Technology Information for Online Courses

LAP Training is delivered through the internet as well as taught by local pastors. The following technological needs are required of online end-users:

  • A broadband internet connection such as DSL, cable modem. A dial-up connection is not recommended.
  • A late-model computer with Windows 2000 or XP (or equivalent for Apple users).
  • A head set with earphones and microphone.
  • Download the free Macromedia Flash Player. Go to http://www.macromedia.com/downloads.
  • If a group gathers around a single connection, (eg. A church group viewing a workshop) a data projector and speakers are recommended.

The on-line classrooms are easily accessed:

  1. After enrollment into a course the student will be emailed the classroom website and a password to enter the internet classroom for the course enrolled in.
  2. When the classroom comes up, type your name in the “log-in” box and click on “log in.”
  3. Your name will appear with a circle in front of it. This indicates your microphone activity. Place your cursor over the “talk” button and hold it down while you speak. You will see that the circle turns green.
  4. The bottom left box is a chat bar. Type into it, hit “send” and see your message or question appear in the box above it for the class to see.
  5. Special conference rooms for congregational resources will be available through advanced arrangements with the providers.

Troubleshooting Tips

If you are a first-time user, you should open the classroom ahead of time to see if things are working correctly. If you have technical problems or questions, contact Lenette Schuldheisz at lschuldheisz@cu-portland.edu.

  • From time to time, your browser may freeze up. This is generally a local problem which can be rectified by refreshing your browser. After you refresh, you will need to re-enable your audio.
  • If you loose transmission altogether, telephone the instructor or technician (the numbers should be given at the beginning of the course) for instructions.
  • If you speak over the internet, it is best not to use the automatic transmitter, but to speak while holding down the “talk” button. The automatic transmission is for the instructor or someone making a prolonged presentation.
  • When you log in, make sure you enter your name, otherwise you will be listed on-line as “your name” and the others will not recognize you.

Sound Challenges

  • Most of the sound problems revolve around band width. Students with slow dial-up connections can often not speak or hear other students. Because instructors are generally using wide band connection, students can almost always hear them.
  • It is suggested that students, where possible, get cable or DSL connection or some other wide-band connection to the internet.
  • Steps to correct sound problems:
    • Always use a headset. Do not use external speakers because of feed-back problems.
    • Make sure you have a workable headset. Mac users often benefit from a powered USB headset.
    • Get the microphone as close as possible to your mouth. If you are not almost brushing your teeth with it, some microphones will not pick up the voice. Better headsets have better mics.
    • Windows users go into your computers control panel and walk through all the sound and audio and voice menus. Make sure nothing is muted and that microphone volume is at ¾ or more.
    • Be sure your mic is properly plugged in and the plugs are not reversed.
    • Check that the mic switch on your headset (not all have this) is “on”.
    • If your control panel has a means of testing your microphone, please use it (Office XP has this feature, for example).
    • If you are using a Mac, go to the system folder, then preferences and walk through the audio and microphone options there.
    • DSL or Cable or wide-band users: when logged onto your classroom set your connection speed to modem.
    • If you have dial-up, set your speed at “custom” and your up and down limits at 25 kbs.
    • If you are using dial-up and have a very slow connection, log off and then log back onto the classroom. Sometimes this will give you a higher connection speed.
    • Go to the student list on the left hand of the classroom window and right click the list.
      1. Check the settings option.
      2. Go to the screen icon and check both “allow” and “remember”
      3. Go to the microphone icon and make sure “reduce echo” is checked and the volume is at least 50%.
    • Do NOT check the “auto” button in the lower left. This is for instructors. If needed, the instructor will ask you to check and uncheck this at appropriate times.
    • If none of these options work, it us probably due to a busy internet and some students will not be able to respond using a microphone and will not be able to hear certain other students (usually those with dial-up connections). You will have to type all your communication to other class members.

Screen Problems

  • If your slides will not refresh or the screen “hangs” do a screen refresh.
  • If the refresh does not work, log off and come back on again. (If you sit in the classroom for a long time and there is no change on the screen it has a tendency to hang.)
  • When you refresh, be sure you click the whiteboard toggle button so you can see the slides.

Connection Problems

  • If you cannot get to the classroom, be sure you have downloaded the flash player from: http://www.macromedia.com/downloads.
  • If you still cannot get on, check and see if you can get onto the internet without a problem.
  • If you cannot get to other locations on the internet, you have a problem with your hardware or software and it needs correcting.
  • Suggestions:
    • Shut off all other applications so only your internet browser is open. Download the latest version of your browser software and install it.
    • Reboot your computer.

One of the problems which we cannot fix is the sluggishness of the internet when there is a lot of traffic on it. Unfortunately, most of our classes are held during peak internet usage times. This will often create a delay or lag-time between the speaker speaking and the listener hearing the voice. This can be several seconds in length and can be frustrating. Unfortunately, the lower your band width, the more internet sluggishness will affect your connection. This is one of the reasons we suggest students get DSL or Cable connections.