio is working well every time I transfer control. If there is an echo, it is because the attendee in question is using speakers and has the mike enabled.

We also recommend that sessions are attended in full screen mode (as they are launched). This would help get more visibility in the chat window, which makes chat more readable.

Upcoming Enhancements

Also, as I informed in the comment on Hala's post, our development team is working on the next release, which should be out shortly. A number of enhancements to the virtual classrooms are being implemented including the ability to upload Microsoft Excel and Word files, and interface enhancements with more intuitive controls. The upcoming release would offer the option to upload .jpg, .gif, .swf, .ppt, .pps, .pdf, .doc, and .xls files.

Jagdeep Singh Pannu

Jen on WiZiQ and Ustream.tv

Jen writes about WiZiQ and ustream.tv in 2 Great Tools. Jen is not sure about why WiZiQ is free and guesses right that we:

"will eventually add something you have to pay for"

Well Jen, I already answered this most common question here: "Surprised WiZiQ is Free? You are not alone! Let me answer this again.

The present service is basic service. This would always be free; rather we will be adding more features to this basic service, which would be free too. Then, at a later stage, we will add some power features for, well, power users, which would be available at a nominal cost.

So go ahead and use WiZiQ as much as you want to. We have no plans to charge on what you are using at this time.

Jagdeep Singh Pannu

Maria H Andersen's Review

Maria H. Andersen  tried out WiZiQ with Shiela and Laura. Maria writes in her post, Technology Review WizIQ:

"Three of us (on both Macs and PCs) went out to cyberspace tonight to try out WizIQ to see if it might be suitable for online office hours."

Maria also provides a wish list, which is quite interesting; You can see my reply on where we stand vis-a-vis the wish list, in the comments section of the post.

Jagdeep Singh Pannu