Browser Tests
It is really important to go through the demo version of the online classroom and do a browser test before each lesson you have, as this will ensure your camera and microphone are allowed in your browser, and that your internet connection is fast enough to host the classroom. You can also get an idea of what the classroom will look like during your lesson on the day, and you can experiment with the features that are available for you!
You can access both the browser test and the demo classroom by going into your next upcoming online lesson, clicking to view the lesson details, and clicking ‘Join Lesson’ as shown in the image above - the following pop-up will give you access.
Once you join your lesson, you'll be taken through a browser test to make sure your camera, microphone and speakers are working - you just need to go through this, and once you've done so, you'll be taken into your lesson!
Entering the classroom
Once you have entered the classroom, you will see a page looking something like this - if your camera and microphone do not appear to be working, please ensure that your browser settings are set to allow for both, and refresh the page.
The main space in the classroom is your whiteboard, that both you and your tutor can annotate in a lesson! You've also got a toolbar at the top of the whiteboard that allows you to do a number of different things on the whiteboard, such as add in text and shapes!
Documents
In the Online Classroom, you can share documents making it really easy to hand in homework and give feedback. To share a document, you first need to upload it to the Online Classroom, and you can do so by clicking the 'upload' button toolbar at the top of the classroom. Once you do this, you can select the file from the file manager on your computer, and once you've done this, it'll be uploaded to the classroom so both you and your tutor can go through them!
Screenshare
If you don’t want to upload documents into the classroom, you have the option of sharing your screen. To do this, you just need to click on the 'share screen' button in the bottom right hand corner, and you'll then have the option to either share your whole screen, a particular application you have open or a tab on your browser!
The Whiteboard
The online whiteboard is a fantastic interactive tool which you can use to enhance your lessons. You'll have this open automatically when you enter the classroom, and you can use a variety of features to draw or add images with your tutor.