WizIQ Blog

Just launched - the new developers’ portal on WizIQ for easy virtual classroom integration in websites

We just opened a developer portal, from where website owners can integrate WizIQ Virtual Classroom in their websites, CMS/LMS systems using the WizIQ API.

WizIQ has supported web services for some time, allowing users to integrate the Virtual Classroom into any website or content management system that supports the education and training markets. New RESTful APIs are now fully documented on developer.wiziq.com. WizIQ will be providing more direct support through this site to users looking to leverage these APIs.

WizIQ will also be investing over the next several months in creating turnkey and/or well-documented integrations with such open source learning projects as Instructure Canvas, openLMS, Centre SIS, and openSIS. These solutions will become available on developer.wiziq.com and will complement our existing Moodle module, Building Block for the Blackboard LearnTM platform, as well as plugins for proprietary systems.

WizIQ's Virtual Classroom enables organizations, teachers and learners to connect live from anywhere, offering real-time collaboration and communication.

The WizIQ Virtual Classroom features include:

• Activities from your own website - schedule, manage and conduct live classes
• Live online classes to small or large number of attendees simultaneously
• Attendance report
• Co-brand WizIQ Virtual Classroom with your logo
• Multi-way audio (any number of attendees can speak at the same time)
• 4 live video streams
• Text chat
• Advance Whiteboard tool
• Content sharing (DOCX, PPT, XLSX, PDF, Videos, etc.)
• Recording and archiving - all classes are recorded for review
• Support available for seamless integration
• Get simple pricing plan that suits your need

For a complete developer’s guide, visit http://developer.wiziq.com/overview

WiZiQ Live Class Module for Moodle Now Works with Moodle 2.0.2

Here is an update for WiZiQ Live Class Moodle Module users:

WiZiQ’s Moodle plugin 2.0 is available for Moodle 2.0.2 users

Some FAQs:

1. Is this update for 1.9 users, too?

It’s simple!

a) WiZiQ Moodle module plugin 1.9 is for Moodle 1.9 users.
b) WiZiQ Moodle module plugin 2.0 is for Moodle 2.0.2 users.

If you want to upgrade your current Moodle LMS 1.9 to 2.0.2, then you need to install the WiZiQ Moodle module plugin 2.0 in order to use Virtual Classroom and Content Library in your website.

2. I don’t want to upgrade my Moodle installation from Moodle 1.9.0 to Moodle 2.0.2. Can I still install this WiZiQ moodle plugin 2.0?

This new plugin is only for WiZiQ Moodle module users who want to install the new version, Moodle 2.0.2. If Moodle 1.9 users do not have a WiZiQ moodle plugin 1.9 yet, they can download and install from here.

Please note: To download the right version, you will get options to choose from, once you are registered and logged in.

For any queries or support, do write to us at [email protected]

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Annual Edu Conference - Connecting Online 2011 (CO2011) - February 4-6, 2011

Welcome to the annual Connecting Online 2011 (CO11), live online conference. You are cordially invited to participate at the live online conference starting from the 4th of February to the 6th of February, 2011.

Educators at all levels will find this conference very useful, as many eminent intellectuals from across the globe will be holding webinars (web based seminars) on a variety of topics that help you understand:

• The importance of integrating technology into traditional classroom teaching
• Social networking, digital learning and best practices
• Moodle and other APIs that augment existing LMSs (Learning Management Systems)
• Challenges that educators, administrators, students, and community members face in online learning/teaching
• Independent e-learning strategies, etc.

This is a rare event and happens only once a year. This event is not only useful to educators, but also to administrators, students, and community members. So, we suggest that you do not miss CO11. Register for the webinars by clicking the title links below:

WiZiQ Makes Teaching in Moodle More Exciting Now!

Now access content from your own Moodle site in WiZiQ's Virtual Classroom

Here's a very exciting feature update for WiZiQ's Live Class for Moodle module users. Where teachers had to wait for content to upload, and they had to upload the same content every time they held a class for the same topic, it now gets super easy with uploading content in advance and simply using the uploaded content again and again without having to wait for uploading and subsequent file conversion.

How it works

Now you can manage files and folders from your own Moodle site in WiZiQ's Live Class for Moodle module with ease. You can upload a variety of file formats to the content library -  maintain them, organize files in folders, and use them whenever you need those files in your Virtual Classroom sessions. Also, instead of uploading files directly from your personal computer to your Virtual Classroom whenever you hold a session, you can upload the files to your content library much in advance, store them, and use them in all your future live classes. By uploading content to your content library in advance, you are actually saving on file processing time, thus saving your own time. Below are some more details about file formats, and useful tips for managing content:

Here are some screenshots:

Figure 1

A list of folders and some files in the snapshot above.

Figure 2

From the image above, you can see a file organised inside the folder, IIT_JEE. Just click on the image for a magnified view.

Supported file formats:

1. Presentations : ppt, pptx, pps, ppsx
2. Documents : pdf, doc, rtf, docx
3. Spreadsheets : xls, xlsx
4. Video : wav, wms, flv, mov, avi, mpeg, wmv
5. Audio : mp3
6. Flash : swf

Single file size limit :

• Documents, Presentations, Spreadsheets : Less than 20 MB
• Audio and Video: 50MB
• Flash: 20 MB
• Each pdf document should be less than 100 pages

With this new feature added, a user can:

• Create and name the folders that are relevant to specific courses
• Upload files in appropriate folders
• Use the content in your live classes from the content library rather than uploading it from your desktop every time
• Delete folders/files when you don't need them anymore

Some tips for managing your content:

• Upload your content well in advance as the built-in software in WiZiQ's Moodle module takes some time to convert your files to Virtual Classroom compatible format
• Create folders and give names that are easy to remember and relevant to the subjects you teach. Naming content appropriately makes your browsing easy.
• Upload as many files as you want (please look at the 'single file size limit' section at the top)

'Schedule Now' option

Along with this new feature there is another update to the 'schedule class' section of WiZiQ's Live Class for Moodle module. If you have to schedule and start a class right away, you can now simply check an empty box that you see right opposite the 'Schedule Now' field.

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WiZiQ's Best Web Conferencing Moodle Module Ever - Now Available

Here's some great news for all who have been looking forward to an update on our Web conferencing  module for Moodle. Yes, our Moodle module has just been updated to version 1.1. We have added a lot of usable features and improvements to help teachers and students make the best use of this module. There are improvements in module installation, Virtual Classroom features, recordings, rescheduling, scheduling for groups, etc. Here are the details:

Virtual Classroom Features

1.      Screen Sharing is supported
2.      Teachers can enter the class before start time
3.      Attendees can be blocked selectively
4.      You-Tube videos are supported
5.      Virtual Classroom can be co-branded with your own name
6.      Chat can be disabled for all attendees

Download Recordings

Class teachers and students can now download recordings of the classes they attend. Class downloads allow you to:

1.      View classes offline (Internet connection is not required)
2.      Distribute your recordings on CD/DVDs
3.      Own your recordings forever using your own storage media

Change class date and time and other options after you schedule a class

Reschedule a class - Time and date changes made to classes will automatically reflect in your Moodle calendar.

Schedule a class for a group in your course

You can choose to schedule a class for a group or groups in that course. Only group members have access to your class.

Easier Installation

Now the Soap module is not required to install the Live Class module, which was a requirement in previous versions.

Secure class

- All scheduled classes are secure and accessible only to members to attend
- The Presenter can invite other member(s) to join a class by simply sending the class link
 
Secure recordings

- Only the attendees in the class get access to the class recording
- A common link to the recording is provided to the Presenter, which can be distributed to others for viewing

See class status and attendance reports for your classes

- Track the status of the class scheduled, missed or done
- View attendance of all class participants with details like time of entry and exit

Download the new Moodle module now!

If you have general questions about this module update, you are welcome to start a discussion on e-teaching Community so that other teachers can also benefit. You can also go through the past discussions on Moodle module from the links below.

My Wonderful Experience with Moodle for Teachers and WiZiQ, From A Learner's Perspective...Me, by Jeanine Jenkins

Moodle class module, by Amy Joe Garner

Special thanks to all teachers and administrators who provided us valuable inputs to improve this module. We hope that this module helps teachers interface better with students for an enhanced teaching and learning experience. We look forward to your comments and feedback.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays - Rounding up 2009

We wish all you teachers and students a Very Merry Christmas and we wish that you enjoy your holidays and have super fun! We also wish that you get all happiness and prosper even more in 2010 and beyond.

Christmas Greetings

See more presentations by authorSTREAM | Upload your own PowerPoint presentations

The year 2009 has proved to be significant not only for WiZiQ, but also for the entire family of teachers and students. With membership growing consistently, WiZiQ has come a long way with the support and feedback from teachers and students. WiZiQ introduced a blend of rich features and add-ons in 2009 and we have even more ambitious plans for 2010. Let us take a quick look at all enhancements that happened in 2009:

Paid Online Classes - Teachers earn from Paid Classes

Some of the features in Paid Online Classes will be released tomorrow so watch the blog. Update!! [23 Dec]This release just went through. See More reasons to celebrate

• User friendly interface
• Schedule Paid Classes
• Resend invite to members
• Change class date and time
• Set recording price
• Manage recording access for each attendee
• View attendance report
• Manage class comments
• Review class feedback and choose to display on your profile
• Track your class payments

Learning Requests - Students make Learning Requests

• Submit your Learning Request
• Get unprecedented choice of teachers
• Teachers who can best handle your request contact you
• Start learning online from anywhere in the world in the Virtual Classroom via the Internet

Learning Request Alerts for Teachers - Teachers get Learning Requests

• Receive students’ Learning Requests right in your email inbox
• Get direct contact access (email & phone numbers)

Class Recordings – New and improved recordings

• Better interface
• Better synch of the audio and video
• Screen sharing recording
• Full screen view
• Swift switching with the time-line--no more slides
• Set recording price

Screen Sharing - Teachers and students share each others' desktop screens and thus share files

• Simple click start and stop functions
• Full-screen sharing
• Improved quality with faster performance and shared screens also appear in class recordings 

WiZiQ Communities - Members participate in community discussion forums

• Connect with members from around the world
• Participate in discussions and increase your visibility
• Learn from the experiences shared by other members
• Ask questions and get answers in community discussions

Online Courses - Teachers can sell courses and earn more

• Teachers can submit requests to build courses
• Courses enable teachers to consolidate and sell "learning objects" as course materials
• Variety of file formats accepted as "learning objects", like PDF, Video, Audio, PPT, Word, PowerPoint, Flash, etc.

Online Practice Tests - Teachers can create tests and students can attempt and practice

• Enhanced test creation console for teachers
• Teachers can now share tests with students and get their score
• Free-hand drawings tool added to test creation console
• Mathematics symbols also added
• images can be uploaded and included in tests now

WiZiQ for Organizations – Enterprise version of WiZiQ

• Give or attend a class without signing up on WiZiQ
• Integrate WiZiQ Virtual Classroom with your website
• Simultaneous Classes

Virtual Classroom for Moodle - (Part of the Organizations offering above) Teachers and students can interact using the new improved Virtual Classroom module in Moodle 

• No sign-up on WiZiQ is required to give or attend a class in Moodle
• High quality recordings are available for later reviews
• 30 day Trial version with up to 10 participants, 3 recordings and unlimited classes
• Choose from flexible, no-strings-attached pricing packages with more participants 

We are all ears for your feedback so that together, we can build WiZiQ and make it the platform of choice to solve all education needs.