Preparation for Greek Online Web Class

The Institute of Biblical Greek Online Classes are proud to be using a cutting edge audio conferencing program that is browser based (There is nothing to install to clutter your personal computer.). The conferencing system that we are now using is called Web4m. It truly creates a live forum on the web. This system is browser based, so all users including MAC users are able to attend. Another notable benefit of this package is the clear streaming audio that sounds better than most telephones even at dial-up connection speeds. Of course, there is a live chat window to offer questions and comments in addition to using a microphone. Web4m also has an interactive white board to provide even better visual communication. There is a host of other benefits that students of our online classes receive (mailbox, calendar, online phone capability with other students, server space, etc.,) but the best part of this packages is that it is included in the tuition of the online class so all of these interactive benefits are absolutely free to Institute of Biblical Greek students.

2. System Requirements

3. Getting Started

Getting started is not that difficult, but does take some time. I recommend going through all of the initial setup at least a day before the practice session that you wish to attend. Do not be surprised if there is some trouble-shooting on your first time through. Hopefully most of these will be avoided if you make sure that your system matches the requirements listed above.

The first thing to do is go to our class server. You will probably want to bookmark this URL. http://conference.classicalfree.com (If you are on a PC (not MAC) you can save time by using the quickstart.

Once you start things following the instructions contained in the above links you will have to accept few Java programs from JDH Technologies, the developers of Web4m. (Windows 98 systems may also be directed to get a Java plugin from Sun Microsystems.) This loading stage can be extremely long for some computers (12 minutes). If all you are seeing is a window that says something about window resizing, it is OK. Wait it out. If you want, you can check your ISP connection to ensure that things are truly downloading. Toward the end of the process you will be asked to accept a few more programs from JDH Technologies. Eventually, a login window will appear. Once you have registered for the course, an account will be created for you. Your user name will be your first name plus the initial letter of your last name. The first and last letters of your username must be capitalized. So the user name for John Doe would JohnD. Your default password is exactly the same as your username. Once logged in, the resize window will change to your online class account window.

There are many tools available from this window. The first thing you should do is go to "Utils" in the top tool bar and click on change password. Now your account is ready for you to use and customize. Feel free to explore your options. When you are ready to attend a class or would like to visit the "student lounge" (to test computer issues, have a live study group, or simply socialize), click on the "Rooms" button in the left sidebar. A "Rooms Selector" window will pop up. You will notice that there are numbers next to each of the rooms. These are the number of people in each room. Sometimes it takes a while for these numbers to display. You must wait for them. After you see numbers next to each room, double click on the room you wish to enter and you will be taken to that room. At this point you are in the room and have full chat and white board capabilities with anyone in the room. To enable the audio portion of the class you must be in a conference. This means selecting "join conference" at the bottom left of the screen. If you are in the Student Lounge rooms feel free to select "start conference" to enable the audio component to talk with your classmates. If you are in one of the classrooms, please wait for the instructor to start the conference. He may have a slide presentation to load.

4. Practice Sessions

The single most important thing you can do to ensure a smooth start, when the course material begins is to attend at least one of the practice sessions. These sessions function as an online class open house. Drop by at any point during one of the scheduled sessions to test out your system conference configuration and take a live guided tour of how class interaction occurs online. You can stay as long as you wish and don't have to ask permission to leave. See the course syllabus for the schedule of when these test sessions occur. Try to attend the earlier sessions to avoid the crowd and get quicker personalized assistance in troubleshooting any problems. The earlier sessions allow the opportunity to make changes and then come back at a later practice session to see if the modifications helped. Returning students should also drop by a practice session just to double check everything, and learn any new conferencing developments.

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5. Etiquette

Here a few rules of etiquette and classroom mechanics that you should be aware of.

Log into the classroom five minutes before class begins. This will give your computer time to download any slides without disrupting your audio.
- If the instructor has not started a conference do not start one yourself. This would prohibit him from loading any slides.
- If class has not started and you which to test your audio or visit with other students please go to the student lounge where you are welcome to start a conference. (But don't be late for your class)
Have as few windows open and programs running as possible. This will decrease the chance of audio problems.
During class please feel free to write thoughts, comments or questions in the chat box. Do not feel obligated to read or respond to every single post. The online classroom yields a unique environment to converse in class without being a distraction. Of course all of your chat should be relevant to the class and aimed to help or encourage others.
Feel free to request the microphone to ask a question or make a comment. To do this you may use the request microphone button in the conference window, or type ? (for a question) or ! (for a comment) in the chat box. The instructor will normally respond to these requests, but it may take a few minutes to work it into the lecture.
Although it is possible for anyone (or everyone at once) to write on the whiteboard, do not write on the board unless you are also speaking in the microphone or it is expressly clear through the chat box that you are making a mark to help clarify your comment. The whiteboard can become extremely confusing if marks are coming from every which way without context.
When the instructor asks for an audio check please type in your response using the following symbols & abbreviations:
- * = I can hear you
- cl = your audio is clear
- lac = loud and clear
- ch = your audio is choppy
- @ = I have no audio
Always take the opportunity to encourage others in the class. After someone performs a task (like reading or translating) don't hesitate to type in quick encouragements like: gj (good job).
Be careful of the temptation to think you are anonymous. Think before you type. If you blunder in what you type (it happens!), an apology can prevent or soothe many an offense. If someone else blunders, have charity--don't be hard on them.
Avoid using private jokes that may alienate some of the class participants and be aware that there are a wide range of ages and backgrounds of students taking each class. Comments should be neither too juvenile or senile : ).
There are also people in the classes coming from a wide range of theological backgrounds. Please be courteous and understanding with each other. Questions and comments should be directed at what the Greek text means (or various options of what it could mean). The classes and forum is not to place to argue theology per se. It is our goal that the church will grow more unified by continuing to return to the text rather than our systematic theologies.
I always assume that students will conduct themselves with Christian charity, courtesy, and kindness, and they almost always surpass what I expect!

A few more odds and ends:

Be especially wise in the student lounge. Reports of abuse will be taken very seriously. Please use the student lounge for organized study groups (evenings) or audio testing before class starts. You may also use it to socialize but be careful to adhere to points 9-11 from above. Playing music over a conference channel is prohibited. If you must have someone listen to something email them an mp3 and let them decide.

6. Web4m Tips

Web4m is our conferencing system. Here are a few tips for some common actions when using the conferncing site.

Getting your audio working

If you have audio problems (no sound or proper mic function) make sure you can record yourself and listen to your recording on your own computer. If you are using windows use your sound recorder. You can find it by clicking the following: START, ALL PROGRAMS, ACCESSORIES, ENTERTAINMENT, SOUND RECORDER. If you cannot record yourself and listen to the recording then you will have to troubleshoot your audio configuration in your control panel. If this audio test works on your own computer but you still don't have audio in Web4m then your firewall is probably blocking the audio. Make sure that www.classicalfree.com is listed in your firewall's trusted site list. Also make sure that you are not running more than one firewall.

Passing the Mic

In class we often pass the virtual mic around to ask questions or have students dialogue with each other. To ask a simple question in class simply click "request mic" so the instructor can more easily pass you the mic. Then click "give mic back" when you are done so the instructor can respond. If you want to dialogue with another student you will have to pass the mic to him or her. To pass the mic to someone you must highlight their name in the class list at the top left of the screen and then click ""pass mic". It is helpful if they first click "request mic" because that will send their name to the top of the list so it is easy to find. When they receive the mic the can simply click "give mic back" to return the mic to the person who gave it to them without having to highlight there name. Once the first student receives the mic back from the other student he or she now can simply click "give mic back" instead of having to highlight the other student again. This can "give mic back" function can make a dialogue fairly easy. The trick to have a student dialogue is for the first person to highlight and pass the mic to a student rather than giving the mic back to the instructor. Once the first student has passed the mic to another student they each can simply click "give mic back" to pass it back and forth between them.

Instructional Videos

Browser Setup

Viewing Recorded Classes

Using Web4m

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Classes

Preparation for the beginning Greek online web class:

1. Primary Benefits Of Our Conferencing Software (Web4m)

2. System Requirements

3. Getting Started

Login Failure?

4. Practice Sessions

5. Etiquette

6. Web4m Tips