Centra Online Training Page
Contents |
Getting Started
This section is where to enter all things that must be completed PRIOR to logging on to the Centra Online Workshop System.
Before the Workshop Begins
There are three things the instructor must do before a workshop begins.
- Upload the agenda. A PowerPoint file works the best. If a Word document (.doc) is loading in the agenda, the participants will be forced to open the document in Microsoft Word, and not in the Centra client.
- Change the audio setting to allow THREE people to speak at one time
- Leave a message on the Whiteboard, asking all participants to open their text chat window
Introducing Centra
Once logged in, there are several steps that the instructor must take before beginning a Centra online workshop.
- Introduce yourself and the workshop you are instructing.
- Introduce the button at the top of the screen.
Example: At the top of the screen you will notice several buttons. If at any time you wish to ask a question, please 'raise your hand' by clicking on the 'hand' button at the top right of your screen. Next to that, you will find a green 'check' and a red 'x'. Throughout this session, I will be asking you yes or no questions. Please respond by clicking on the green 'check' or the red 'x'. Let's try it. If you can hear me, please give me a green 'check'.
(If anyone cannot hear you, send them a text message, asking if they have a microphone, if they can hear you, etc. If problems persist, communicate them via text chat and call Heather Thomas or Evette Atkin (800) 530-9019 ext.133 or ext.152 during your next break.)
If you do not have access to a microphone, please 'raise your hand' and then send me a text chat message. Please notice the 'Step Out' button. If for any reason you need to step out, please click on this button to let us know that you are away.
Under the 'hand' button, you will see a man with a bubble. If you have a microphone and wish to communicate via mic, you must HOLD DOWN this button in order for us to hear you. Please do NOT click on the 'lock' button. This cuts down on background noise.
Tips on Teaching Online Workshops
When starting a daily session and after having everything configured on your end (including having the text chat opened), instructors might find it useful to say into the mic "If you can hear me clearly, please respond in the text chat area of Centra". By doing so, two different issues are addressed: a check to make sure students can effectively hear you while also making sure they followed the pre-class set up in which they are prompted to open the Centra chat window.
When teaching my first class, it would have been very helpful to have a screen shot of the Centra page the students are seeing. As it was, I referred to icons present only on the instructor's side and not the students. Until we get used to the software, these visual "cheat sheets" are helpful. I now have them handy!
To make sure my students were following along, I ended up asking questions that could be answered by a green check mark or red "X" about every five minutes. It was also beneficial to interject humor and students responded with appropriate icons. This way I was aware of keeping their interest.
Troubleshooting
Resources
Getting started: information on using and editing wikis
Centra Resources
