UC Web-conferencing Pilot
Overview of the pilot (97k, MS Word)
Application Form for Spring 2010 semester (40k, MS Word)
Participant Support
The support team will gather information, documentation and tutorial materials for all participants in the WCP Pilot.
Support Contacts
The support team consists of:
Glenn LeBlanc, UC Instructional Designer 621-3331
Richard Frino, UC Media Specialist 621-3325
Scott Kimball, UC Media Specialist 780 4238
UMS IT Systems & Network Specialists
UMS Technical Support personnel
Guides for Faculty
Faculty manual for Pilot Participants (PDF)
Understanding Meeting Rooms (PDF)
Leading Meetings (PDF)
Managing the Content Library (PDF)
Recording and Archiving Meetings (PDF)
Setting up for a Meeting (PDF)
Instructor/Host manual
Visit the UC Support Blog for up-to-date information on UMS eLearning technologies, including video tutorials for Adobe Connect.
Guides for Students
Hardware Test
Adobe maintains a Connect hardware test to check compatibilities. This test will also indicate the speed of your Internet connection and whether the Connect Add-in is installed.
FAQ
How will I access UC Connect?
Using your Maine Street UMS ID, login at connect.maine.edu
Do I need to install software or add hardware to use UC Connect?
The only required software is Adobe Flash Player version 9 or later, and a recommended package: Adobe Acrobat Add-in.
Optional software programs are available in the Connect Resource Center (Flash Paper, etc.). An online test is available at https://admin.adobe.acrobat.com/_a227210/vqs-participatemeeting/ that will prompt you to install both these packages, if undetected by the test. Note that the Connect Add-in is required for screen sharing.
How are courses created in UC Connect? How are students/participants added to the Attendees list?
For this webconferencing pilot, UC personnel will create the necessary Meeting Rooms for each pilot participant, and add registered students or participants in the Attendee list.
How are my students/participants notified about my course?
The unique URL for each Meeting Room can be distributed via email, posted as an External Link in a Blackboard course, or placed in a faculty’s webpage. The link is persistent as long as the Meeting Room exists. Email sent from within Connect has the advantage of automatically including links to the hardware test and software installations mentioned above.
Can someone who is not registered/enrolled attend a UC Connect course?
Yes, if the Meeting Room is set up for Open Access. Those in the Pilot who will be using UC Connect to tutor a general student population will “invite” those students through an email link, or by sharing the URL for the Meeting Room over the phone.
Can my students work collaboratively in UC Connect?
UC Connect can be used for group activities in Break Out Rooms, however, you must be logged into the Meeting Room for students to use this feature.
What type of computer can I use for UC Connect?
UC Connect will work with the following Operating Systems
What do I need to broadcast audio/video in a UC Connect course?
Broadcasting live video works best with high-speed broadband connections. Attendees with slower connections could experience irregular or choppy display. At a minimum, a USB headset with integrated microphone is recommended. This will reduce the possibility of echoing audio in a UC Connect Meeting. For video, a USB webcam, or firewire camera can be used. Sending live video through UC Connect is a bandwidth intensive operation. It is recommended that you use a wired Ethernet connection at LAN speeds for both video and screen sharing in UC Connect.
What file types can I share through UC Connect?
Connect supports file sharing for the following formats: A single PDF, PPT, SWF, HTML, FLV, JPEG, GIF, PNG, or MP3 file. Flash video (FLV) can include Camtasia files exported to Flash video, Flash animations (SWF) & FlashPaper documents (Windows only). Apple Keynote presentations and HTML pages can also be used. Note: these file types can be viewed in the Share Pod and made available for download by participants.
Where can I get help in setting up and using UC Connect?
For issues dealing with student/participant connectivity, VoIP and camera use and, meeting URLs, UMS Tech Support is available M-F 8am to 7pm by phone (800-696-4357) or by email at techsupport@maine.edu
For issues dealing with Connect features, Meeting Room setup, Attendee lists, training and documentation, contact Glenn LeBlanc, Rich Frino or, Scott Kimball.
Computer Requirements for Hosts and Presenters:
Microsoft Windows Vista Home Basic, Home Premium, Ultimate, Business, or Enterprise (32-bit edition) Microsoft Internet Explorer 7 or later Mozilla Firefox 2
Microsoft Windows XP Professional or Home Edition Service Pack 2 Microsoft Internet Explorer 6, 7 Mozilla Firefox 1.x, 2.x Mozilla 1.x or later Netscape 7.x
Microsoft Windows 2000 with Service Pack 4 Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.x Mozilla Firefox 1.x, 2.x Mozilla 1.x Netscape 8
Windows hardware requirements Intel Pentium II 450MHz or faster processor or equivalent (1GHz recommended when screen sharing) 128MB of RAM (512MB recommended)
Mac OS X v10.4, 10.5 (Intel) Firefox 1.5.0.3, 2.x •Safari 2.x Mac OS X v10.4 (PowerPC) Safari 1.x, 2.x Firefox 1.x Mozilla 1.x Netscape 7.x or later
Mac OS hardware requirements PowerPC G3 500MHz or faster or Intel Core Duo 1.83GHz or faster processor (1GHz recommended when screen sharing) 128MB of RAM (512MB recommended)
Additional requirements Adobe Flash Player 9 or later Bandwidth: 56 DSL/cable (wired connection recommended)