Adobe Connect Online Class Student Guide What is an Online Class? Adobe Connect is a web conferencing software for conducting real time classes online. Depending on the purpose of your Online Class and how your Lecturer (i.e. Host) or Presenter has structured it, you may do one or more of the following: watch a presentation or slideshow see a screen that your Lecturer, a Presenter or a Participant has shared with you share your screen with others listen to your Lecturer and other Participants speak to others via audio (if the Lecturer gives you rights to) participate in polls and quizzes communicate via chat collaborate with others by writing or drawing on a whiteboard Use Headset/Headphones with In-built Microphone You must use a headset with a built-in microphone (e.g. Logitech USB headset). If not, the surrounding noise and the echo feedback will be distracting for other Participants. Make sure your headset is connected to your computer before you launch your browser and before you join the Online Classroom. Do these Checks before Joining the Online Class Test your Computer Readiness Before you attend your Online Class, test your connection at the Adobe Connect Meeting Diagnostic site: https://webconf.acu.edu.au/common/help/en/support/meeting_test.htm. This will let you know if you need to install the latest version of Adobe Flash Player or install the Adobe Connect Add-in. Plug in your Headset and Test the Volume Make sure your headset is connected to your computer before you join your Online Class Check that it is switched on (and not on mute) Check that the volume is loud enough to hear easily. Join the Online Class Click on the link to the Online Class in your LEO unit at the time and date given by your Lecturer. Click on the blue Join button. If your Lecturer is not yet in the Online Class you ll have to wait. Adobe Connect Student Guide 20180803 Page 1 of 5
Do the Audio Setup Wizard The first time you join an Online Class, and each time you use a different computer, complete the Audio Setup Wizard. Join the Online Class early to give yourself enough time to do this. Click on Meeting in the top left menu and select Audio Setup Wizard. Follow the prompts in the Audio Setup Wizard. You will be required to: Download the Adobe Add-in Click on Install Add-in and then click on Yes to install it now. Allow Flash Select Allow and Remember in Adobe Flash Settings dialogue box Click on the microphone icon at the bottom of the box and select Reduce Echo Click on Close. Configure your headphones and microphone Test the sound output by playing the sound to make sure you hear the music through your headset and not the computer. Select the microphone you are using from the drop-down menu. Don t select the computer microphone as this creates distracting audio feedback for other Participants. Tune the microphone volume by recording your voice and making sure the blue bar is moving. If you can t hear your voice recording then your audio is not set up properly. Check you have selected the correct headset and that your headset is not on mute. Participate in the Online Class The Online Class is an interactive space with many tools to help you actively participate. Chat Pod Communicate via text chat. Use it to interact with fellow students and to ask your Lecturer questions or make comments. Enter text in the text field and hit enter or the send icon. Page 2 of 5
Status Options Communicate using the icons in the status options. Click on the drop-down menu in the top menu. The selected icon will appear next to your name in the Attendee Pod. Clear the icons above the line by clicking on the status icon again. The icons below the line will disappear after a period of time. It is good netiquette to use the Raise Hand icon to ask a question, even if you have microphone rights. Speakers and Volume By default the speakers are enabled. You can adjust the volume by clicking on the drop-down list. Microphone Your Lecturer controls the rights to the microphone for all Participants. If they give you rights to speak in the Online Class you will see a white microphone icon in the top menu. Activate the Microphone To speak you must first activate (connect) the microphone click on the white icon to make it green. Mute or Unmute the Microphone If you have microphone rights (i.e. you can see a microphone icon), mute your microphone when you re not speaking so other Participants don t hear annoying feedback click on the green microphone to mute and click again to unmute.. Page 3 of 5
Collaborate in the Online Class You will join the Online Class as a Participant. However, during the Online Class your Lecturer may give you Presenter rights so you can: share your screen share documents write or draw on a whiteboard make notes in a note pod upload files to a file pod. To share your screen, share a document or create a whiteboard, make your selection from the drop-down list in the Share Pod and follow the prompts. Write and Draw on the Whiteboard A: Select tool: Select objects or pan while drawing B: Markers tool C: Delete tool: Use the Select tool first to highlight section to delete D: Text tool E: Shapes and Symbols tool: F: Undo Changes tool G: Redo Changes tool H: Set Colour tool I: Set Line Thickness tool J: Create New Page tool Stop Sharing the Whiteboard Beware of Stop Sharing. If you click on this you will erase everything and it is not reversible. Print or Export the Whiteboard Contents You can print the contents of the whiteboard or export the content and save it as a.png file or email yourself a snapshot. Go to the pod options menu in the top right corner and select your preferred method. Page 4 of 5
Write in the Notes Pod You can do simple formatting in the Notes Pod: change the font size make bold, italics or underline change the colour make a list. You can also export your note in two ways: save it to your computer as an Rtf email it to yourself. Access Online Classroom Recordings If your Lecturer has recorded the Online Classroom session you will be able to find the recordings by clicking on the Recording link. 1. Click on the link to the Adobe Connect Online Classroom in your LEO unit. 2. Click on the Recordings link Page 5 of 5