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We will use Elluminate Live! as the software platform for our on-line discussions. Elluminate is a world-class collaboration program that is powerful, flexible, and easy to use.
In order to use Elluminate you need to complete the following steps:
First – You need to visit the Elluminate web site, to determine if your computer has the most up-to-date version of Java. If you do not, the web site will take you through the steps to install the latest version. If you are using Mac OS X 10.1, or higher, the correct software is already installed on your computer. If you are using Mac OS 9.1 or 9.2, you will need to install Weblauncher. Just follow the installation instructions on the Elluminate web page:
http://www.elluminate.com/support
You can complete this check-up anytime, and need do so only once. You do not need to complete Step 2 or Step 3.
NoteIf you have any kind of down-loading problem with Elluminate Live! you can call:
866-388-8674 (toll free, 24/7)
And the staff at Elluminate will help solve your problem.
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Second – On the days of our on-line discussions, you should go to this web site, which you should bookmark:
When you arrive, this is what you should see:
This page lists all of the Elluminate sessions scheduled for that specific day. Look down the list until you find “NCTF First Session” – note: on any particular day, there may be more than one page of sessions. If you don’t see “NCTF First Session” on the first page, look to the lower right of the screen, where you can open the next page of sessions.
Click on “NCTF First Session” – you will be taken to a log in page. You should log in like this: John M WI, Mary F CO, Gary T GA (your first name, last initial, and state abbreviation). No password is needed. For the discussions, we want to know your first name and where you are from. Including your last initial allows us to distinguish between more than one “John,” “Steve,” or “Marsha.” Click on the log in button.
Elluminate will immediately begin downloading the session to your computer. This may take a minute or two, so please be patient. Along the way, various small windows will open and then close, as various stages of the download are completed. If you are asked for permission at any stage, just say “yes.”
After a minute or so, you will see the actual discussion
screen appear. It should look like this:
This is the “default” meeting screen, where the discussion will happen. The large area on the right is the Whiteboard, where we will post information useful during the discussions. On the left side of the screen there are three elements: “Participants,” which will show who is present for the discussions, “Chat,” where the actual discussion will take place, and “Audio,” an element we will not use.
We want you to change this screen, however. Look at the menu
running along the top of the screen, in particular, look for “View” (third item
from the left), and click on it.
Slide down the choices to “Layouts,” and then select “Wide
Layout” from the options. Your screen should now look like this:
Look around the screen: Now, the Whiteboard should be to the right on your screen, but smaller. The Chat element should be larger, and near the middle of your screen, with Participants on the far left.
You can change the size of each of these elements, if you want to. Simply go again to “View” and look to see if “Layout Locked” is checked. If it is, un-check it by clicking on it. Now you you can change the size of each screen element by dragging on the edge of any element.
The discussions will take place in the “Chat” area. You simply type into the smaller box at the bottom of the screen (this can be re-sized, too). When you've completed your comment, just click on "Send" (or hit "Enter" on your keyboard), and it will appear in the space above. Note: you do not need to add your name to any comment, since the program will do that automatically.
In order to complete the downloading process for each on-line session, you should begin the process 15-20 minutes ahead of time. That way, we can all begin on time, each time.
