Introduction to CENTRA SOFTWARE

page 6 of 7 - Previous Page - First Page - Next Page

Centra Programs and Events: Attend an Event

After logging in to Centra, choose the Ongoing tab and locate and the event you wish to lead. Click the Attend link under the event to begin the event. If this is the first time you are connecting to Centra with your computer, Centra will need to download and install the conferencing software. This will occur differently depending on the browser you use.

Once you are connected, the graphic interface for CentraOne will open. Your name will appear as a participant. Michael is leading the event at left and no students have logged in to view the whiteboard. As students log in, their names appear in the Participants window.

Talking

As a participant, you must be granted speaking privileges by the instructor. If the instructor wishes you to speak, a small microphone icon will appear beside your name. You may interact orally and visually with everyone in the event until the microphone icon is removed from beside your name.

Press and hold the Ctrl key on your keyboard while you are speaking. If you plan on speaking for an extended period of time, click once on the lock icon just below the file menu item. This is called the Lock to Talk button and let's you speak hands-free until you click the lock button again.

Raising Your Hand

All students have the ability to raise their hands to signal their desire to speak. A number appears beside their names indicating the chronology of raised hands in the class. Therefore, the instructor will always know who has had their hand up the longest. The instructor may lower one hand at a time or all hands at once.

Signals to the Instructor

Centra has some built in feedback mechanisms for students. When you click the green checkmark button, a green check appears by your name in the participant list. Clicking the red X button icon places a red X by your name. A tally of all the checks and X's appears at the bottom of the participant list. This way, the instructor will know immediately how many students agree or disagree with what is said. As a student, you can also indicate laughter with the smiling-face button and applause with the clapping-hands button.

Feedback You are also able to send you feedback concerning the pacing and clarity of your instruction. At right, a student has selected Send Feedback from their Tools menu and is informing the instructor that the instruction is OK.

Presenter Status

From time to time students may be given control of the class, perhaps during a presentation or demonstration. The instructor remains, as always, the ultimate control in the session, granting Presenter privileges to a student enables him or her to do many of the things you do as leader: control student microphones, lower hands, erase checks and X's, navigate the agenda, create and assign breakout groups, and share applications. When promoted, the student's name will be removed from the class listing and placed underneath the instructor's name to signify this change in status.

Chatting

You may also use the chat tool (the icon with the keyboard and text bubble, second from the left). Chat allows you to send and receive text messages to other participants. This functionality can be very useful to send information without using audio. The chat will not open automatically, however, and you'll need to remember to monitor it from time to time.

page 6 of 7 - Previous Page - First Page - Next Page

Request Support by Email

• Enrollment Support
• Technical Support

VTOnline

Institute for
Distance and Distributed Learning