Adobe Connect Synchronous Guide for Instructors

School of Education





June 2013

2

Table of Contents

Logging in to Adobe Connect..3
Opening your Adobe Connect Room.4
Using the Webcam.5
Recording Meetings..6
Creating More Than One Meeting Room..6
Promoting Participants to Presenters..8
Screen Layout9
Sharing Screen Options..12
Sharing Files14
Sharing Weblinks.17
Sharing Video.17
Designing Presentations with Student Interactivity
a. Chat..20
b. Using Icons/Symbols.22
c. Break Out Rooms23
d. Polling.25
e. Notes Pod...26
Mobile Devices and Adobe Connect..28
Resources..29





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Adobe Connect Tools and Strategies
Logging In
Send your students the name and web address for your Room Example: Piper's Virtual
Classroom: http://brandman.adobeconnect.com/piperclassroom/
From the Meeting menu, select Manage Meeting Information for your web address.



Students should log in as Guest
Request that they log in with their full name.



Instructor Log in with login and password so you have control of the room.
Start the Meeting Audio by clicking on the Audio tab at the top of the page.








4

Opening the Room/Turning on Audio

Click on Audio to Start Meeting Audio
Unclick the Using Phone option (Not Available)
Do not use phone option if you plan to use breakout rooms since the audio will not work.



Under Audio Click on Microphone Rights for Participants.



Click on Microphone to Connect My Audio to start your own microphone.



Click on Microphone to mute (line through mike)
Notice the indications on your attendees list.
Recommendation: Have all students click to mute their microphones until they are ready to
speak.




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Click on Allow for Camera and Microphone Access



Using the Webcam for Instructors

From the camera icon, click on Start My Webcam
If students are presenting, you will want to enable Webcam for Participants



Or click on Start My Webcam from your layout screen.


Preview your webcam view
Make adjustments for lighting/ centering/etc.
Click on Start Sharing.






6

Recording Meetings
http://tv.adobe.com/watch/learn-adobe-connect/recording-a-meeting/

Click on Record Meeting from the Meeting dropdown on the top menu
Recommendation: Wait a few seconds to begin your meeting audio so you dont cut off the
beginning


End Meeting and Access the address of the recording via Manage Meeting Settings
Go to Meetings Tab and click on Recording
Copy the URL for Viewing


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You can use the Meeting menu to Manage Meeting Information
Click on Meetings and then My Meetings for more options
You can create a New Meeting from this menu.
Recommendation: Set up new meetings for different purposes/classes etc.









8


Managing Access and Entry
If you are having student presenters you may wish to Auto-Promote Participants to
Presenters.
You can invite participants from this window.
Recommendation: Dont do this unless you have a small group presenting because they will
have the power to change the pods, etc.


Promoting Participants to Presenter

Click on icon for role Host, Presenter, Participant
Click on icon to change the role



9

Screen Layouts

Default layout includes three typical screens
o Sharing
o Discussion
o Collaboration
You can design your own layouts
You can create your layouts from scratch or copy a previous layout (I highly recommend this
option so you dont lose the 3 default layouts).

Sharing (Share, Webcam, Attendees, Chat) *Recommended Layout for Beginning













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Discussion (Sharing, Attendees, Discussion Notes, Chat, Poll)



Collaboration (Sharing, Webcam, Attendees, Files, Chat, Notes)



From the layouts menu, you can
o Create new layout
o Manage layouts
o Reset layouts
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Create a New Blank Layout (suggest you duplicate an existing layout that is similar)



Recommendation: Always use Duplicate an existing layout so you dont lose the original
default layouts
Manage Layouts (suggest you name them for specific types of activities)








12

Reset Layouts helpful when you over-edit.


Share My Screen Options



Share My Screen Options

Share My Screen (share whatever is on my computer screen)
Share Document (upload PowerPoint, Word document, Excel File, etc.)
Share Whiteboard (collaborative drawing board)







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Share My Screen: Computer screen: Desktop*(Recommended), Applications, or Windows



Generally, select Desktop and share whatever is on your computer screen.
You will see a Sharing FullScreen popup at the bottom of your screen.



You can Add New Share from the pods menu and have several different shared screens
available.



Stop sharing when you are done or if you want to have someone else share his/her screen.
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Sharing Files

Browse your computer to locate the file (document, presentation, spreadsheet, image, etc.)
Once you have uploaded files, they will stay in your account until you delete them. You would
then select Uploaded files.
Upload the files you are going to use ahead of time. Highlight the file you which to share.


A PowerPoint Presentation and Word documents are the easiest to use effectively.
Consider a welcome, an agenda, or brief introduction to discussion questions for the week, etc.
Use the forward and back arrows to move around in the presentation.



You can also activate the whiteboard along with your presentation or document and make
notations, draw arrows, create text boxes, collaborate, etc. in the whiteboard.
Click on Draw on the top menu
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When you are done with your presentation/discussion, click on Stop Sharing.
Once you have uploaded a file, it will remain as an optional pod unless you delete it.



You may wish to design a welcome screen with an agenda.
See 2
nd
example with one slide with breakout room assignments.
You can create one PowerPoint slide and save it as a jpeg image file (see examples below)
Upload your pptx, docx, jpg, xlsx, etc. under share my document (or under files).



To add a photo or graphic, go to Share from the Pods menu
Select Add New Share (This will leave your main share my screen option open and available for
other shares.


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Downloading Files

Students can download files you have uploaded for them).
Go to the Pods menu on the top file bar
Select Files



Browse your computer to upload files.
Note: This is also where you upload Adobe Extensions and Flash files (like the ConnectTube.swf
for viewing YouTubes within your share window).


17

Sharing Weblinks

Go to the Pods menu and select Add New Weblinks
If you want students to visit a website or several websites during your session, you might
include the web link for sharing.



Sharing Video
Must be Flash file
Problems with Flash - Not supported on ipad, iphone, or android tablet/phone
Select Share Document and locate your swf video flash file for upload.
You can also share the link of a video using the web link pod.
You can download the Adobe Connect extension for viewing YouTube videos in the share
document window.


YouTube Video Requires Adobe Connect Extension


Custom Meeting Pods for Adobe Connect -
http://www.adobe.com/products/adobeconnect/extend.edu.html
YouTube Tutorial - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fa2l_BCsd_Q
Download the custom pod Connectube.swf
Upload the swf file to Adobe Connect under sharing document
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Search for a YouTube Video by Address or Topic
The videos from YouTube are imported as Flash files and are NOT supported on mobile devices
(ipad, iphone, android, smartphone)



Additional Extensions Available

Locate Adobe Connect Extensions -
http://www.adobe.com/products/adobeconnect/extend.html
Download free extensions to your computer
Upload the extensions through Share My Screen and select Document

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Designing Presentations with Student Interactivity



Promote students from participant to presenter when you want them to share their screen.
Chat is one of the easiest ways to promote interactivity
o Have students respond to questions or chat on a specific topic
o You can rename your chat and use it for specific questions or attendance
o Go to Manage Pods on your top file menu

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Right menu allows you to clear everyones status



Chat

Ask students to sign in with full name, campus, subject matter, etc.
If you are having audio problems, you may want to Remove Audio Rights from All
Ask specific questions and have everyone answer
Set up additional chat pods with specific questions.
May want to click to show timestamps so you have record of time
Email your chat to yourself as a record.
Require chat responses on any topic frequently so that students stay involved.

21



Email Chat History to yourself
Great way to take attendance
Add New Chat ahead of time under the Pods menu



Start a new chat with a specific question or prompt



Can set up a new layout that includes a number of chat topics.

22



Using the Icons/Symbols Set Status (Check for Attendance)



As you are talking, ask for students to respond by using the icons for agree or disagree, raise
hand, applause, etc.
Icons appear to the right of the attendeess name
A pop-up will also appear
Use this tool frequently during your session so that students have to participate!
Clear Status when everyone has answered
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Break Out Rooms
Breakout Rooms: MAKE SURE YOU DO NOT HAVE THE PHONE LINE OPEN
Click on the Breakout Room Icon (icon in the middle)



Hold mouse on a name and click on break out room you would like the student to go to

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You can add break out rooms by clicking on the + icon
Click on Start Breakouts to have students begin small group work
Reminder: Do not connect the phone line or the groups will have no audio access.



When in the room students can communicate with their group, share powerpoints, files, etc.
No other groups will hear them
See Adobe Tutorial on Creating and Managing Breakout Rooms -
http://help.adobe.com/en_US/AcrobatConnectPro/7.0/WS4BF59827-6025-4e9b-AE46-
B2F4D525B362.html (Screenshots are included below)


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To Managing Breakout Rooms
Instructor can post a message (Example: 1 minute left) and then Broadcast Message
Click on End Breakout to get everyone back to the main room



Polling Students - http://tv.adobe.com/watch/learn-adobe-connect/creating-a-poll/

From the Pods menu, select Add New Poll.



Type you poll question and each answer
Click on open poll
Try a Poll Layout for Multiple Questions
Use with PowerPoint or other shared document

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Notes Pod

Notes Pod Resource - http://help.adobe.com/en_US/connect/8.0/using/WSC5287B4E-AB04-
4f75-AF2C-4C0DFB29753E.html
Select Add New Notes pod.
Select Export Note and you can save the file as an rtf or email notes to yourself of everyone.
Excellent way to take attendance, but only presenters can type in the notes box.
Also useful for assigning a note taker for a particular discussion.
Can be used in breakout rooms for notetaking.
Participants are automatically promoted to presenter in breakout rooms.
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Only Presenters can type on the notes pod unless you give participants Enhanced Participant
Rights.
From the Attendees dropdown on the top right of the Attendees pod, select Attendee
Options
Click on the pods that you want the attendee to control as a presenter.




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Mobile Devices and Adobe Connect
Students can access Adobe Connect Meetings with a Mobile Device.
Download the Adobe Connect Mobile app for your device.
Heres an example of the computer plus iPhone, iPad, and Nexus 7 all open in the same room.
Encourage students to use earbuds with a microphone for audio.
Videos in Adobe Connect are Flash videos. Flash is not supported in these mobile devices.
Go to Adobe Connect Mobile - http://www.adobe.com/products/adobeconnect/feature-
details/adobe-connectmobile.edu.html
Video Intro - http://www.adobe.com/products/adobeconnect/mobile-meetings.edu.html


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Audio Options

Encourage USB headset and microphone for computer
Use earbuds with microphone for mobile devices OR Computer.

Resources

Attend Adobe Connect Trainings in CII - http://www.brandman.edu/cii/Pages/faculty.aspx
o Introduction to Adobe Connect *Required to Get Adobe Account
o Pod Functionality
o Breakout Rooms
o Recording a Meeting
o Pulling Attendance Reports
o Viewing YouTube Videos (coming soon)
Carla Pipers Adobe Connect Tutorials - https://sites.google.com/site/adobeconnecttutor/

Additional Resources and Tutorials

Learn Adobe Connect (Adobe TV) - http://tv.adobe.com/show/learn-adobe-connect/
Quick Start Guide for Hosts - https://seminars.adobeconnect.com/_a227210/vqs-hosts/
Quick Start Guide for Participants - https://seminars.adobeconnect.com/_a227210/vqs-participants/
Adobe Connect Professional Meetings -
http://help.adobe.com/en_US/Connect/6.0/Enterprise/help.html?content=WS11d1def534ea1be08
a52b610b38bfaa95-7f25.html
Adobe Connect Tutorials - http://www.adobe.com/support/connect/gettingstarted/index.html
Adobe Connect Pro Meeting -
http://help.adobe.com/en_US/AcrobatConnectPro/7.0/WS11d1def534ea1be08a52b610b38bfaa95-
7fca.html
How To (Adobe Connect 8) - http://help.adobe.com/en_US/connect/8.0/using/WS0018977C-29C0-
40a3-A2ED-F3D5DD3A4B4E.html
Adobe Connect Managing Pods - https://seminars.adobeconnect.com/_a227210/managepods
Creating a Meeting - http://tv.adobe.com/watch/learn-adobe-connect/creating-a-meeting/
Creating and Managing Breakout Rooms -
http://help.adobe.com/en_US/connect/8.0/using/WS372813bbb4178f2417094f9e12b308681ed-
8000.html
Adding Polls - http://tv.adobe.com/watch/learn-adobe-connect/creating-a-poll/
Custom Meeting Pods for Adobe Connect -
http://www.adobe.com/products/adobeconnect/extend.edu.html
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YouTube Tutorial on Adding Custom Pods to Adobe Connect -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fa2l_BCsd_Q

Webinars and Examples of How to Use Adobe Connect

From Blah to Aha: Engaging Learners in the Virtual Classroom (Can access from various locations)
o Online Events -
https://onlineevents.adobeconnect.com/_a655548740/p3gsqa5qw2t/?launcher=false&fcsC
ontent=true&pbMode=normal
o Intesolv.com - http://www.intesolv.com/index.php/from-blah-to-aha-engaging-learners-in-
the-virtual-classroom/
o Slideshare - http://www.slideshare.net/cynthiaclay55/from-blah-to-aha-16160890
Adobe Connect Blog - http://blogs.adobe.com/adobeconnect/2013/03/anyone-there-hello-hello-
hello-sound-familiar.html
NERIC Menu - http://portal.neric.org/sites/services/etech/Connect/default.aspx