• Chat in the Classroom and
   
• Write and Draw on the Whiteboard

You may also review the virtual classroom quick sheet.

Figure 1 - Chat Panel Tab

To start chatting:

1. Go to the Chat 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 Chat Panel Tab to also see who is coming into, and who is leaving, the classroom. In Figure 2, Fred has left the classroom.

Figure 2 - Example of a Conversation in the Classroom

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.

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

Note: The default color is "blue!"

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

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.

3. Click the desired Font options.

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

To write and draw with the Marker Tool,

1. Click the Marker Tool.

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

6. Click the mouse on the Whiteboard at the point that you would like your drawing to begin.
7. Drag the mouse and draw.
8. Release the mouse where you want your drawing to end.

1. Click the Text Tool.

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

6. Click on the Whiteboard where you want to start typing.
7. Begin typing.
8. Press Enter when you're done.

To draw lines and shapes with the Line Tool,

1. Click the Line Tool.

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

6. Click on the Whiteboard where you want to start drawing.
7. Drag the mouse to draw a line.
8. Double click when you're done drawing.

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

8. Click once where you want the line to end.
9. Drag the mouse to draw another line.
10. Double click when you're done drawing.

To draw shapes with the Polygon Tool,

1. Click the Polygon Tool.

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

6. Click on the Whiteboard where you want to start drawing.
7. Drag the mouse to begin drawing the shape.
8. Click once where you want the line to end.
9. Drag the mouse to draw another line.
10. Do steps 8 and 9 until the shape is complete.
11. Double click when you're done drawing.

To draw shapes with the Rectangle Tool,

1. Click the Rectangle Tool.

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

6. Click on the Whiteboard where you want to start drawing.
7. Drag the mouse down and to the right to create a rectangle or square.
8. Release the mouse.

To draw shapes with the Oval Tool,

1. Click the Oval Tool.

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

6. Click on the Whiteboard where you want to start drawing.
7. Drag the mouse. A circle or oval then appears.
8. Release the mouse.

, You can choose to draw shapes that are either filled or unfilled (See Figure 7)

Figure 7 - Unfilled and Filled Circles

1. Click either Filled () or Unfilled () .
2. Click the desired shape. (Choose from the Polygon, Rectangle or Oval Tool).

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

7. Click on the Whiteboard where you want to start drawing.
8. 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.)
9. Release the mouse.

Use 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.

3. Click and release on the Whiteboard where you want the arrow inserted.

1. Click the Select Tool.
2. Click directly on the object.

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

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.

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.

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.

Figure 10 - Clicking an object's handles

3. 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.

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.

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.

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

1. Click the Select 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

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):

Figure 13 - Navigation Buttons

You will learn how to:

Use the Questions Tab to ask questions

Use the Questions Tab to ask Questions in Private, and

"Raise your hand" to gain access to the "Floor".

Figure 13 - Question Tab

1. Click the Questions Tab.
2. Make sure your cursor is blinking in the right window. If not, click your mouse in the field on the right.
3. Type your question.
4. Click Send.

Note: After the Instructor responds to your question, both your question and the Instructor's response will appear in the left window. (See Figure 14)

1. Click the Questions Tab.
2. Make sure your cursor is blinking in the right window. If not, click your mouse in the field on the right.
3. Type your question.
4. Click in the Request Private square. A checkmark will appear.
5. Click Send.

Your response will appear in a greyed area in the left window (See Figure 14).

Figure 14 - Questions Tab with Questions Asked Publicly and Privately

What Can I Use?

Grayed Out Options and Features

If a feature is grayed out, then you cannot use it.  But, you can use the floor button to ask the Instructor to allow you to use a feature.
 

For example, if the drawing toolbar, color palette, and whiteboard menu are grayed out, then you cannot draw on the whiteboard.

Color Bar

The color bar is a thin colored bar that appears at the top of the Classroom window (below the classroom menu options). Here is an example of the color bar (in a green state).

Figure 15 - Color Bar

The color bar is green, yellow, red, or gray depending on your access to classroom activities. Here's what each color means:

A green color bar means you can use everything in the classroom.

A yellow color bar means there are some things in the classroom that you cannot use. For example, you may be able to chat in the classroom, but you are not allowed to write on the whiteboard. If you want to use extra classroom features, then use the floor button to ask for permission.

A red color bar means that you cannot use anything in the classroom.

Status Line

If you see the word "disabled" in the status line after moving the mouse over a button or feature, then you cannot use it. For example, when the polygon tool is not available, the status line reads:

Figure 16 - Status line indicating that polygon tool cannot be used

Raising Your Hand (Using the Floor Button)

Figure 17 - Floor Button

The Floor button (looks like a hand) is located in the top right corner of the Classroom window, next to the Location field.  If the floor button is not grayed out, as shown in the above picture, then you click it to ask the Instructor for access to other parts of the classroom. But, remember, it's up to the Instructor whether or not you can use the other parts of the classroom.

To use the floor button:

1. Click the Floor button (). The Floor button then changes to a folder, indicating that the request has been sent to the Instructor.  Also, the words "requesting floor..." will appear in the status line.

Figure 18 - Floor Button (top) and Status Line (bottom) after request has been made

2. Wait for a response from the Instructor on your request.

• If you have been granted access, you will then see the window as shown below. 

• If you have not been granted access, you will see the words "Floor request denied by teacher!" on your status line.

 



Figure 20 - Floor Request Denied

3. After you are done, please click the folder button (). The Floor button then changes back to a hand shape ().