Wimba Create aka Course Genie

Wimba Create is a new product name for an existing product formally known as Course Genie. The software is being rebranded from its former name but you will see the two names being used interchangeably during the use of this product.

Periodically, new versions of the software are released and the branding is slowly changing to reflect the name change.

Throughout this Web site the two names will be used and some of the screen shots might not reflect the new branding but do show the products functionality.

Wimba Create (Course Genie)

Wimba Create is part of the Wimba suite of collaboration and communication tools and is more commonly known, and branded, as Course Genie. Wimba Create enables lecturers/teachers to quickly create media-rich learning materials using basic word-processing skills.

Wimba Create is an add-in to the Microsoft word-processing package, Word, and comprises a series of macros and mark-up styles for both Word 2003 and Word 2007. After applying the appropriate styles to a Word document, Wimba Create creates a self-contained Web site using the marked-up headings as the site’s navigation.

Why use Wimba Create?

The use of proprietary file format, such as Microsoft Word, PowerPoint etc. on the Web should, as far as possible, be avoided.

Proprietary file formats tend to be very large in comparison to the content they contain and they require software within the browser to convert the file to a readable format. The downloading and conversion of the original file takes time and uses valuable network bandwidth.

Wimba Create converts the original Word file into the Web’s native HTML file format and splits the file into a series of smaller files that are downloaded on request. The converted Word document is accompanied by a side navigation bar and also progress arrows that allow the original Word document to be read, if required, sequentially.

Media Rich Content

In addition to converting Word text files to HTML Wimba Create supports a variety of digital media including images, audio, video and Flash simulations. The original Word document can contain hyperlinks and structural information that can produce flashcards and a variety of self-assessment questions in the final converted file.