INTRODUCTION TO VIRTUAL CLASSROOMS

Introduction to Brightspace Virtual Classrooms:

Content:

• System Requirements
• Creating a Virtual Classroom
• Launching the Virtual Classroom
• Inside the Virtual Classroom
• For External Participants: send them the link. 

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS:

• We recommend using the latest version of Chrome, Firefox, or Edge (Chromium version). Safari for iOS devices
• Use headphones instead of speakers to prevent voice echo.
• Click the Enter Meeting Room button to enter the meeting, or click the Enter Meeting When Started button to be automatically entered into the meeting when it starts.
• Check if your computer and internet speed is supported: https://bongolearn.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/360035692233

STEPS IN CREATING A VIRTUAL CLASSROOM: 

1. Login to CELO+ homepage, select "course selector" and click the course you want to have the virtual classroom (for this tutorial, click [Username]Sandbox).
2. On the Navbar, click "Course Tools".
3. Click "Virtual Classroom".                                    
4. Click the pink plus (+) button on the right bottom corner of your screen. 
5. A "Schedule Meeting" pop-up window will open. You will see the following details:                    
• Title Name : Type the name of your virtual classroom here.
• Meeting Date: Select the meeting date.
• Meeting Time: Select the meeting time.
• Now: If you want the virtual classroom now, you may click this. This will disable the meeting date and time. 
• Max Duration: This will tell your participants how long the meeting will be in minutes. 
• Repeat Weekly for: Click this to automatically repeat this virtual classroom. 
• Automatically record meeting: This will allow you to record your virtual classroom as you go with the meeting, this will allow you to play this meeting again when you are done. Later on, recorded Virtual classrooms can be accessed under "RECORDED MEETINGS" just like this: 
• Publish recorded meeting: Publishing a recorded meeting will allow you to share the recorded virtual classroom to your learners/clerks. This will allow them to play this meeting again when the virtual classroom is done. 
• Allow external participants: Click this if you have participants who have no Brightspace CELO+ account. Anyone with the link can access the virtual classroom. 
• Invite entire class: CELO+ will automatically inform the entire class that you have invited them for a virtual meeting. 
6. Once you are done setting the scheduled meeting, click "SAVE". Congratulations! You have now created a Virtual Classroom.

Launching the Virtual Classroom

1. In the Virtual classroom page, under "Active meetings", click the small 3 vertical boxes in the right side of the virtual classroom you want to open.
2. You will see 5 options. 
• "Launch" will let you start the virtual classroom. 
• Copy External link lets you invite people who doesn't have Brightspace accounts (you can copy and paste the link given and send it to the person you want to invite), 
• "Manage invites" lets you add or remove participants in this meeting. 
• "Edit" allows you to edit the scheduled meeting . 
• "Cancel" allows you to invalidate the virtual classroom. 
• For the purpose of this tutorial, click "Launch". 
3. A pop-up window will open named "Meeting Lobby". Click "Enter Meeting Room"
4. Congratulations! You will now be in the Virtual classroom. 

Inside the Virtual Classroom

1. Once launched, you will meet this option: Click the microphone icon to speak during the meeting. Click "Listen only icon" if you don't want anyone to hear you for the whole duration of the meeting. If prompted to allow microphone use, please click "ALLOW".
2. Virtual classroom will try to check if your system supports Virtual Classroom. Click the green thumbs up button if you can hear yourself. Click the red thumbs down botton if you don't hear yourself speaking and proceed to troubleshooting. 
3. As a Moderator of this Virtual Classroom Page, you will see the following (note that your options will vary depending your account status): 
• Starting from the TOP Left Corner to the TOP RIGHT CORNER:
• User List Toggle: allows you to see all the participants in the virtual classroom. Here, you can click the names of the participants to have access to further options, such as, set as moderator, or mute the user.
• Chat: allows you to chat the users during the meeting.
• "Not Recording" tells you that this meeting has not been recorded. Click this to start recording. 
• Signal Bar: tells you your internet speed for this meeting. Green is very good, Yellow means good, red means slow but still capable. 
• Additional settings: allows you to additional settings, about, end meeting or leave the meeting.
• BOTTOM left corner:
• Actions: allows you to start breakout rooms (which lets you separate the participants into groups, Mute all, initiate a poll, or upload a presentation. 
• Bottom Center corner of the screen: 
• Mute - lets you mute your audio.
• Leave audio - cancels your audio all throughout the meeting.
• Video Menu - allows you to swap you camera from front to back, or share your camera.
• Share your Screen - allows you to share your screen to everyone.
• Right most part of the screen you will see a white bar with 4 icons (Starting from the top):
• Tools gives you access to the following:
• write text
• create shapes
• use pencil
• use a pointer
• undo Annotations
• Clear All Annotations 
• Turn Multi-user mode on - lets all participants to annotate the screen/whitescreen.

For External Participants: send them the link.

STEPS: 

1. From the main Virtual classroom page, click the small 3 vertical boxes aligned to your meeting.
2. Click copy external links (note you wont be able to copy the link, this is copied automatically, once you paste it to any messaging app, it pastes immediately.
3. Paste and send the copied link to the person you want to invite. 
4. Inform the person to click the link and follow the instructions. 

CONGRATULATIONS! 

You are now adept with Virtual Classroom. 

Note that this virtual classroom works the same way as zoom/google meet or messenger video calls. If you want to opt with using the said video calling applications, you have the option to use them too.