Elluminate TeleConference System

Getting Started

You need headphones and a microphone to participate in the online sessions, no way around it. If your computer or laptop has a mic built-in, then you can get away with just headphones. A headset is nice, but any mic and headphone combination should work. Rule Number One: do not play the audio out of your speakers, or when you want to talk it will feed through your mic and create a nasty echo for everybody. NO SPEAKERS.
We have had cases of USB headsets, Linux OS and Elluminate resulting in really choppy audio. Plugging into dedicated audio ports seems to work just fine in these instances. If you have discovered a fix for this, please let us know.
Please plan to arrive a few minutes early to each session so you can get all your equipment up and running properly.
In your web browser connect to the link that was distributed via the group email list.
Accept running the download - it is a Java application. (If you see something about Blackboard Collaborate, this is fine - it is the same application.)
You should see the whole Elluminate application once it downloads. If not, your Java could be to blame, especially if you are on Linux.
- In the case of Linux, be sure you have Sun's Java installed - in Ubuntu (Debian, too) pre-10.04 installing sun-java6-plugin may do everything you need.
- For Ubuntu 10.04 read here: http://sites.google.com/site/easylinuxtipsproject/java
When asked for a screen name, provide a real name, first and last, plus maybe a short version of your institution - this is what everybody will see you as when in the session.
If audio does not work properly, try the menu choice: Tools > Audio > Audio Setup Wizard. This will allow you to test your setup, set volume levels, select devices. It may not be necessary, but go here first if you think your audio is not working or you want to test your setup.
Setup problems? Try asking for help through the chat window, it should work no matter what.

Test Sessions

These will be opportunities to test out your gear and learn the system. Proper etiquette (as described below) will not be a feature of these sessions. Please use whichever computer and internet connection you plan to use during the sessions.

Wednesday, May 18
- 6:30 AM - 8 AM (PDT), 9:30 AM - 11 AM (EDT)
Thursday, May 19
- 11 AM - 1 PM (PDT), 2 PM - 4 PM (EDT)
Monday, May 23
- 8 AM - 9 AM (PDT), 11 AM - 12 Noon (EDT)

Etiquette

We will typically have one person presenting, while another organizer watches the chat window, the participant list, etc.
Use the chat window if you have a question that can wait a bit, or if you want to post a URL, or want to have a side conversation with another participant, but realize that moderators see all posts here.
To be recognized during a Q & A session, you can "put up your hand" - find the button just below the participant list, to the left. Please wait to be invited to speak so we don't have folks talking on top of each other.
To speak to the group, hit the talk button in the lower left, and if the volume meter for the microphone is active as you talk, then you are transmitting. Once done with a question or conversation, please turn off your mic using the talk button.
There is a polling feature below the participant list (green check, red x) that we may use to have you tell us when you have completed some short exercise or when checking if everybody is ready to go. Or we may use the "pace" feature and you can tell us to slow down or speed up.
Presenters may distribute themselves as video part of the time, but we will generally not require, or ask, participants to send video so you don't need a camera.
Generally, only presenters will share applications (the Sage notebook), though we could have participants share out their worksheets if they are having difficulty, especially during office hours.

Sharing Your Worksheet

During office hours, and perhaps during the sessions, there may be occasions where you will want to share a worksheet with the group. Here are the steps in Elluminate.

Open your worksheet in your web browser.
From the menu select Tools > Application Sharing > Host Applications, or find an icon that looks like a monitor with a big green right arrow.
You'll get a list of applications to share - choose the web browser running the worksheet.
Now, everybody in the session should see your worksheet. Try to keep other windows (Elluminate, or otherwise) from obscuring it, they just show up as grey blobs on everybody else's screen. Also, keep scrolling and window-resizing to a minimum, it can take a few seconds to refresh the window for everybody else.
Moderators: right-click on the name of the person hosting the application and you can "Request Control of Shared Applications." The participant will get a dialog box asking them to OK this, and once they confirm, you will see pink trim on the application window and will have control of the mouse and keyboard. You will be able to edit cells in their worksheeet to correct problems or demo a new approach.

Miscellaneous