by Jennie Ruby, COTP, CTT
Today I was teaching an online class on GoToTraining. I use this online training platform about three to five days a week. But today, it threw me for a loop.
Just two days ago, I taught a class on this platform and all was well.
Today, I logged in one Instructor computer to serve as my main platform. Then I logged in two additional computers: one as my Slide Display computer and the other as my Software Display computer. I was going to be going back and forth between showing slides and demonstrating software.
Here’s where the loop-throwing part happened. As students are logging in, I am finishing my Instructor setup routine. I need to give the two supplemental computers “Organizer” status, so that I can have full instructor features on them. And I can’t do it.
I right-click, as I have done for literally years, and it’s not on the menu. WHA???
I hate stress when I’m setting up for a class. After all, I spent all evening last night tweaking my slides. I spent all morning making sure the sample files were correct and ready to go. And now, with students arriving, a basic function I’ve routinely done for years has vanished.
Between Monday and Wednesday, the GoToTraining folks had launched a new default behavior: Instead of downloading the App to view the class, computers other than the main instructor computer automatically log in with a view-only Web interface. They can’t screen share. And they can’t be made Organizers.
Quickly enough, I found the command for “Give me the full-service App!” and I solved the problem. I even had the satisfaction of answering their survey: “How do you like the new automatic Web login? Why are you changing to App view?” Don’t worry, I was quite restrained in my commentary.
Because I knew that on some level it was my own fault.
It is up to the online instructor to know everything about how the online training platform functions. No doubt I received an email or a newsletter from the GTT folks heralding the new procedure, which I should have read. At least I had done one thing right: I was logging my computers in an hour ahead of class time. Although it was true that one or two eager students were also logging in nearly an hour early, I had plenty of time to solve the problem. And even time to answer the survey!
Here are some things that you need to know about your online training platform, as the instructor: First, everything from my previous article on student functionality. Then, you need to know how to do the following:
Basics:
- Log in as the Instructor/Organizer/Administrator
- Log in backup computers and promote them to Presenters, or Organizers, or Administrators—different platforms have different roles available
In-Class Functions:
- Share your screen
- Share just a view of an app
- Share a Whiteboard (WebEx)
- Share any window (Adobe Connect)
- Create Breakout Rooms
Communicate:
- Chat
- Audio
- Private Messaging
Other special functions
- Hide your screen icons and programs
- Record the session
- Leave the session without closing it
- End the session
Some online training programs are harder to master than others. If you are at all shaky on any of the instructor/organizer/administrator skills, then you might need to work with a “producer.” It’s the producer’s job to operate the online training platform, help you achieve the technical setup you want, and help the students with whatever issues may come up for them. Having a producer frees you to focus on communicating and teaching, without the distraction and stress of platform issues like the one I experienced today.
Do you have advice to share? Stressed out moments over problems that you solved? Please share your stories below as comments.
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Jennie Ruby, CTT, COTP, is a veteran eLearning developer, trainer, and author. Jennie has an M.A. from George Washington University and is a Certified Technical Trainer and Certified Online Training Professional. She teaches both classroom and online courses, and has authored courseware, published training books, and developed content for countless eLearning projects. She is also a publishing professional with more than 30 years of experience in writing, editing, print publishing, and eLearning.
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