Faculty Focused ITL Weekly Webcasts

Please join us every Tuesday at 12pm, or 7pm, from your office or from anywhere on the Internet, for a series of short 30-minute faculty-focused interactive Webcasts on teaching and learning technology, and on other uses of technology in the university.

Attending Interactive ITL Webcasts

Click the appropriate URL(s) to sign up for the Webinar(s) from the ITL Wiki page on the day of the event:

On Monday, the day before the Webinar, a quick link will be added to join the Webinar from the ITL Wiki page. To open the ITL Wiki and view the current Webinar click here.

View a list of the Interactive ITL Webcasts

View a listing of current ACCC e-Rooms Webcasts available for participation

ITL Weekly Webcasts Overview

ITL Webcasts are interactive 30-minute real-time presentations and technology demonstrations, done over the Internet.  You can watch, listen, present, and interact from anywhere on the Internet, including asking questions by microphone or via a keyboard text chat, take part in short audience polls, surveys, and other collaborative activities conducted by the instructor(s).

Attending the Weekly Webinar(s)
On Monday, the day before the Webinar, a quick link will be added to join the Webinar from the ITL Wiki page. To open the ITL Wiki and view the current Webinar click here.

Your Browser
Please make sure your Windows or Mac Web browser is configured to allow Java and pop-up windows .  The first time you use the UIC Centra Web conferencing system, a very small Saba Centra java program will be installed on your personal computer.  After the Centra java applet is installed, the Centra Audio Wizard will run to make sure your computer speakers or headphones are working correctly.

http://e-rooms.uic.edu

Check your personal computer speakers or headphones
You can run the Audio Wizard at any time after you have joined a Centra Webinar to check that your speakers or headphones are working correctly -- you will need them to hear the presentation.  Select Audio Wizard... from the Tools pull-down menu atop the Centra window.

Asking questions during the Webinar
To ask questions during the interactive ITL Webcast, please type them in the Text Chat .  Open the Text Chat by selecting Text Chat... from the Tools pull-down menu.  Type your question and hit send, then minimize the Text Chat window to continue seeing the rest of the Webinar.  Re-open the Text Chat and type additional questions, if you wish.  The presenter will stop from time to time to read and answer your questions.

Getting help to participate in ITL Webcasts
Technical support for participating in ITL Webcasts is only available from 9am to 5pm, from the ACCC Instructional Technology Lab at 312-996-9824.  For 7pm Webcasts, please try things out before 5pm.  If you need assistance, please call the ITL before 5pm.

ITL Weekly Webcasts in more Detail

In order to participate in these exciting realtime events you will need to visit the ACCC e-Rooms (aka. CentraOne) server on the day of the event and self enroll in the session being offerred. Enrollment is on a first come, first served basis and will be limited to the first 100 attendees who enroll in the event. In order to enroll in an event please follow these directions:

1) Open your web browser and visit the ACCC e-Rooms login page located at:

http://e-rooms.uic.edu

You will be brought to the main login page.

2) Create a new account for yourself, or if you already have an account login.

If you already have a CentraOne account type in your netid and password and login. If you have forgotten your password send an e-mail message to erooms@uic.edu in order to have it reset.

If you do not yet have a CentraOne account on the server click on the link labeled "Create".

You will be asked to enter in a login name and password. For your login name please enter in your UIC netid; if you are not affiliated with UIC please append a "-ext" onto the end of your username. Be sure to fill out all of the required fields, and then click the button labeled "Create". After creating your account you will be brought to the main login page.

3) Browse the 'Event List' to find the event that you wish to participate in.

The first page you see will be labeled "My Schedule". You will see several links down the left hand side of the page, as well as three tabs across the top which will be labeled Upcoming, Ongoing, and Past.

Click on the link labeled "Enrollment" to begin browsing for the event in question. You will be given the option to search for the event by name or start date. To search for an event by start date click on the dropdown menu and choose the option labeled "On" and then type in the date of the event you are searching for and click on the link labeled "Search".

You will see a listing of all of the events that are scheduled for that day. Click on the link labeled "Enroll" next to the event in order to add yourself to the roster.

Please note that due to the limited number of licenses that we have for ACCC e-Rooms you will only be able to enroll into the event a few hours before it begins. It is recommended that you login on the morning of the event to enroll yourself.

4) Login to the event that you have enrolled in.

After you have enrolled in the event click on the link labeled "My Schedule" located on the left hand side of the page. You will now see the event listed under the tab labeled "Upcoming Events".

If the event is about to begin click on the link labeled "Attend" to begin participating in the event. If you enrolled for the event before the start time you can log out, and then log back in before the event begins and click on the link labeled "Attend" when you are ready to begin participating.

After clicking on the link labeled "Attend" you will see a dialogue box telling you the Centra is preparing to launch. If this is the first time you are participating in an event the Centra client will need to self install on your machine. You may be prompted to accept software from the Centra company - click OK to proceed with the installation. After the client installs you will see a message box indicating that Centra is connecting to the optimal server. In a few moments the Centra environment will launch and you will be logged in to the event.

5) Complete the Audio Wizard setup to ensure that your audio settings are correct.

If you have speakers and a microphone you will be prompted to complete the audio wizard setup. Follow the on-screen prompts to adjust you settings accordingly.

If you do not have a microphone on your computer you will still be able to communicate via the text chat tool.

6) Use the participant interface to actively participate in the event.

After you have completed the Audio Wizard setup you will be ready to begin participating in the event. The participant interface has a toolset built in that allows you to communicate with the presenter and provide feedback either verbally or non-verbally.

Each of the buttons corresponds with an actions:

1 - Speak and have your audio broadcast to the audience -By holding down the icon that appears as a persons head with a text bubble appearing from the mouth you will toggle on your microphone. While holding down this button you will be able to speak with the entire group. If you need to speak for an extended period of time you can click the button that appears as a little lock icon. This will lock down the microphone so you can speak without having to hold down the toggle on the microphone.

2 - Raise Hand - If you have a question for the presenter you can indicate to the presenter that you would like to have their attention.

3 - Say Yes - If the presenter wants to get a quick poll of the audience's opinion they may ask a yes or no question. You can use this button to indicate your answer.

4 - Say No - If the presenter wants to get a quick poll of the audience's opinion they may ask a yes or no question. You can use this button to indicate your answer.

5 - Indicate Laughter - If you wish to indicate that you are amused or gratified by something the presenter is speaking about you can click on this button.

6 - Indicate Applause - If you wish to indicate that you are amused or gratified by something the presenter is speaking about you can click on this button.

7 - Open the Text Chat Window - If you do not have a microphone on your machine you can click this icon to open up a text chat window. This will allow you to have an "Instant Messenger" style real-time text chat with the presenter and the rest of the audience.

8 - Provide Feedback to the Presenter - If you wish to indicate to the presenter that something they are speaking about is unclear, or would like to communicate some other form of feedback you can do so by clicking on this icon.

9 - Step Out - Click on this icon if you are going to be away from your machine for a brief period during the presentation. This will broadcast to the presenter and the rest of the audience that you have stepped out.

PLEASE NOTE - In order for the client installer to run properly you must have administrator access to the computer that you are using. If you do not have administrator access the client may not install properly. Please contact your system administrator before the event and notify them that you would like to have the client installed.

Centra has known problems with Netscape 6 (6.x). We recommend you use Internet Explorer or a Centra-approved version of Netscape (Netscape 4.06+ except Netscape 6.x).

For Any Problems the Day of the Webcast Call: 312.996.9824