velat.org

Web conferencing rooms available to Michigan Tech TTAP and Michigan LTAP

Most workshops and demsonstrations at LTAP and TTAP are hosted in the on-demand (always-on) Webinar room available through the FHWA. The screenshot at right shows a typical Web-based presentation interface.

• You should view the Connect Hosting tutorial and/or attend an FHWA web conferencing introduction before using any of the web-based meeting rooms. The introductions to web conferencing take place every Tuesday. Check the FHWA/NHI meeting calendar or contact Shelby Sours at the FHWA to find out when the next introductions are scheduled.

Always-On/On-Demand Meeting Room

The default Web conferencing URL for MTU is http://fhwa.acrobat.com/mittap,
which is "Always On" and does not require advance scheduling. This is the URL you will distribute to students within several days of the meeting. You should close this room to incoming guests when you are done using it.

Scheduled Meeting Room

With special permission from FHWA, you may schedule one-time conferences with unique URLs. The scheduled meetings should be used if you expect large numbers of students or want to arrange for additional services through the FHWA. The NHI server has a meeting request form. The form submits information to a meeting services administrator, so be sure to give the NHI a week or more to schedule the meeting.

To schedule meetings, you will need a username and password for an NHI UPACS account, keep in mind that this account will give you access to many other NHI resources.
• You are sure to forget the username and password because it is machine assigned and the password must be changed every 180 days.
• The web site logs you out in 15 minutes, so be fully prepared to complete your transaction before logging in.
• This web site can be very slow, so be prepared to restart your browser and re-enter your meeting information several times. Typing up your meeting description in an e-mail or notepad is a good idea, that way you can copy/paste and not have to retype everything.

The MTU TTAP/LTAP meeting room is associated with account jvelat1563, or contact Shelby Sours if John Velat is no longer available to manage this room for you.

Following is a step-by-step procedure to open the on-demand meeting room and start a meeting. The procedures are the same for a scheduled meeting room, but the meeting room URL will be different and you may be assigned your own Host or Presenter ID to log in.

Opening a Web Conferencing Room and Getting Started

The following instructions assume you have already hosted a Adobe Acrobat Connect Web meeting, or have recently viewed the tutorial.

Login and first steps

1. Log in to the meeting room http://fhwa.acrobat.com/mittap (default on-demand room) or the unique URL you received after registering with the FHWA.
   The screenshot at right shows the login page you should see. This login page is similar to all other Acrobat Connect login pages.

   DON'T put WWW before the URL if there is not one in the URL you were given!

   • The default Host for http://fhwa.acrobat.com/mittap as of 4 Sept 2007 is user jlvelat@mtu.edu with the correct password.
   • You will log into the room as a Host. As Host, you can change your name and allow others entry into the room, change a guest to a presenter or host and back again, and perform all other management tasks of the meeting room.
   • If you don't see the "Login:" and "Password:" fields, click on "Enter with your login and password"

   The last user should have left the room "closed" to incoming guests. The next steps tell you how to open and close the room to incomin guests. You'll need to ope the room to allow other hosts to enter.

2. Open the room to guests if it's not already open using the menu:Meeting>Block Incoming Attendees...
3. Other hosts can now enter the room as Guests
4. Change the guests to hosts using the button:Set User Role>Set as Hosts of the Attendee Pod
5. Edit the new hosts or any other incoming users in the button:Pod Options>Edit User Info... of the Attendee Pod

You and the other hosts are now fully in command of all of the meeting room functions.

You may want to block the meeting to any unexpected guests while you practice and prepare for your meeting by re-setting the meeting room block at menu:Meeting>Block Incoming Attendees...

• Consider entering a message in the Block Incoming Attendees... dialog box so that guests will know when the next meeting will open up. Use a message like "This meeting room is on hold until the next scheduled Michigan LTAP/TTAP Meeting on January 25, 2008 at 10:00am EST. Contact the LTAP offices at 906-487-2102 if you need more information."

You are now ready to start arranging your meeting room and uploading content. Go to Working in the Adobe Acrobat Connect Meeting Room for the next steps. The FHWA/NHI tutorials and Adobe Acrobat Connect documentation are also excellent resources for the following steps.

Additional Learning Resources from the NHI:

• NHI Instructional Resources
• Tutorial on being a web conference facilitator (mediator)

Next Steps: Working in the Adobe Acrobat Connect Meeting Room