Training

Attending the Conference

To attend the conference, you do not need any special training. The conference will be held using Blackboard Collaborate (formerly Elluminate). To check that your computer is ready for Blackboard Collaborate, please go here. "Step 1" will indicate if you have a version of Java that is compatible, and then "Step 2" lets you actually go into a test session.

You do not need a microphone to attend the sessions, but if you have one you can use it to ask questions during any Q&A time in a session. A headset/mic combination works best for your voice participation, although I sometimes use a stand-alone mic to speak and earbuds for listening. If you need to listen through your computer speakers, just be aware that there will be an echoing problem if you don't turn off your mic when you're not speaking (there's no echo-cancellation in this environment).

Collaborate has a number of great features, and short introductory video to the technology can be seen at here. There is, additionally, web / print training material here (click on the "For Participants" link to see moderator-specific material).

Presenting at the Conference or Volunteer Moderating

Below is a calendar of live training for presenters and volunteers for a world-wide virtual conference. To present or moderate a conference session, you will use the Blackboard Collaborate (formerly Elluminate) platform, and the training session is held in Blackboard Collaborate to help you prepare and ask any questions you might have.

To check that your computer is ready for Blackboard Collaborate, please use this link. "Step 1" will indicate if you have a version of Java that is compatible, and then "Step 2" lets you actually go into a test session. Please do this in advance of the training, and email steve@hargadon.com if you have any trouble.

A headset/mic combination works best for your voice participation, although I sometimes use a stand-alone mic to speak and earbuds for listening. If you need to listen through your computer speakers, just be aware that there will be an echoing problem if you don't turn off your mic when you're not speaking (there's no echo-cancellation in this environment). If you want to use a webcam to broadcast yourself live during your presentation, be sure to configure this in advance.

Collaborate has a number of great features, and short introductory video to the technology can be seen here.

Because presenters are responsible for being familiar enough with Collaborate to present, we also recommend that you sign up at http://www.LearnCentral.org, as by doing so you receive a free 3-person version of Collaborate called "vRoom." You can use your free vRoom to practice using Collaborate.

There is, additionally, web / print training material here (click on the "For Moderators" link to see moderator-specific material).

Training Calendar

The live training sessions are listed below. They are in a Google calendar, and listed in US - Pacific Daylight Time. Google Calendar users can see the listings in your own time zone by clicking on the Google calendar link at the bottom right or clicking on your own time zone page from "Sessions and Schedule."

All the training sessions are held in a Collaborate room you access by clicking here.

Training Recordings

Here are links to the different training sessions. You only need to listen to one, I've included them all in case someone wants to go back and watch the particular one they were involved with.