Important! You MUST read and follow this guide to sucessfully use Collaborate:

1. Please visit the Collaborate's Java checkup page to make sure that your computer's Java (computer application) version is acceptable.
   
   
2. Watch these short orientation sessions, categorized by topic:
   Brief Overview
   Content Sharing
   
   
3. Please make sure you are using Internet Explorer Version 9, Firefox 12 or Google Chrome 18. If using a Mac, then Safari will also work. You may also need to
   configure your browser to allow pop ups for "d2l.sfasu.edu". Instructions for accomplishing this can be found on our browser configuration page.
   
   
4. Setup your microphone and speakers by visiting the Configuration Room.
   
   
5. Please also visit the SFA test session to make sure you can access SFA's version of Collaborate. No password is required, but you may need to enter
   your email address and name.
   
   
6. Now that you have been through the initial orientation, please follow steps A - J (below) to learn how to find, join and perform basic functions in your class sessions.
   
   

Collaborate Help Desk Support Number: Toll Free: 1-866-388-8674 or 1-877-382-2293
Please follow the directions on this page before contacting technical support. Most setup issues can be resolved with the information found here.
Local SFA Help: (936) 468-7649 (During Normal Business Hours)
Chat Live With A Technician - Click Here

What are the minimum computer specifications and Internet connection speeds for running Collaborate?



Locating and Accessing Collaborate Sesions in Desire2Learn (D2L)

Step A
Log in to Desire 2 Learn and navigate to the desired course. http://d2l.sfasu.edu/
(Choose the course in which you will be participating in the Collaborate live session.)


Step B
Once at your course home page, find the "Collaborate" link and click once. There will be a delay while the next page loads.

Step C
Click on the appropriate "Join" link that your professor has setup for your session (if any). The link will not be active until 30 minutes prior to the
scheduled session time. If the "Join" button does not appear in your list, or if the list is totally blank, then your instructor has most likely not
created an active session yet.



Step D
After a pause, you may be asked to open/allow the Java service to run (depending on which browser you are using), so please choose "open".
Then, you will see the Java banner pop up briefly. Next, you will briefly see the manager banner as the service begins to start.
Please wait. Depending on your computer's security and browser configuration, you may also be asked some security-related questions about allowing the
Collaborate service to run. If so, then please answer "yes", "allow" or "OK" in order to let the service run on your computer.

Step E
Following a pause while the program is starting, you should find yourself in a Collaborate session that looks similar to the image below. You are now
in a live session! Please continue on to steps F - K in order to setup your microphone and web cam (if needed). Obviously, you will need to have a web cam and\or
microphone connected or built into your computer in order to send audio or video. Nothing else is needed to receive someone else's web cam video, but you will
need a set of working speakers in order to receive audio from others.

Step F
To configure audio features, simply click on the audio setup wizard icon (as shown below) and follow the directions. Also, please be sure that your
microphone was properly connected to your computer before it was last started. If not, please re-boot before proceeding.

Step G
After you have sucessfully completed the audio setup wizard, you may click on the "Talk" button to turn the microphone on in order to test your ouput. You should see the
microphone level bar bouncing back and forth as you speak. Please click the "Talk" button again to turn the microphone off. Please do not leave your microphone on if
not speaking during any session. This can cause problems for other speakers who may also be trying to send audio.




Step H
Click "Video" to turn your web camera on or off. Also, if you have a web camera, please be sure that it was properly connected to your computer before
it was last started. If not, please re-boot and check to make sure it is working with your computer first, before attempting to use it with Collaborate.




Step I
To share your computer screen, simply choose the icon indicated below, select "share desktop" in the available selections and then click the "Share" button.
also using a webcam, please click on the icon that's like the one shown below. (Please note: This feature can be disabled by your instructor.)



Step J
When you finish sharing your desktop, click on the stop button located in the upper-right screen area.

Viewing Recordings (Archives)

Please note that any recorded sessions may take up to 24 hours from the recording time before appearing in your course archives area. To view a recorded
session, go to the Desire2Learn/Collaborate archive section (shown below), then choose the approriate session link for the desired recording.

Note: Older recordings may open with the original version of Elluminate.

Firewall Issues and Tips: If you are having trouble getting into a session from another organization (such as another school or office), make sure that the
security firewall ports 2187 and 80 are allowed by your Internet provider and/or IT department. Collaborate does require these ports to be open in
order to properly connect. This may be what's happening if you get a message that reads "Connection Failed" when you try and enter a session. The "Systems
Administrators" link below is a good resource you may pass along to your service provider and includes information on how to resolve any firewall issues.
Please note that SFA has no authority over firewall ports at the user's location, so that is why it is a good idea to test well in advance of an actual class session.

Systems Administrators (PDF): Click HERE for more information about firewall ports.

Java Issues:

	If you are getting a Java error message when enetring a session, please click HERE for additional instructions. Apple/Mac Users: http://www.oit.sfasu.edu/elluminate/java_mac.htm

Collaborate Help Desk Support Number: Toll Free: 1-866-388-8674 or 1-877-382-2293
Local SFA Help: (936) 468-7649 (During Normal Business Hours)
Chat Live With A Technician - Click Here



Go back to the main Quick Start Guide