Wimba Collaboration Suite Gets Hosted Moodle Integration

• By David Nagel
• 04/22/09

Wimba and Moodlerooms have partnered to offer a hosted implementation of the Wimba Collaboration Suite within Moodle, the popular open source learning management system.

Moodlerooms is a Moodle partner and provider of services centered around the Moodle LMS. Wimba is a developer of interactive collaborative technologies for K-12 schools and post-secondary institutions, including the Collaboration Suite, which includes four of Wimba's communications tools: Classroom (a virtual classroom environment); Pronto (an instant messaging and voice chat tool); Voice (a live audio tool); and Create (a utility for converting Word documents to LMS-friendly formats).

Moodle is one of the most popular learning management systems available. The open-source LMS, as of this writing, has more than 31 million users participating in nearly 2.9 million courses at more than 53,000 registered sites, according to Moodle's published statistics.

The Collaboration Suite already offers integration features with Moodle that allow it to be accessed and used like any other tool within Moodle. However, the partnership with Moodlerooms will provide hosted solutions within Moodle to make the tools "easily accessible to teachers and students so they can improve student achievement, address multiple learning styles and participate in engaging, interactive courses online within Moodle," according to information released by the companies.

"We are delighted to be partnering with Wimba. The powerful collaboration and communication tools of the Wimba Collaborative Suite create a truly dynamic, blended learning environment," said Moodlerooms CEO Martin Knott in a statement released this week. "The combination of Moodlerooms and Wimba allows users to synchronously see, hear and work with each other within their Moodle courses, just as they would in a traditional classroom--with the added convenience of not actually having to be in the same location."

A webinar discussing the integration will be held April 28. Further information can be found here.

About the Author

David Nagel is editorial director, education for 1105 Media's Public Sector Media Group and editor-in-chief of THE Journal. A 22-year publishing veteran, Nagel has led or contributed to dozens of technology, art and business publications.

He can be reached at dnagel@1105media.com. You can also connect with him on LinkedIn at or follow him on Twitter at @THEJournalDave (K-12) or @CampusTechDave (higher education).