Users Guide

Online Learning Environment
Workplace™ by Teamwave

Using Teamwave's Workplace™ Interactive Course Tool: User Guidelines

Workplace™ is user-friendly, but the environment works best when users follow some basic protocols. Here are some guidelines and “tips” for making the most of your Workplace™ experience.

The Workplace™ client allows users all to be connected to a shared whiteboard and chat area to have discussions, share documents, and post various types of responses.

If you are accustomed to using online synchronous environments, you will feel fairly comfortable with the technology. If, however, this is the first time you have used this technology, you might feel a little frustrated and confused at times. That is natural and you will overcome that. But, no matter what your level of experience is, we will use some "protocols"--expected norms of behavior, guidelines for interacting--in order to ensure the most useful experience possible with this technology.

Technology Requirements: Before Class Begins...

You will need to have access to a computer that you can store materials on, or access your disks from, and which will enable you to download and keep the Workplace™ client on the system. If you are using a school lab, let me know and we can make arrangements to have the client downloaded.

You will need

An Internet Connection from a Provider,
A browser (Netscape or IE, for example),
The Workplace™ Client (download it free from here),
Email access (as that will be a useful way for us to stay in contact),
A Workplace™ account—Your instructor will set that up for you and email your user name and password (which you can change),
A Text Editor (like Notepad, or a word processor in order to view the text documents that are stored), and
Acrobat Reader (to read the reserve materials online. It is also free: http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep.html)

Use the Help Texts: there are useful help texts in the client itself.

On Workplace™, your instructor will have a classroom with a unique name. You can choose to go there from the list of rooms in the left corner. You can see who is logged on to the server in the upper right hand corner.

The Materials, Resources, and Tools

You have constant access to a variety of materials for the class, including the assignment sheets and syllabus, online from the webpages and from Workplace™. You can save all these documents to your own disks or desktops for reference at any time (whether you are connected or not). Please try to get familiar with the difference between "web pages" and Workplace™ text documents. Most materials are available in both areas, but some are not.

You will probably want to have your browser open all the time you are on Workplace™. You can switch back and forth between the windows and look at a web page in a separate window. If your monitor is big enough, you can share the screen with both applications.

Workplace™ allows you to use and create "tools". You will have access to all tools created in your classroom. When you open a tool in the shared whiteboard space, it opens on everyone's screen who is in the room with you. When you close it, it closes on everyone's screen. That can be disconcerting when there is a discussion going on. Please refer to the protocols below for how to handle this shared space.

If you are in a room with other users (like during a group or class meeting):

Use the chat feature to let people know what you are doing with tools. Tell people you are going to open a tool, or close a tool before you do.

Do not move tools around unless you are leading a class discussion.

Do not use the "X" to close a tool as that will permanently delete that tool. Minimize tools rather than close them. (Unless it is your tool and you do want to delete it.)

Do not mark up a white board or tool unless you have been asked to do so.

Use the "permission" features to control the tools you create. If you set the permissions so that only you can delete or modify a tool, you will not have to worry about it being changed. Use this especially for assignments you turn in.

Create your own room or a group room on Workplace™. If you need to have private discussions, go in those rooms to have those discussions.

Keep on task when there is a class discussion going on. Do not chat out loud about other subjects. (You wouldn't do this in a "real" classroom without consequence... the consequences are the same online).

For your protection, save versions of your tools and rooms after you have done substantial changes. The server goes down now and again, and other people move tools within your spaces. If you have a version saved, you can always revert to that version and save all your work. Back up text documents on your hard drive or disks.

On Workplace™, you can choose your color and an icon to represent you. You are encouraged to identify yourself uniquely so we have a sense of who is where in the room.

Use the message boards in the classroom or in the student lounge to post questions or concerns so everyone can benefit from the answers. Read the message boards.

Use the client regularly. If you just show up for class and only interact in that fashion, you will never feel totally comfortable with the environment.

Of course, general standards of behavior apply as much online as in any environment. This class is not the time to be looking for a date, flirting, or posting anything that doesn't pertain directly to the content of the class. Your instructor will not tolerate any abusive behavior. Your instructor will talk with you directly if she or he believes that your conduct can be read as offensive or threatening. If you feel you are being harassed or treated in an unfair fashion at any time, please let an instructor or administrator know as soon as possible and we will deal with the situation. We are not the police, and have no desire to dictate behavior, but it is our responsibility to ensure a safe and productive experience, and we will not hesitate to do that.

Posting Assignments

Check with your instructor to see how to label and where to leave assignments that you turn in on Workplace™.