Student Guide to Live Tutoring at the Kaplan University Writing Center

Transcription

1 Writing Tutor Links and Schedule Page 2 Entering the Live Tutoring Room Page 3 Student Guide to Live Tutoring at the Kaplan University Writing Center Breakout Room and Microphone Page 5 Welcome Screen, Audio Setup, and Chat Page 4 Sharing Your Writing: Note Pod and Whiteboard Page 6-7 Sharing Files and Screen Pages 8-11 This guide illustrates how to use Adobe Connect 9, the Live Tutoring platform of the Kaplan University Writing Center. For questions about Live Tutoring in the Writing Center, please reach out to the Writing Center staff at [email protected]. For information on other Writing Center services, please refer to Accessing and Using the Writing Center: A Guide and Invitation. Exiting Adobe Connect Page 11 Student Guide to Live Tutoring at the Writing Center February, 2013 Page 1

2 Writing Tutor Links and Schedule To access the Live Tutoring service, begin on the Writing Tutor Web page where you will find the link to the tutoring room as well as the hours of operation. Please follow these steps: 1. Log into KU Campus using your username and password. On the My Studies menu, select Academic Support Center (Figure 1). Figure 1. In KU Campus, select My Studies on the top navigation bar, and scroll to and select Academic Support Center. 2. On the Writing Center menu click Writing Center to go to the homepage or Writing Tutor to go to the Writing Tutor page (Figure 2). Figure 2. In the Academic Support Center, click Writing Center or Writing Tutor on the Writing Center menu. 3. On the Writing Center homepage, click Writing Tutor on the left navigation menu (Figure 3) or in the Writing Tutor box near the middle of the page (Figure 4). 4. On the Writing Tutor page, refer to the Hours table for the current tutoring schedule. Hours occasionally change, so Figure 5 is only a sample. Then click m/kuwctutor (Figure 6) to go to the Live Tutoring login page. Figures 3 and 4. On the Writing Center homepage, use either of the Writing Tutor links to access the tutoring schedule and tutoring room. Figures 5 and 6. Live Tutoring hours occasionally change. Refer to the Hours table on the Writing Tutor page for the most current schedule. Shown here is a sample Hours table. The link to the tutoring room is beneath the description of the Writing Tutor service. Student Guide to Live Tutoring at the Writing Center February, 2013 Page 2

3 Entering the Live Tutoring Room The Live Tutoring 1 link opens the Adobe Connect Web page for KUWC Live Tutoring (Figure 7): Figure 7. The tutoring room link, will take you to an Adobe Connect Web page where you must login to enter. You do not need a password; see below for directions. Enter the Adobe Connect KUWC Live Tutoring room as a Guest (Figure 8): 1. Select Enter as a Guest 2. Type your first and last name 3. Click Enter Room Figure 8. Select Enter as a Guest, type your first and last name, and then click Enter Room. PLEASE NOTE: You do NOT need to use your Kaplan University username and password to login. Just type your first and last name under the Enter as a Guest section. Adobe Connect uses Flash. To ensure your computer can use Flash, run this Connection Test: Adobe Connect performs best with a Firefox or Explorer browser. For more information about Adobe Connect system requirements, click here: Student Guide to Live Tutoring at the Writing Center February, 2013 Page 3

4 Welcome Screen, Audio Setup, and Chat Upon entering Live Tutoring, you will arrive in the Main Room and see a welcome screen surrounded by pods of information such as an Attendees pod where you will see your name and a Chat pod where you can type to communicate in the room. (Figure 9) Figures When you arrive in the tutoring room, you will see a welcome screen surrounded by pods of information such as the Attendees pod and Chat pod. You will find the Audio Setup Wizard on the Meeting dropdown menu, and the volume controls on the speaker dropdown menu. To communicate with the Host or others in the Main Room, please use the Chat pod. The Host (the Writing Center tutor hosting Live Tutoring) will greet you using audio. Refer to the toolbar above the Attendees pod for the Meeting menu with an Audio Setup Wizard and a speaker menu with volume controls to connect and adjust your sound (Figure 10). The Attendees pod has a tool for sending a message to hosts ; however, messages typed here go to all tutors in all Breakout Rooms, so it is not intended for student use. Please type your messages in the Chat pod as shown in Figure 11. When the Host moves you to a Breakout Room for your one-on-one tutoring session, you may again use a Chat pod, or you may use your microphone to speak with your tutor. Student Guide to Live Tutoring at the Writing Center February, 2013 Page 4

5 Breakout Room and Microphone When the Host moves you to a Breakout Room for a tutoring session, your participant status will change to Presenter. When you become a Presenter, your microphone becomes enabled. To use your microphone, click the microphone icon on the toolbar above the Attendees list. When your microphone is connected, the icon turns lime green. Microphone in use. Muted microphone Figures When the Live Tutoring Host in the Main Room moves you to a Breakout Room, the Participant status you had upon arriving to Live Tutoring changes to Presenter status, and a microphone icon appears on the top toolbar. When in use, an additional microphone icon will blink by your name in the Attendees pod. When muted, the microphone icon will have a slash through it. If your microphone does not work, use the Audio Setup Wizard on the Meeting menu (Figure 16) to connect it. If you click the microphone icon and a Camera and Microphone Access popup window appears, select Allow as shown in Figure 17. Although the connection accesses your possible webcam, the Writing Center does not use Webcams in Live Tutoring. Figures If you have a microphone or may have one, but it s not working (note that the icon is white instead of green), use the Audio Setup Wizard to connect your microphone. If you receive a prompt by Adobe Flash Player Settings to allow Camera and Microphone Access, select Allow. Figures 18. The Preferences tool on the Meeting menu provides advanced audio settings for acoustic quality when you are only listening (Headphones), speaking and listening (Full Duplex), or taking turns speaking (Half Duplex) by muting your microphone when you are listening but not speaking. The Preferences tool on the Meeting menu (Figures 16 and 18) provides advanced audioquality settings for Headphones (listening only), Full Duplex (two-way communication like a telephone), which is what you use when both you and your tutor are using microphones and keeping them on simultaneously, or Half Duplex (two-way communication but only one direction at a time like a walkie-talkie), which is what you can select when you and your tutor are taking turns using the microphone (by muting when the other person is speaking). Student Guide to Live Tutoring at the Writing Center February, 2013 Page 5

6 Sharing Your Writing In the Breakout Room, you have several options for sharing your writing with your tutor. You may copy and paste or type short or single sentences in the Chat, paste or type examples and ideas in a Note pod, paste, type, or draw on the Whiteboard, upload a file to a Share pod, or you may share your screen. Your tutor can help you with using the pods and deciding which to use; however, to be prepared, please review the following instructions on sharing your writing: Using a Chat Pod Copying and pasting or typing short amounts of text into the chat for the purpose of discussion is quick and easy. However, if you are also using the chat to talk, the text previously entered, including the writing sample you pasted into it, will move up the thread in the conversation, so you may lose visual sight of it unless you scroll back to find it. Using a Note Pod It s similarly quick and easy to enter text into a note pod, which your tutor can open if one is not already open in the room. Use the note pod to collaborate with your tutor: brainstorm ideas, prewrite or outline, or discuss the elements of a sentence or single paragraph. The note pod has text formatting tools such as font size and color, bold, italics, underline, and bullets. Additionally, you may save your notes to your computer. (Figure 19). Figure 19. Use the note pod when brainstorming, outlining, or discussion elements of your writing. The note pod has text formatting tools and a menu with an option to export the note by saving it to your computer as an.rtf (Rich Text Format) file, which is compatible with Microsoft Word. Using the Whiteboard To enter text on a whiteboard, first create a text box (Figure 20). Then paste or type inside it. The whiteboard s text formatting tools include font style, size, and color. Figures 20 and 21. Before typing on a whiteboard, you must first click the text icon on the toolbar and select the font style, size, and color. Then you may create a textbox and enter text by typing or pasting. Student Guide to Live Tutoring at the Writing Center February, 2013 Page 6

7 Whiteboard Tools Along with the text tool for creating text boxes and entering text, the Whiteboard has the following tools for editing, annotating, and drawing on the board: o Selection: choose items (such as a textbox) to move, edit, or delete (Figure 22). Figure 22. Use the selection tool to move, edit, or select items for deletion on the board. o Pencil and Highlighter: write, draw, or highlight text on the board in various colors and sizes. (Figure 23). Figure 23. Use the pencil and highlighter tools to write, draw, or highlight text on the board. o Delete: choose items with selection tool then click the erasure icon to delete the selection (Figure 24). Figure 24. After selecting the item (see Selection tool), click the erasure icon to delete it. o Shape Stamp: select a shape, color, and size then click your cursor in the desired position to stamp it on the board. Use the selection tool to move, resize, change the size or color, or delete (Figure 25). Figure 25. Use shapes to annotate your writing on the board. Select a shape and click your mouse where you want it to appear. o Undo and Redo: clicking the undo arrow will delete the last item added to the board, and clicking the redo button will restore the last item deleted from the board (Figure 26). Figure 26. Use the undo and redo buttons to restore or remove the last item deleted or added to the board. Student Guide to Live Tutoring at the Writing Center February, 2013 Page 7

8 Sharing Files and Screen When you are with your tutor, you may use a Share pod to upload a document to the room such as an article, assignment, or other document related to your writing situation. Share pods have three modes: My Screen, Document, and Whiteboard. We previously reviewed the Whiteboard (pages 6 and 7), and we will examine screen sharing after document sharing. The Share pod is typically the largest pod in the center of the room (Figure 27). Menu Share pod with document uploaded Figure 27. The Share pod is usually the largest pod in the center of the Adobe Connect tutoring room. When you are with your tutor in a breakout room, you may upload a file such as an article, assignment description, or other document related to your writing situation to discuss with your tutor. Only file types compatible with Adobe Connect may be uploaded. Compatible file types include Power Point presentations (.ppt),.pdf (as shown), and some audio, image, and video formats such as.mp3,.mp4,.swf, and jpg. Only files compatible with Adobe Connect may be uploaded to a Share pod. Compatible file types include PowerPoint presentations (.ppt), Adobe.pdf files, and some audio, image, and video formats such as.mp3,.mp4,.swf, and.jpg. Sharing a Document To upload a file to a Share pod, open the menu in the upper right corner of the pod, scroll down to Share then hover over and select Document (Figure 28). Even when uploading an audio or video file, select Document. Figure 28. The first step in uploading a file to the Adobe Connect room is to select Document from the menu in the upper right corner of the Share pod. Student Guide to Live Tutoring at the Writing Center February, 2013 Page 8

9 Optional: When a Share pod is empty such as when your tutor opens a new pod or if you click Stop Sharing (Figure 29), another menu appears in the middle of the empty pod (Figure 30). To upload a file, select Share Document. Figures 29 and 30. The Share pod menu is also accessible in the middle of a new or empty Share pod. Click Stop Sharing on the top navigation bar to access the menu in the middle of the pod and click Share Document. The next step to upload a file is to search for the file using the Select Document to Share popup window. To access a file saved on your computer, click Browse My Computer. A popup from your computer will open where you complete the file selection process (Figure 31). Additionally, many Writing Center resources are stored in the Adobe Connect room that your tutor would be happy to locate and upload to the pod. Figure 31. After selecting Document from either menu, a Select Document to Share popup window will open. To access a file saved on your computer, click Browse My Computer. A popup window from your computer will open and you can complete the file selection process. Additionally, many Writing Center resources are stored in the tutoring room that your tutor would be happy to locate and upload or provide assistance in the process of uploading it to the Share pod. When sharing a document in a Share pod, click Draw on the pod s top navigation bar to use the Whiteboard tools (pages 6 and 7) to annotate the file (Figure 32). Figure 32. Click Draw on the Share pod s top navigation bar to use the Whiteboard tools to annotate the uploaded file. Refer to pages 6 and 7 of this guide for a review of the Whiteboard tools. Student Guide to Live Tutoring at the Writing Center February, 2013 Page 9

10 Sharing Your Screen Screen sharing requires an advanced, working knowledge of the Adobe Connect room, so tutors screen share more commonly than students. Tutors screen share when giving tours of the Writing Center or when demonstrating a research or writing strategy. However, you may also share your screen to demonstrate your writing situation. When screen sharing, you will still be able to hear your tutor through your speakers, so your tutor can guide you through the process, which is illustrated in the following points: To share your screen, you use a Share pod. As with sharing a document, open the menu in the upper right corner of the pod and scroll down to Share. Now select My Screen (Figure 33). Figure 33. The first step in sharing your screen is to select My Screen from the menu in the upper right corner of the Share pod. Optional: When a Share pod is empty such as when your tutor opens a new pod or if you click Stop Sharing (Figure 29), another menu appears in the middle of the empty pod (Figure 34). On this menu, select Share My Screen. Figure 34. The Share pod menu is also accessible in the middle of a new or empty Share pod. Click Stop Sharing on the top navigation bar then on the menu, click Share My Screen. Next, select the option most suitable for sharing your writing or writing situation (Figure 35): your entire desktop, one specific application such as Microsoft Word, or one particular window, such as a browser window showing a Web page (Figure 36). Figures 35 and 36. You have the option of sharing your entire desktop, an application, or a window. Select the option most suitable for showing your tutor your writing situation. When you are unsure, select Desktop. Student Guide to Live Tutoring at the Writing Center February, 2013 Page 10

11 When sharing your screen, your share pod will display the message: Your screen is being shared (Figure 36). Your tutor will now be able to view your screen in the Share pod while you can minimize your Adobe Connect room to share your writing. You have the option of allowing your tutor to take control of the screen, document, or application that you are sharing (Figure 36) in order to help you. When you are finished sharing, click Stop Sharing in the middle of the pod (Figure 36). To have your tutor show you something on your screen, you can accept a request for control over your shared screen. This is an example of a computer navigation bar showing open programs such as Adobe Connect. Figure 36. When sharing your screen, your Share pod will display the message: Your screen is being shared, and you can position the Adobe Connect window under the page or document you are sharing. To view the Adobe Connect room again, click the Adobe Connect icon on your computer s navigation bar. You have the option of allowing your tutor to take control of the screen, document, or application that you are sharing. When you are finished demonstrating your writing situation, click Stop Sharing. Exiting Adobe Connect To leave after your tutoring session is over, please click on Meeting and then select Exit Adobe Connect (Figure 37). It s just that simple! Anytime you would like to revisit the tutors in Live Tutoring, simply start a new session by logging into the Live Tutoring room. Figure 37. To leave the tutoring room, click Meeting on the top navigation bar above the Attendees pod, and select Exit Adobe Connect. Student Guide to Live Tutoring at the Writing Center February, 2013 Page 11