5.1 Collaborate Basics
In this section, we will discuss the basic functions of Collaborate. Everyone who uses Collaborate, including your students, needs to know this information.
From the participant point of view, Collaborate is very user friendly. To talk, you press the Talk button. To chat, you type in the Chat Box. So, as a participant, look for the obvious to perform the functions you need to perform.
From the participant point of view, Collaborate is very user friendly. To talk, you press the Talk button. To chat, you type in the Chat Box. So, as a participant, look for the obvious to perform the functions you need to perform.
Joining a Collaborate Session
If you are invited to be a participant in a Collaborate session, the person inviting you will send you a link to join the session, and tell you the time the session is scheduled to start. The link will look something like this:
When you click the link to the Collaborate session, you will be asked to enter your name, then a file will download. Once it is finished downloading, click it to open it. A loading screen will then appear for Collaborate. You will be asked to select your Internet connection speed. Select it, then click OK.
When you click the link to the Collaborate session, you will be asked to enter your name, then a file will download. Once it is finished downloading, click it to open it. A loading screen will then appear for Collaborate. You will be asked to select your Internet connection speed. Select it, then click OK.
After a few minutes, the Collaborate interface will load. It will look like this:
Run the Audio Wizard
Once the Collaborate interface loads, the very first thing you should do is run the audio wizard. No matter how many times you have used Collaborate, this should always be your first step when you enter the room.
First, click the icon that looks like a microphone with a red star on it. This is is the symbol for the audio wizard. You can also click the Tools>Audio Setup Wizard to launch the audio wizard.
First, click the icon that looks like a microphone with a red star on it. This is is the symbol for the audio wizard. You can also click the Tools>Audio Setup Wizard to launch the audio wizard.
The wizard will ask you to perform a series of tasks to make sure that your audio is setup properly. Follow the steps in the wizard through to the end.
If at any point in the Collaborate session you cannot hear the speaker, or the speaker cannot hear you, run the audio wizard again. Most of the time, if the audio is not working properly, you have the wrong speakers or microphone selected. The audio wizard gives you the opportunity to choose a different speaker or microphone, if you have more than one connected to your computer.
More about the Audio Wizard
Kyle Cole has created this visual guide to the steps in the audio wizard: Audio Wizard Guide
Kyle Cole has created this visual guide to the steps in the audio wizard: Audio Wizard Guide
Type in Chat
Besides audio-based chat, Collaborate also offers text-based chat, like an old-school chatroom. The text-based chat is at the bottom left of your Collaborate screen. Type in the chat box, then click the enter button to send your message to the rest of the room.
To the right of the chat box, you will see a smiley face drop-down menu. You can choose emoticons on this menu to send to the room.
Raise Your Hand
Above the participants' list are another group of communication features. One of the most important is the hand-raising tool. Click the hand icon, and an audio alert will sound, letting the moderator know that a participant has a question. A hand symbol and a number will appear next to the participant's name who raised his hand.
Answer a Poll
The moderator may ask participants to answer a poll. Next to the hand-raising tool is a checkmark with a drop-down menu. From here, you can select a green checkmark to answer "yes" to a question or poll, or a red X to answer "no" to a question or poll.
Sometimes, a moderator may choose to use a multiple-choice poll in place of the yes-or-no poll. If this is the case, you will see an "A" in place off the checkmark icon, and you will be able to select A, B, C or D to answer the poll.
Talk
If you have properly configured your speakers/headset and microphone, talking in Collaborate is easy. Simply click the Talk button, located above the Participants' list.
Your microphone will turn on, and everyone in the Collaborate room can hear what you say, as well as noises in the background, such as barking dogs...
Use Your Video Camera
Using your webcam is just as easy as talking in Collaborate. Click the Video button to turn on your Web cam.
By default, Collaborate shows the person speaking's picture as the largest in the webcam display box.
Supplemental Resources
Next Step
You have now learned everything you need to be a participant in a Collaborate room. When you are ready, continue to Section 5.2 Making Quizzes in Collaborate