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USING THE VIRTUAL CLASS ROOM

Chat | Write on Whiteboard | Drawing Toolbar | Changing Objects | Navigate Slides
Navigate Web | Answer Questions | Floor Access

In this section you will learn how to use the tools in the classroom to:
  • Chat in the Classroom and
     
  • Write and Draw on the Whiteboard

You may also review the virtual classroom quick sheet.

Chatting in the classroom

The Group Discussion Panel Tab is used to discuss with students (See Figure 1). Remember that anything you type in the Group Discussion Panel Tab will be seen by everyone in the classroom!

Group discussion tab

Figure 1 - Group Discussion Panel Tab

To start chatting:

  1. Go to the Group Discussion Panel Tab.
  2. If you do not see a blinking cursor in the bottom field of the tab, click your mouse in the field.
  3. Start typing your message where your cursor is blinking.
  4. Press Enter.
  5. If the window fills up with text, just scroll through the window to view all text.

Use the Group Discussion Panel Tab to also see who is coming into, and who is leaving, the classroom. In Figure 2, Fred has left the classroom.

Chat example

Figure 2 - Example of a Conversation in the Classroom

Writing on the Whiteboard

This section will show you how to use the Color Palette, the Whiteboard Menu, and the Drawing Toolbar to write and draw on the Whiteboard.

Using the Color Palette

On the left side of the Whiteboard is the Color Palette (See Figure 4).
Color palette tool

Figure 4 - Color Palette

Use the Color Palette to select or change the color of text and objects on the Whiteboard.

  1. Simply, click and drag the Color Replacer (the circle) anywhere in the Color Selection window.

The color you select will be shown in the Color Viewer.

  1. To lighten or darken the color, click and drag the line within the Shading Window.

Note: The default color is "blue!"

 

Using the Whiteboard 

The Whiteboard Menu is located on the Classroom Menu Bar (See Figure 5).

White board menu

Figure 5 - Whiteboard Menu

Use the Whiteboard Menu to select or change text and images on the Whiteboard. The Whiteboard Menu has Font and Line Width options.

Use the Whiteboard Font options to select or change the appearance of text you type on the Whiteboard. To use the Whiteboard Font options,

  1. Click Whiteboard
  2. Click Font

You can choose from several menu options, including

  • Bold/Italics,
  • Font Type, and
  • Text Size.
  1. Click the desired Font options.

Note: The default font type is "Helvetica" and the default text size is "28!"

Using the Drawing Toolbar

The Drawing Toolbar is located above the Color Palette. There are several writing and drawing tools from which to choose! (See Figure 6).

Drawing tool bar

Figure 6 - Drawing Toolbar
Here's how to use each tool:

Marker tool To write and draw with the Marker Tool,

  1. Click the Marker Tool.

(Optional): Skip to step 6 if you want default values.

Select the line width:
  1. Click Whiteboard.
  2. Click Line Width.
  3. Click the desired width.

Select the color:

  1. Click the desired color on the Color Palette.
  1. Click the mouse on the Whiteboard at the point that you would like your drawing to begin.
  2. Drag the mouse and draw.
  3. Release the mouse where you want your drawing to end.
Text toolTo type text on the Whiteboard with the Text Tool,
  1. Click the Text Tool.

(Optional): Skip to step 6 if you want default values.

Select the font:
  1. Click Whiteboard.
  2. Click Font.
  3. Click the desired font style and size..

Select the color:

  1. Click the desired color on the Color Palette.
  1. Click on the Whiteboard where you want to start typing.
  2. Begin typing.
  3. Press Enter when you're done.
Line toolTo draw lines and shapes with the Line Tool,
  1. Click the Line Tool.

(Optional): Skip to step 6 if you want default values.

Select the line width:
  1. Click Whiteboard.
  2. Click Line Width.
  3. Click the desired width.

Select the color:

  1. Click the desired color on the Color Palette.
  1. Click on the Whiteboard where you want to start drawing.
  2. Drag the mouse to draw a line.
  3. Double click when you're done drawing.

To draw a shape, do steps 1 through 7 and then:

  1. Click once where you want the line to end.
  2. Drag the mouse to draw another line.
  3. Double click when you're done drawing.
Polygon toolTo draw shapes with the Polygon Tool,
  1. Click the Polygon Tool.

(Optional): Skip to step 6 if you want default values.

Select the line width:
  1. Click Whiteboard.
  2. Click Line Width.
  3. Click the desired width.

Select the color:

  1. Click the desired color on the Color Palette.
  1. Click on the Whiteboard where you want to start drawing.
  2. Drag the mouse to begin drawing the shape.
  3. Click once where you want the line to end.
  4. Drag the mouse to draw another line.
  5. Do steps 8 and 9 until the shape is complete.
  6. Double click when you're done drawing.
Rectangle toolTo draw shapes with the Rectangle Tool,
  1. Click the Rectangle Tool.

(Optional): Skip to step 6 if you want default values.

Select the line width:
  1. Click Whiteboard.
  2. Click Line Width.
  3. Click the desired width.

Select the color:

  1. Click the desired color on the Color Palette.
  1. Click on the Whiteboard where you want to start drawing.
  2. Drag the mouse down and to the right to create a rectangle or square.
  3. Release the mouse.
Oval toolTo draw shapes with the Oval Tool,
  1. Click the Oval Tool.

(Optional): Skip to step 6 if you want default values.

Select the line width:
  1. Click Whiteboard.
  2. Click Line Width.
  3. Click the desired width.

Select the color:

  1. Click the desired color on the Color Palette.
  1. Click on the Whiteboard where you want to start drawing.
  2. Drag the mouse. A circle or oval then appears.
  3. Release the mouse.
Unfilled tool, Filled tool You can choose to draw shapes that are either filled or unfilled (See Figure 7)
Circle examples

Figure 7 - Unfilled and Filled Circles
  1. Click either Filled (Filled tool) or Unfilled (Unfilled tool) .
  2. Click the desired shape. (Choose from the Polygon, Rectangle or Oval Tool).

(Optional): Skip to step 7 if you want default values.

If Unfilled, select the line width: (Skip to step 6, if Filled).
  1. Click Whiteboard.
  2. Click Line Width.
  3. Click the desired width.

Select the color:

  1. Click the desired color on the Color Palette.
  1. Click on the Whiteboard where you want to start drawing.
  2. Drag the mouse to the point where you want the shape to end. (Refer to the Polygon Tool, Rectangle Tool, or Oval Tool sections for more detailed instructions.)
  3. Release the mouse.
Pointer toolUse the Pointer Tool to bring special attention to an item on the Whiteboard.
  1. Click the Pointer Tool.

(Optional): Skip to step 3 if you want default values.

Select the color:
  1. Click the desired color on the Color Palette.
  1. Click and release on the Whiteboard where you want the arrow inserted.

Changing objects

You can easily change the look and location of objects on the Whiteboard. Here's how:
First you must select the object you want changed.
  1. Select toolClick the Select Tool.
  2. Click directly on the object.

"Black handles" will surround the object (See Figure 8).

Move object

Figure 8 - Selected Object
To change the color of text or an object,
  1. Select the object you want to change.
  2. Click the desired color in the Color Selection of the Color Palette.

 

  1. Select the object you want to change.
  2. Click either the Filled or Unfilled Tool.

 

Unfortunately, you cannot change the width of lines of any object on the Whiteboard!

 

  1. Select the text you want to change.
  2. Click the Whiteboard Menu.
  3. Click Font.
  4. Click the desired font style and size.

 

  1. Select the object you want to move.
  2. Click anywhere on the object and drag the mouse to the place where you want to move the object.
  3. Release the mouse.

 

  1. Select the object.
  2. Click the Whiteboard Menu.
  3. Click Selected Object.
  4. Click either Bring to Front or Send to Back.

Resizing Objects

  1. Select the object you want to resize.
  2. Click on one of the black handles (as shown in Figure 10) and drag the mouse.

Selected object

Figure 10 - Clicking an object's handles

  1. Release the mouse when you've reached the desired size.

Note: You cannot resize objects created with the Text or Pointer Tool using this method! To resize text, see Changing Text Font.


Deleting an Object

  1. Select the object you want to delete.
  2. Click the Whiteboard Menu.
  3. Click Selected Object.
  4. Click Delete.

or

  1. Select the object you want to delete.
  2. Press the Delete key on your keyboard.

Putting it all together

Now it's time to put it all together...

We've shown you how to:

  • chat in the classroom,
  • draw and write on the Whiteboard, and
  • change anything you see on the Whiteboard.

In this section, we'll show you how to use all the tools we've given you to be a part of an interactive classroom!

You'll learn how to:

  • Navigate through a slide show and
  • Access and navigate web pages.

Navigating Slides

You can easily move from one "slide" to another slide. In this section you'll learn to use the Navigation Menu to do this (See Figure 11).

Navigation menu

Figure 11 - Navigation Menu
To view any slide in the classroom,
  1. Click Navigation in the Classroom Toolbar.
  2. Click Set Current Slide.
  3. Click the desired slide.

OR

  1. Click Navigation in the Classroom Toolbar.
  2. Choose one of the following four options:
  • First
  • Previous
  • Next
  • Last

Accessing and Navigating Web Pages

This section will show you how to access a web page and bring it into the classroom. Once you have it in the classroom, you can navigate the web site by clicking on the links (See Figure 12).
Web page example

Figure 12 - Example of a Web Page Displayed on Whiteboard
 
 
To access a web page,
  1. Click the Select ToolSelect tool. (Make sure the Select Tool is selected. Otherwise, you will not be able to click the links on the web pages.
  2. Click in the Location Field.
  3. Type the site address. In Figure 12, the address is http://www.boxermath.com/mar4/tutorialcenter.html.
  4. Press Enter.
  5. Click the links available on the web page to navigate through the web site

 
You can access as many web pages as needed. Once you have accessed several web pages, you can navigate from one page to another using the Navigation Buttons.

If you are viewing more than one web page, move from web page to web page with one of the following Navigation Buttons (See Figure 13):

Navigation buttons

Figure 13 - Navigation Buttons

Back Moves Back a web page
Forward Moves Forward a web page
Previous Moves back to most recently viewed slide

Questions from student

In this section you'll learn how to use the Questions and Answer Panel Tab (See Figure 13). Only students can ask an instructor a question. The instructor can answer questions in the Incoming Questions Panel so that everyone in the class can see your response or you can reply to a private question so only the student asking the question will see what you've written.

Question tab

Figure 13 - Question Tab

Note: After the responding to the question, both question and response will appear in the left window. (See Figure 13)

Answering questions

Sometimes a student might feel a little uncomfortable asking a question that all students can see. That's why they have the option of asking a question in private or in general.
  1. Click the Incoming Questions Panel Tab.
  2. Click on the student name. The question will appear in the middle window.
  3. Make sure your cursor is blinking in the right window. If not, click your mouse in the field on the right.
  4. Type your answer.
  5. Click in the Private Response square (If desired). A checkmark will appear.
  6. Click Send.

Your response will appear in a greyed area in the left window (See Figure 13).

Question panel tab

Figure 14 - Incoming Questions Panel Tab with Questions Asked Publicly and Privately

Grant or Deny "floor" access

The Instructor can decide who is able to use any of the classroom features at any time. Sometimes you won't want students to have access to draw and chat, but want them to be able to go from one web page to another. Here's how you grant or deny access to a particular feature and grant or deny access to a student who raises their hand to gain access to additional features:

A student can use the floor button to ask the Instructor to allow use of a feature.
 

Access Control Panel Tab

To grant a student to request floor access to navigate but not allow access to ask a question, you would click the floor for navigate and none for question. See Figure 15:

Access Control Panel tab

Figure 15 - Access Control Panel Tab

The Grant Floor button is located in the top left corner of the Access Control Panel window.  The Deny Floor button is located below the user information button on the Access Control Panel window (See Figure 16). But, remember, it's the Instructor decision whether or not to allow use of  the other parts of the classroom.


Grant floor button

Figure 16 - Grant Floor Button

 

  • If you grant access, the student will then see the window as shown below. 

Access granted

Figure 17 - Floor Request Granted
    • If you have not granted access, the student  will see the words "Floor request denied by teacher!" on your status line.

     

    Status bar

    Figure 18 - Floor Request Denied

 

 
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Last Updated: 06/05/08 08:50 AM
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