The Virtual Classroom is a Collaboration Tool that allows Instructors and Students to participate in real time lessons and discussions and also view archives of previous Collaboration sessions.The main area of the Virtual Classroom includes all of the functions available to users. From this area Instructors can manage the session through the system controls, interact with participants, and use the Whiteboard to post content, open Web pages, and draw. The Instructor has the ability to control access and functionality for other participants in the session.
Follow the steps below to open a Virtual Classroom.
Step 1 Click Collaboration in Course Tools of the Control Panel.
Step 2 Click Join next to one of the Collaboration Sessions. The session names appear under the Tools column.
The table below details the areas of the Virtual Classroom.
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Part |
Function |
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Allows the Instructor to administer the Collaboration Session. This includes managing participation, monitoring breakout sessions, and ending the session. | |
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Allows the Instructor to record and store the session for future use in the archives. | |
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Includes all of the tools used during the Virtual Classroom session. This includes searching for Web sites, asking and answering questions, utilizing the Whiteboard, and accessing the Course Map. | |
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The main section where interaction between the participants takes place. Allows participants to compose messages, raise their hands to ask questions, and activate private messages. |
Instructors control user access and functionality during a Collaboration Session by assigning roles. There are two roles available for users, Passive and Active. All participants have a passive role as a default at the beginning of a session. To make a user Active the Instructor selects a User Name in the Participant List, then clicks the Student icon. The Student icon will appear in the Role column next to those Students who are Active.
Instructors can change a Student’s role at any time during a Collaboration Session. Users who are Passive, but would like Active rights, can “raise their hand” by clicking the hand icon, visible on their screen. When the Instructor clicks the hand icon next to a participant name or clicks the Student icon the user is granted an Active role.
The Instructor uses the Controls to determine the access rights for Passive and Active Users. Access rights include the ability to chat during a session, as well as access to the Course Map, Whiteboard, and Group Browser. Users do not have rights to archive sessions, end the session, clear other users display panels, or manage the Session Controls.
