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The Distance Learning Consortium
Members of the Distance Learning Consortium use sophisticated computer conferencing software, called FirstClass, to deliver courses and to host association and small business conferences. The software takes advantage of the Internet to allow fast, reliable connections from both Windows based and Macintosh computers.
There are two ways to access the on line conference platform. For demonstrations, tours, and short term seminars, the web based interface is commonly used. For longer courses which benefit from a more elegant interface, a separate software program, called a client, is installed on the user’s computer. Either method is fine. Regardless of the interface selected, users have access to the same conference areas on the system.
There are two functions which are NOT supported via the Web Interface. These are customized forms, sometimes called "Homework Message" forms, used by many faculty. While the forms may display from the web, they will not open correctly. The second is the E-test Player. For classes which use the E-test player, you will need to access the player using the FirstClass Client.
Another warning, web forms and e-mail are easily lost in cyberspace. As you type into a web form, your work is NOT being saved by either your computer or a web server. As a general rule, never spend more than 5 or 10 minutes working on a web form - you are risking too much of your valuable time in case you lose your connection or get logged out. Instead, complete your work using Word or Wordperfect, then copy and paste your answers into the web form/e-mail message. Consider yourself warned!!!
This short outline is a quick introduction to the web based interface. You will find it both simple to learn and convenient. You can access your conference or course from anywhere in the world with Internet access using Internet Explorer, version 6.x or later. The built in web browser in America Online will also work fine.
Different browser versions will display screens so differently that it is nearly impossible to cover all of the possibilities here. Usually, things are pretty intuitive. If you're stuck, please e-mail John Shaheen (see contact information below).
Warning, Warning, Warning (did I get your attention???)
1. User ids and passwords on the web login are CASE SENSITIVE! We suggest you stick to lower case to prevent errors.
2. When you are finished, you MUST logout by clicking the Logout button on your Desktop. For those of you used to using the FirstClass client, you know that just exiting FirstClass will log you out. NOT SO FOR THE WEB!!! Sure, if you just exit your web browser you’ll be logged out after about 15 minutes or so, but your daily “clock” will be running all that time. And, users are limited to six hours daily of login time. So, be SURE to click the Logout icon from the main Desktop when you are finished. It looks like this:
Ready to log in? Sure! Here we go:
Follow these steps:
Log into the Internet as always. Start up your web browser if not already loaded.
Type in the following web address: http://aips.com/login
(Note, this address format is a little different than most - there is no “www” in the address! This is not an error!) Consider saving this entry as a bookmark.
Note that the student login can also be accessed from the following sites:
CALE Students: http://www.cale.org -> Student Login
AIPS Students: http://www.aips.com -> Student Login
MERG Students: http://www.mergonline.com -> Student Login
You will be prompted for a user name and password. These entries vary by organization. Registered users are assigned a unique user name by the system administrator. Guests are assigned a user ID that permits them to visit restricted areas. If you are already a registered user on our system, use the SAME user name and password that you use when logging in using the FirstClass Client. You will need to know your user name and password before you can login. After entry, click “Login” to continue.
On your screen, you will see lists of conferences (folder icons), and messages (called “files”).
Above the list of files, you will see something like this: Conference: # Files, # Folders
You will also see a set of icons, including one that looks like a desk (desktop), mailbox (guess what that is for!), a finger doing the walking (directory), and some others that you don’t need to worry about for now. Different screens may show different icons. Passing your cursor slowly over the icon will display its function. .
KEEP THINGS SIMPLE. IF YOU ARE NOVICE, DON’T WORRY ABOUT ALL THE FRILLS FOR NOW!
By clicking on Desktop, you can always return to this first screen, from wherever you are in the conference.
# Files refers to the number of messages in the conference. Sometimes you need to scroll down to see all of the messages. Look for the << >> scroll buttons, which are usually at the top right of your message list.
# Folders refers to the number of conference folders on the desktop. As you click into each conference folder, you will find many conferences with subfolders, each with their own name and list of messages.
A red flag on a conference means that there are unread messages inside the folder. A white flag in your mailbox indicates a message that you started, but did not send.
If there are more messages (“files”) in a conference or in your mailbox than will fit on your screen, you will see an option to scroll to the next screen of messages. These arrows are found at the top right of your message list. You may need to open your screen window a bit wider to bring them into view. Trust me, they’re there!
Navigating:
Use your browser’s forward (->) and back (<-) buttons to move back and forth. Or, even better, click on the “up one level” icon to back up to the last conference or folder or back to your Desktop.
Printing:
This varies depending on your browser version. With a message open on your screen, click the print icon for your browser if it is in view. Or, you may need to click File -> Print. Or, if the print option is not visible, right click your mouse button and choose Print from the list.
The BEST way to print a message, without all of the graphics, is to open a message, then right click your mouse, and select Print from here. This will only print the message “frame”.
Sending mail:
Sending mail to staff, faculty, and other users and students:
Click on New Message, or Message -> New and a Message form will appear. Think of this like a piece of stationery. Complete these steps:
1. Enter a subject in the subject line
2. Type in all or part of the user’s name in the To field. We use real names. To find “John Smith”, you can type the full name, or parts of it. For example, if you just type “John” you will get a list of possible matches. If you type “Jo Sm”, you will narrow down the search much faster. Either way, type in all or part of the person’s name, then click Add. If you have an exact match, the person’s name will appear in small type. If there are multiple matches, the Directory will open, with the list of possible names. Click on the name you want from the list, and click Select.
3. Click into the main body of the message to type your text.
4. To send the message, scroll down to the bottom of the page, and click Send. If you want to start over, click Reset. If you receive an "Internal Server Error 500", please call us at 1-800-472-9404. Some older web browsers may need to be upgraded. Or, this could indicate and addressing problem.
Note that copies of all of your outgoing messages are saved in your personal mailbox conference. If you start a message, but don’t send it, you can find your unsent message in your mailbox. It will have a white flag next to it.
Replying to a message in your mailbox or in a conference:
New messages have a red flag on them. It is a VERY GOOD idea to check your mailbox when a red flag is posted!
When you open a message, you will see who the message is “From” and where the message was sent “To”. To reply to the original sender, just click on the sender’s name in the From field, or, you can click the Reply icon. Either way is fine.
To reply to a conference, just click on the Reply button. Conferences always have a small icon of a conference table with people around it.
Editing your Preferences:
The Preferences option only displays from your main Desktop. When you enter Preferences, you may do the following:
Create your own on line resume. This resume can be viewed by your instructor and other users on our network. Type your name in the large box at the top, and something about yourself in the text box below. You can view other resumes from the Directory or the Who’s Online list.
Change your password. You will need to enter your old password first, then your new password twice as a double check.
You may not want to edit the other preferences unless you are very comfortable with the system.
Suggestion: Do NOT change the setting for "Show only unread items". This will cause all but new messages to disappear from view, which can be disconcerting!
The calendar, paging, and voice functions are not activated for students, so changing these will have no effect.
Permissions:
You may not have access to all the folders that you see. If you click into a folder that you are not permitted to enter, you may get one of these messages: “Authorization Failed”, “Unauthorized”, or you may get a prompt for another user name and password. Either way, you won’t be permitted to access the restricted area. Just click “back” to move to familiar territory. You won’t hurt anything by exploring!
We hope you enjoy your on line course or conferencing experience. If you have questions, visit the HELP folder on the main desktop or send e-mail to John Shaheen here on the network or to john.shaheen@aips.com over the Internet.
Other Features:
There are many other features in our network. Try passing your cursor slowly over the various icons, and you will see a short description of what each one does. You will NOT hurt anything by experimenting!
Stuff that does not work:
Only faculty and staff have access to the Calendar functions. Sorry!
The Chat option works, sorta. It uses Java applications and can be too slow to be useful. For those with the FirstClass client, stick with that. Chat is not a requirement for any courses offered under the umbrella of the Distance Learning Consortium.
For more information about the FirstClass server, click into the "Notice Board" on your main Desktop when you first log in.
John Shaheen
Distance Learning Consortium
800-472-9404
FirstClass E-mail: John Shaheen
Internet E-mail: john.shaheen@aips.com
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