Technology Requirements for Professor Keel's Classes

Read this carefully. As a member of an online or "web-enhanced" course, you are expected to have access to the internet almost every day. If you have computing problems, it is your responsibility to address these problems, or come to campus to use the student computing labs. Problems with your computer or other technology issues is not an excuse for any delays in meeting expectations and deadlines for the course. So, if you have a problem, get help in solving it immediately.

A. Technical Support:

B. The Student Help section of MyGateway. Support for features of MyGateway (e.g., overview of MyGateway, Pronto, Discussion Forums, etc.) are provided in the Student Help section. Note that there are a number of helpful links on the left side, as well as tutorials in the main portion of that page.

C. Computer Specifications: Blackboard (MyGateway) runs independent of the operating system. It relies on the internet browser and the plug-ins recommended below. Any computer with an up-to-date operating system, Windows, Mac or Linux, as long as the internet browser is up-to-date, will suffice for using MyGateway. I suggest that you use Mozilla Firefox as your browser, especially when taking the exams. Information and access to browsers and a variety of technology help is provided here: http://www.umsl.edu/technology/mgwhelp/browser/browser.html

This course requires you to be able to:

  1. Use Collaborate for attending live classes from remote locations and/or playing back recorded class archives (if you don't attend the class in-person).

    Blackboard Collaborate is a real-time classroom that supports voice, video, white-boarding, content display with archive capabilities and application sharing. Collaborate is a flexible tool with features that allow faculty and students to build relationships. Instructors could use Collaborate to conduct "virtual" office hours or group discussions in different break-out rooms. Lecture and presentation content can include Powerpoint, PDF as well as various graphic formats. Collaborate presentations can also be saved (archived) for later use/review. This tool is fully functional on both the Mac and PC and is integrated directly in MyGateway.

    1. Blackboard Collaborate Web Conferencing Essentials for Participants (html)
    2. Web_Conferencing_Essentials_for_Participants (PDF)
    3. Blackboard Collaborate Web Conferencing Participant's Guide (html)
    4. Web_Conferencing_Participant's_Guide (PDF)
    5. See: http://www.umsl.edu/technology/mgwhelp/fachelp/horizonwimba.html#collaborate for full documentation.

    You'll find a link to Collaborate on the navigation menu of our course MyGateway site. To attend a live course session, you will need a computer with Internet access, as well as speakers and a microphone (a headset works best). Be sure to review the "Getting Started" documentation to insure your computer is properly configured for the Collaborate interface. To review archived class sessions, you'll just need speakers. Any student is invited to participate via the live class sessions (face-to-face or via Collaborate), and all students are expected to review recorded archives if they cannot attend a live class session.

    To attend a Collaborate Session:

    Click on the "Collaborate" link on the course navigation menu (left-hand column on main MyGateway class page). Click on the name of the Collaborate session to enter the session. If the session does not launch automatically, click "launch manually" and download the file (it may download automatically), "get.session.link.jnlp" (or "join.jnlp") to your computer and double-click it to launch the session. If the session fails to launch, you may need to clean out your java cache. To do this, go to Control Panel (accessible from the main "Start Menu" on your computer), open "Java," and click "Settings" under "Temporary Internet Files," and then click "Delete Files." Then, try to start the session again. You should only have to do this once--but if you experience this problem again, always try clearing your java cache.

    All class sessions will be broadcast live via Collaborate. Login a bit early and insure your speakers and microphone are working properly.

    To review archived class session, you'll just need speakers (headphones work best). Rember, if you are viewing the archives, you'll need to follow the guidelines concerning attendance and participation in the course syllabus to earn "attendance points"):

    Click on the "Collaborate" link on the course navigation menu (left-hand column on main MyGateway class page) Archived sessions will be located at at the bottom of the page.

    Collaborate support information page :  http://www.blackboard.com/Platforms/Collaborate/Support/Support-for-Blackboard-Collaborate.aspx

    To submit a ticket, initiate a live chat, or speak to a representative on the phone, contact Technical Support.
    http://support.blackboardcollaborate.com/ics/support/default.asp?deptID=8336&task=knowledge&questionID=1

    North America, Toll Free: 1 (877) 382-2293

    Campus Technical support: 516-6034 also help with some problems.

  2. Work in a wiki. A wiki is a collaborative website that you will use to present the findings from your group discussions. If you can use a word processor or update a Facebook page, you can work in a wiki. We will demonstrate how to access and develop a wiki in class (check the class session Wimba archives from the first two days of class for more information), but it is up to the students to take the initiative to explore the wiki technology, and creatively present your group's findings. Here's a link with detailed instructions for using the wiki editor: http://community.learningobjects.com/Groups/Documentation/Campus_Pack_4.4_User_Guide/Text_Editor and for general information: http://community.learningobjects.com/Groups/Documentation/Campus_Pack_4.4_User_Guide .  You can access this link from your group's wiki by clicking on the "Help" link in the upper right-hand corner of the wiki content frame. You'll also find a "Wiki Help" folder in the Group Areas section of our class MyGateway site that provides tutorials, a practice wiki, and examples of wiki projects from previous semesters.
  3. Open and play the Panopto multimedia presentations for various tutorials (using Wimba, Working in a Wiki, taking online tests). The first time you click on a Panopto file, you will be instructed to install the free Microsoft Silverlight. This is a very quick and easy installation process. If your computer doesn't automatically prompt you for the installation, go to the following website and click on the blue "Get Silverlight Now" button on the left side of your screen:
    http://www.microsoft.com/silverlight/resources/
  4. Save, open and print pdf files. For this, you need to have Adobe Reader installed on your computer. If you do not have Adobe Reader working on your computer, go to the following site for a free download and instructions: http://get.adobe.com/reader/
  5. Play videos. Click here: "Windows Media Files" if you need to download a free version of Windows Media player to play videos on your computer. Click here if you need to download Quicktime.
  6. Play Flash files. Click here to download Flash.
  7. Use the help and support resources listed in A, B, and C, above.

URL: http://www.umsl.edu/~keelr/tech_require.html
Owner: Robert O. Keel: rok@umsl.edu
Last Updated: Wednesday, January 23, 2013 12:05 PM

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