Welcome to Alexandria Tutorials!
The following information will provide you with instructions to get you set for the first class session . . .
How the Tutorials Work
Our class will meet once a week. Using the conferencing software (explained below) all class participants will log on to the same server at the designated time. Our class sessions will include a review of homework, plenty of discussion, as well as opportunities to read your work to your classmates. Assignments will be turned in via e-mail to the tutor and will be returned in the same manner. Instructions about formatting assignments will be given as the class proceeds. If you miss a class, the tutor keeps records of the chat notes and will e-mail a copy of the notes from the missed class if you request one.
Computer Requirements
Of course a student needs to have speakers and a microphone (or a headset) and a solid connection to the internet. A few students have had trouble with modem connections of 56.6 or less. However, all other kinds of connections--DSL, Fiber, Cable--have seemed to have no problems.
General Notes
In order to properly configure your computer for Alexandria Tutorial sessions, please see the very clear and helpful set-up instructions (provided by Mr. Callihan) below. If after following these instructions you have difficulties please send an e-mail to Matthew Turnbull. We will be having a test session before our first class meeting in order to get used to using the conferencing software.
We will be using Webex conferencing software during the tutorial year. For most computer users, this software is a simple and free download.
After downloading and installing the software, you may request the password of the classroom we will be using for our conferences by sending an e-mail to Mr. Turnbull at tutor.alexandria@gmail.com .
About the Test Session
The purpose of the test session is just to take a few minutes to insure that your software works properly and that you can hear me and that we can hear you. You will need the password to the classroom for the conference. I will send the password to you before the test session.
Classroom Etiquette
DO NOT engage in private chat with another class member during class sessions.
DO NOT use the class chatbox for carrying on ancillary conversations with other members of the class while the tutor is teaching. This only serves to distract your fellow students (whose parents are paying hundreds of dollars for this tutorial) from the topic at hand. If a student has difficulty following these rules, he or she will be dismissed from class.
Assignments and Homework
At the end of each class period I will give you a reading assignment and writing assignment to be completed by the next class session. You can complete your written assignments and then send them to me via e-mail either in the text of the message. Please do not send attachments! . Just paste your assignment into the text of your e-mail. After I receive your homework, I will comment on it using a different color and then return it to you in several days. If you are not able to complete your assignment that week for some reason, be sure to let me know in advance the reason for your tardiness. If you consistently have trouble turning in your assignments, you will not be allowed to attend class sessions until those missing assignments are completed.
Remember to purchase the books for the tutorial using the links that I provided. It will be easier for you if you purchase the same editions so as to make discussions and citations from the texts more streamlined.
How to Configure your Software / Classroom Procedures
These helpful and well-written instructions are provided by Mr. Wes Callihan of Schola Classical Tutorials. Thanks, Wes! (See his excellent offering of tutorials at http://www.scholatutorials.org/ .)
1. Logging into class
1. Go to
https://escondidotutorial.webex.com. (Mr. Hinrichs of
Escondido Tutorial Service hosts the
conferencing system.)
Options to make this easier: a)
You can make a shortcut on your desktop for this link, so all you have
to do next time is doubleclick it. Right click on your desktop, then
pick New, then Shortcut. Type the URL into the box. Then pick Next, give
it a name, then click Finish. b) If you wish, you can drap this
shortcut down onto your QuickLaunch bar next to the Start button. A
single click of the QuickLaunch button will open the site. c) You can
also drag it onto the Start button, keep holding the left mouse button
down over the All Programs link till your progams list opens, then drop
it wherever you like. You'll still have your desktop icon.
2. Click on the Meeting Center tab.
3. Find the tutor's classroom you want and click Join Now next to it. (If you don't see that particular room, just wait and click the Refresh button on your browser in a minute or two. In WebEx the room doesn't appear until the teacher is there.)
4. Type in your own first and last name and email address and use the password you're given by your tutor. (Use your regular email address, the one you most commonly check.)
A window may open that says, "Preparing Meeting Manager", or "Meeting in
Progress", instructing you not to close it, etc. Just wait, the
classroom will open on its own.
5. Follow the instructions if WebEx prompts you:
a. to click on the Information Bar;
b. for permission to install something (like "Active X", which you
should accept or it won't work);
c. to run an Audio Test, or to start VoIP (click "yes")
On rare occasions you may have
to exit and reconnect to fix an audio problem, but beyond that, if you
have problems using WebEx, call the webex 24/7 tech support line -
2. How to participate in tutorials
Chat
Make sure the "Send To" drop-down box is set to "All Participants" and not "All Attendees".
To offer a brief comment or question in the chat box, you don't need to ask permission; just type it in, and the tutor will watch the chat box and respond if necessary. If your tutor asks a general question of everyone, type a short answer in the chat box.
Audio
Mute your mic when the "Volume" window opens, which it will do shortly after you join class. Do this by putting a check in the mic box (not the speaker box) in the Volume window.
1. HEARING: You should hear your tutor speaking within a minute or two of logging on (don't panic if you don't hear it right away even though the others do).
2. TALKING: If you wish to ask a
question or make a comment using your microphone, click the "raise hand"
button below the participant list. (Some tutors may not have you use the
"raise hand" button.) The tutor will "pass the mic" to you at the next
opportunity. The button will say "Lower hand" now and you can click it
again to stop raising your hand. You will only be able to use your
microphone if the tutor "passes the mic" to you.
a. If you have a headset microphone you should be able to speak automatically (when the mic is passed to you). You don't need to do anything at all to turn it on and off.
b. If you don't have a headset, or
if your audio isn't transmitting to the rest of the class, then you will
need to hold the "Control" key down on your keyboard (bottom left-hand
corner) when you are speaking.
3. Recording the class
To record the entire class (audio, chat, notes, etc.), Click Meeting |
Start Recording, then type a file name and choose where you want to save,
then click Save, then click the red button on the little box that opens,
to start recording.
You can pause the recording during breaks, and stop the recording when you're done, using the buttons on the small recording window.
You can also simply save chat. Click File | Save As | Chat, then name and save it wherever you want.
If you have the Meeting Manager
loaded on your computer (which you do if you've been participating in
classes) you already have the WebEx Player. But if you need the Player,
you'll find it
here (scroll down to WebEx Player).
Advice on Audio Problems
If
you cannot hear yourself through your own speakers, or your tutor and your
classmates cannot hear you during the class session, it is likely that your
microphone is not enabled. To test
for this, simply go to Start Menu/Programs/Accessories/Entertainment/Sound
Recorder. Try to record your voice.
If this is impossible, then your mic is not activated or there may be
some trouble with your sound card.
Here’s how to get it working:
Right
click on the speaker icon in the lower right hand corner of the toolbar on the
bottom of your screen. Click on
“Open Volume Controls”. Check to
see if a “microphone” volume control appears as one of the panels.
If it does, check to ensure that the mute box is Unchecked AND that the
volume slider is up to 1 or 2. That
alone might solve your problem.
If
there is no volume control for your microphone, go to the Options menu and click
on Properties. In the Properties
dialog box, the radio button for Playback controls should be checked.
Look down the list in the window below for Microphone.
Make sure the box for Microphone is checked.
Then click the radio button above for Recording.
Look again in the window below for the Microphone and check the box.
Click “Okay”. The
Recording Volume control window appears. Make
sure the volume for your Microphone is up to 1 or 2 and that the Mute box is
Unchecked. Close that Window.
Then right click on the speaker icon in your tooltray again and recheck
to make sure that the volume for your mic is up to 1 or 2 and that the Mute box
is unchecked. You should be ready to
go.
REMEMBER: Please run the Audio
Set-Up Wizard (found under the "Communicate" menu in the main Webex Classroom
Screen) to make sure that you
have your settings adjusted correctly for conferences.
Tips and Troubleshooting in configuring your computer for the Tutorial
**Very Important**1. Go to My Computer|Dial-up networking, right click on your ISP and select Properties|Configure and make your maximum modem connection rate 38400 (this is necessary even if you have a higher-speed connection than 28.8 or 33.6).
2. If you have trouble, here are some things to check:
a. You should be on a regular ISP connection, not on AOL.
b. Be sure your mic is plugged into the right jack on the sound card on your computer. Try switching jacks. The best way to trouble shoot your audio problems is to see if you can record and play back sound using the Sound Recorder. You can find the recorder at Start | Programs | Accessories | Multimedia | Sound Recorder. If you can not record and playback sound with the sound recorder, your problems are not with the conferencing software but with your mic or soundcard. Your mic should be in the "Mic in" hole on your sound card.
c. Double check physical connections, such speaker and mic wires.
d. Check all volume controls on speakers and/or mics, and check the Windows volume controls and on the conferencing software audio configuration set up.
e. Double check all the instructions described in this section.
Ping Rates
Here is a tip if you would like to test the quality of your Internet connection to the ETS reflector. If you do not have a good connection, it is very likely that you will have trouble connecting to the reflector, will often get knocked off and will have poor audio.
To test your connection, open a DOS window. To do this under WIN 95 go to Start|programs|MS-Dos Prompt. Once the prompt is open type, "ping -n 20 [IP address] "
This test will result in you being given twenty ping readings. These readings simply tell you how many milliseconds (ms) it takes for your connection to reach the server. If you have a connection that gets a ping of under 400ms, your system should work dependably. Anything under 600ms is acceptable. From 600ms on up, you will start to run into trouble and should consider changing ISPs. Before you sign up with an ISP, it would be good just to call them and ask them to ping the IP address of our server. They can run this test very easily and should be able to give you a value over the phone.
If you are having trouble with your ping rate and would like to diagnose where the problem is, you can open the DOS window and type "tracert [IP address]". Or you can use the traceroute application in the WS FTP ping pro pack at <http://www.ipswitch.com/Products/WS_Ping/index.html>.
Screen size
You will find that all of the windows that the conferencing software requires may take up a lot of space on your desktop. You can increase you desktop space by right clicking on your desktop and then going to Properties|Settings and making your desktop area 800 by 600 or greater.
Getting your correct email address
Please make sure that you send me your correct email address. To make sure that your address is correct, simply send a message to yourself and see if it gets to its proper destination! If not, call your ISP to clarify your exact address. Also, to make sure that you have your "Reply to" address correct, try replying to one of your own messages and see if it comes to you.