Centra Information & Guidelines (9/16/2005)
Purpose:
The intent of this document is to provide faculty with information that will enhance using Centra. Successfully developing class materials for live delivery in Centra involves a number of responsibilities:
· Using the proper personal computer and system software
· Applying best practices for creating content and leading sessions
· Requesting dates and times for live classroom sessions
· Utilizing recommended resources when and if necessary
UNC Charlotte Centra Support Web site
(http://elearning.uncc.edu/Centra)
It is very important for a potential, new, or experienced Centra Leader to be familiar with the information and links at the UNC Charlotte Centra Support Web site. The links connect the presenter to a number of valuable resources including video tutorials, quick reference cards and guides for leaders and content developers.
Terminology
Agenda – Organized list of content (the topics to be covered during a specific class meeting) that a Leader or Presenter shows during an Event.
Centra Client – The software application that Centra uses to attend or lead a live Centra Event. This software gets downloaded and installed automatically the first time the participant or leader attends or leads an event.
Co-presenter – A Participant who is given Leader privileges temporarily during a session.
Display Name – The name seen by other event attendees.
Event – A single instance of a scheduled presentation (class meeting or lecture) of a live Centra session.
Leader – The person who leads and manages the activities in an Event. a.k.a. the Presenter.
Participant – An individual who attends a live Centra Event.
The default size of the Centra window is 800x600 pixels. You should optimize content to run at 800x600 pixel screen resolution to accommodate the largest number of people. The media area for Centra measures 640x480. If the image is too large, scrollbars appear on the Media Window.
Internet BrowserCentra Scheduling
The Centra Administrator maintains the Master Schedule for each semester. Requests to use Centra are filled on a “first come, first served” basis, taking into account the limited number of concurrent seat licenses the University has purchased. Courses in the University’s Distance Education programs will be given priority in scheduling.
You must submit a Centra Account Request form to have Centra sessions created for your course for each semester, including the date and time of each individual class for which you want to use Centra. This applies to all courses.
Centra Course ID
UNC Charlotte Course ID + section number
Examples: ITCS 1101-001
LBST 2102-126
The Course IDs and each class’s content will be removed from the Centra server approximately two weeks before the start of the next academic semester unless you request use of Centra for that course in the next semester.
Centra Course Name
UNC Charlotte Course ID + UNC Charlotte Course Section Number (if more than one section of the course is using Centra) + Semester
Examples: ITCS 1101 Fall 2005
LBST 2102-126 Spring 2006
LBST 2102-127 Spring 2006
Centra User Accounts
The following are the various types of user IDs:
Faculty Accounts
Faculty IDs on the Centra server are the same as your NinerNet username. When your account is created, you will receive an email with your Centra Login and initial Password. If you would like a guest to observe a specific class session, please send the request to the Centra Admin.Student Accounts
Student IDs on the Centra server are the same as the students’ NinerNet usernames. When the students’ accounts are created, they will receive an email with their Centra Login and initial Password.
Student Enrollment
Students are enrolled manually by the Centra Admin based on Focus Class Reports. Once the semester begins, professors will have to send student adds and drops to the Centra Admin, including the student’s NinerNet ID and Student ID number.
Passwords
All users are initially assigned a predetermined password. For security purposes, it is important that the password be changed when the user logs in for the first time. Passwords may be changed on the user’s My Profile page. It is the user’s responsibility to maintain the privacy of their password. If users forget their password, they may retrieve it by clicking on the “Forget your password?” link on the Centra Login Page and entering their UNC Charlotte email address. Their login information will then be sent to that email address.
Display Names
Faculty Display Names will be in the form of Prof. Miller. Students’ Display Names will be their official University First Name. Display Names may be changed on the user’s My Profile page.
Course Guidelines
Course Content
Instructors are encouraged to develop and upload their class content ahead of time. It is highly recommended that a Leader have a good working knowledge of the Centra software and its tools. You will find several useful resources on the Centra Support Web site (http://elearning.uncc.edu/Centra). For basic knowledge of content development and live, online class management, each Leader should be familiar with the content of the Centra 7 Content Developer and Leader Guides. The Center for Teaching & Learning (CTL) also offers consultations and support for Centra. Please visit the CTL Web site (http://www.fctel.uncc.edu) for more information.
Security
You may submit a request for a colleague or teaching assistant to be able to create and upload Agendas for your class sessions. It is important that you understand that these users will be able to change class content for any of your Centra sessions.
Recordings and Archiving
Every Centra session is automatically recorded and can be published by the session Leader for playback by students. All Centra users have the option to download these session recordings as a self-executable file that includes the Centra player for viewing on the user’s local computer.
Recordings are removed approximately two weeks after the end of each semester. If you would like to create an archive of your Centra classes, you can download the session recordings and store them on your computer or on a CD.
Contact Information
If you need assistance, there are several options available to you.
Phone:
You may call the Help Center at extension 7-3100.
Email:
You may send an email to centra@uncc.edu.
Workshops and Consultations:
The Center for Teaching & Learning also offers a variety of workshops for faculty, as well as individual consultations. You may review our workshop schedule at http://www.uncc.edu/fctel/calendar. You may also request a consultation with an Instructional Technology Consultant, by calling the Help Center at 7-3100.