WizIQ

**Description:**
[|WizIQ] is a free on-line website that enables [|virtual education], allowing people to connect and interact live from anywhere in the world. No downloading of software is necessary to use this application. It is where teaching, learning, and delivery of information/knowledge take place through two way video, audio, and text. In addition, the sharing of [|whiteboards], images, and other documents is possible through WizIQ. Users can also search for specific content information. For example, students who desire learning about algebra can search and join public sessions under that topic or they can search a public document library that provides additional resources in the virtual classrooms. Moreover, WizIQ is suitable for any company or organization to hold seminars, meetings, and workshops on-line. Another similar application that enables a virtual learning space is [|Elluminate].

** Impact on Teaching and Learning: **
This website allows for a collaborative educational setting between teachers and students no matter where they may be: at home in Hawai`i, at a library in Japan, or at a friend's house in Switzerland--- as long as a computer and internet connection is accessible. With people having hectic schedules as they are balancing school, work, families, and other obligations, it is often difficult to fit in time to attend face-to-face meetings; therefore, [|distance education] can easily be achieved through this technological means. Teachers and students have the ability to participate in single or group interactions, which is automatically recorded for future retrieval. It also satisfies various [|learning styles]: auditory through voice chat and sound effects, visually through live video, graphics and animations, and kinesthetically through simulations with three-dimensional graphics and interactive activities. Furthermore, WizIQ supports learning at all levels: elementary thru college, in addition to professional development in specific fields. Using this application is also cost-efficient as it provides education world-wide, resulting in an increased number of trained students for less money. Generally speaking, more individuals can meet their academic and professional goals as WizIQ enables learning sessions to be convenient and accessible to both, the teacher and learner.

** Practical Applications: **
// **WizIQ provides a virtual classroom ideally in the event of:**   //
 * the inability to physically attend a class/group session
 * the inability to be virtually present in a scheduled meeting
 * having the desire to seek information/knowledge on a specific topic
 * having the desire to interact/communicate with other students/specialists on a specific topic
 * achieving effective distance education

**//WizIQ enables single or group interactions with teachers and students through://**
>> >> //*All sessions are automatically recorded for future retrieval//
 * live text chat
 * for discussions, debates
 * live voice chat
 * for discussions, debates, vocal expressions
 * live video
 * for demonstrations, performances
 * sharing of whiteboards, documents, other files
 * for creative means of presenting and sharing visual information, PowerPoint presentations, essay write-ups, articles, images
 * joining public sessions led by subject specialists
 * to gather information or to discuss a certain topic through live interaction
 * collecting information from a public document library
 * to seek knowledge and data from presentations uploaded by other users

// **Additional features for teachers include:**  //

 * scheduling sessions on a calendar provided on WizIQ
 * accepting payments from students


 

**//The Next Best Alternative to Classroom Teaching//**
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**//What Can You Teach and Learn?//**
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** References: **
[|The Official WizIQ Website] [|WizIQ - Free Virtual Classroom on the Web] [|WizIQ - Web 2.0 Education] [|Take a Tour on WizIQ]

** External Links: **
[|You Tube] [|Teacher Tube] [|WizIQ Blog] [|Virtual Classroom and Whiteboard]

** About the Author: **
Nicki Uechi is a first semester graduate student in University of Hawai`i's Master's in Educational Technology Program.