Adobe Connect

Adobe Connect is a web conferencing platform which

provides novices and experts alike with the capability to

conduct highly interactive synchronous meetings.

Faculty Orientation Updated 3/2/15

1 – Make sure the speaker and microphone icons on the top bar

of the screen are both green.

2 – Wait for a support person to call on you, then say “hello.”

3 – If you are OK, put up check mark.

Click the arrow next to the person

with the raised hand, then select Agree.

4 – If you will not be speaking for a while,

click the mic icon to mute it.

Audio Check

1 – When nobody is in the room, the room audio turns off.

When you or a staff person first enter, turn on room audio.

Starting Room Audio

2 – Make sure participants have microphone rights, which should be default.

If not, turn it on in Audio Conference Settings.

Make sure these two items are checked.

1 – When you enter the room, you will need to join the conference.

Normally, select Using Microphone.

Starting Your Audio

3 – If there is no phone in the room, you may just

see a white mic icon on the top bar.

Click it to start your audio.

2 – You may be prompted

with this pop-up.

Always click Allow.

1 – If for some reason your audio gets disconnected, click on

whichever icon you see at the top to reconnect

Starting Your Audio (cont)

2 – You may be prompted with this pop-up.

Normally, select Using Microphone.

OR

Run the Audio Setup Wizard

On menu bar on upper left, select Meeting,

then select Audio Setup Wizard

The first thing you should do when you log into an Adobe Connect meeting

is to run the Audio Setup Wizard to ensure your audio is working properly.

Audio Setup Wizard

A series of four screens

will show, allowing you to:

1 - check your speakers

2 - select your microphone

3 - test your microphone

4 – set background noise level

Click arrow to right of mic,

then Select Microphone

to quickly change setting

Headsets

Easier to use, lower quality

USB (1 flat connector)Analog (1 or 2 plugs - 1/8”)

Higher quality, can “act up”

• Make sure headset and microphone are properly connected

• For analog, ensure compatibility with your PC/Mac

• Make sure microphone is NOT muted (mostly on USB)

• Mac users should generally use built-in mic/speakers

Combined mic

& headphoneMic & headphone

Each separate

Volume and mute

Get Wired!

1 - Use an ethernet cable to connect your computer to a router or modem

Wired connections work better then wireless …

2 – IMPORTANT: Disable wireless on your computer

Typical

Mac

disable

Typical

PC

disable

Finding the Meeting

Read this information

to get oriented to

Adobe Connect

Click here to fill out form

for help

Click here to enter room;

there may be several

sections.

Phone and mobile info

also provided.

Recordings are stored here

FACULTY: Click here to

schedule the Web

Conferencing Support

you need for the

semester

Click Web Conferencing on the left course menu to see the Web Conferencing page below.

Classroom Overview

B – Share Pod

A – Menu Bar

C –Chat Pod

D – Attendees Pod

used for presentations, app share, etc.

E – Video PodF – Connection

Status

NOTE: You can add or remove pods using the Layouts menu above as well as create,

save, and switch between layouts using the toolbar on the right.

G – Layouts

Interacting in Class

Disagree

Click the arrow to the right of the hand-raise icon

on the bar on the top of the screen.

Then, select any of the status options

(the four common ones are at the top).

Select Clear Status at the bottom to remove what you selected.

Status

Agree

Your status will then appear to the right of your name in the list of Attendees.

Note that if you select Step Away, your mic is automatically muted, and you will need to un-mute it to talk after you return.

Text Chat - Public

By default, messages you type are public –

anyone in the room can read them.

Find the Chat Pod.

Type a message in the white bar and the bottom, then

hit Enter or click the speech bubble on the right.

Text Chat - Private

Chat Tabs

You can also change the size

and color of your chat text.

You can send a message just to one person.

1 - From the menu in the upper right, select Start Chat With.

2 – Select Hosts, Presenters, or Attendees (plus a specific person)

3 – A new tab will open at the bottom of the chat window. You may

have several tabs at once, switching back and forth between them.

Note the menus may pop-up on the left

side rather than the right side.

Calling In for AudioBelow the link to enter class, you will see

- the link for accessing the room via mobile application

- the room phone number (always 617-861-6840)

- the room “Conference ID” (unique for each classroom)

For phone info while in the room, click the i on the upper right,

then click View Info for details.

Connecting with your mobile device

You will need the URL for the room

OR enter through Blackboard Learn mobile

Download application (for both iOS and Android) from:

http://www.adobe.com/products/adobeconnect/mobile-meetings.html

Note:

presentations

and video may

use up

your data plan.

Controls for

mic, chat,

hand-raise, etc.

are on the side.

Click on student’s name

and a menu appears.

You can promote student

(make presenter or host)

Can also mute or enable video

Also can promote by just

dragging/dropping student to

host or presenter section

Changing Student Permissions

When you have presenter or host status, you should see the

following in the middle of the Share pod.

Click Share My Screen, then click Share Document.

Sharing a Presentation

You can share several file types including:

• PPT, PPTX

• PDF

• PNG, JPEG

• MP3, MP4

• FLV, F4V

• SWF

A window pops up to import the file.

You may choose an existing file,

OR

Select Browse My Computer

to find a new file.

Sharing a Presentation (cont.)

Then, locate the file and click Open.

The upload should take a minute or so.

To navigate through the slides, use the arrow keys on the lower left.

Click the icon to the right of the arrows to show or hide the outline,

which includes slide titles, notes, and a search function.

On the lower right, click Sync to allow you to preview slides without

showing them to others (by default everyone sees the same

slides as the presenter).

On the upper right, click Draw to enable drawing tools,

which will then appear to the left.

You can also enable a green pointer arrow, full screen mode,

several menu options, or Stop Sharing.

Displaying a presentation

Next / PrevPresentation Outline

The Outline appears on the right.

Click a slide title to display it.

Title all slides in your PowerPoint

or their title will simply be labelled

“PowerPoint Presentation”

Notes in your PowerPoint

will upload and can be optionally

shared with classmates.

Also you can Search for text

through the document.

You can show the navigation to

everyone in the room if desired.

Actual Slide Content

is here on left side

If navigation is not working, exit the room and re-enter.

• PPT/PPTX files can include graphics, text, animations, sounds, notes, etc.

• wipes/transitions between slides do NOT work, however

• Uploading the same file name twice results in duplicate filenames,

which can be very confusing – check Recently Uploaded first.

• Encourage students to upload slides before class if possible (or email to

you. You may want to run slides for students or have them run them.

• Good bandwidth (green bar in far upper right of screen)

will prevent delays and glitches.

• If you are having technical problems, fill out the support form

using the link within your course.

Tips for Slides

Whiteboard

Create a variety of shapes, text, etc. using the drawing

tools in the upper left. Customize size and color.

Click Share My Screen, then Share Whiteboard

Create several pages by using arrows in lower left.

Use green pointer in upper right to bring attention to items.

Stop Sharing when done in upper right.

Share your screen

Can share

• entire desktop

• just certain applications (e.g. Word),

• just certain windows that are open

Under the Share My Screen menu,

Select Share My Screen

Breakout Rooms

Click to switch to breakout view

Create new rooms

Automatically distribute

between rooms

Manually distribute

Click on names and

select destination

OR

Drag and drop to

destination

Start BORs

when people

have been

distributed

End sessions in upper right

Recording

- most classes do create recordings

do not record if confidential discussions

- allows students to review material later

1 - Select Meeting menu at top left, select Record Meeting.

2 - Name meeting recording, optionally give summary description.

3 - Red button shows up in upper right, can pause or end recording.

3

2

1

Troubleshooting

• Slides not updating, text/buttons not working

• Exit and Re-enter Room - fixes temporary glitches

• Stubborn problem could be Flash or browser issue

Audio Issues

• Verify using latest version of Flash

• http://www.adobe.com/software/flash/about/

• Quit and Restart browser after upgrading

• Have multiple browsers available

• PC: Firefox, Internet Explorer, Chrome

• Mac: Safari, Firefox, Chrome

• Turn off pop-up blockers and remove plug-in toolbars

• Make sure microphone is properly connected and not accidentally muted

• Make sure correct mic option is selected

• Test sound by playing a YouTube video or similar

• Close out of room and re-enter

Flash/Browsers

Visual Issues

Blackboard General Help: http://umb.echelp.org

Support Information

“Read this first” link – good for general review

Blackboard Account Issues

• UMass Service Desk: 617-287-5220 (9 am - 5 pm Eastern)

More at http://adobeconnect.wikispaces.umb.edu/Faculty

Fill out form to get help using this link

Web Conferencing Support

Scheduling

- Click the Schedule Web Conferencing Support option from the main page

- allow at least one week’s notice

- notify of special cases (presentations, guest speakers, etc.)

- frequency - minimum twice per semester, up to weekly

- recommend orientation session before first class for new students

Support Staff

- Staff arrives ~15 minutes before class

- Staff stays until class begins, then posts email contact and/or

wiki web link.

- Note there is NO emergency 24/7 phone support offered

For general questions, email umb.connect@umb.edu