Required Technology and Skills
- Email. Students use
email as their primary means of communicating with Prof. Spalding in
this course. Please carefully review the Email Protocols
in Prof. Spalding's Class.
- Internet Access. An
online course of study, by definition, requires Internet access.
- High speed Internet access is, of course, recommended at
all times. At a minimum, student should plan to take quizzes and
exams from a good computer connected to a high quality high speed
Internet access. Campus computers (for example, computer lab or
library computers at the Main Campus or the Oakland Center) are the
most reliable.
- As a general rule, Windows XP works more reliably than
Windows Vista for quizzes, exams, and WIMBA (see below).
- Users of the most recent version of the Firefox browser tend to fare
better than users of Internet Explorer or other browsers.
- For other recommendations regarding quizzes and exams,
carefully read both the Quizzes and the Exams pages of the syllabus
from top to bottom.
- Blackboard. Students
who register for this course are automatically enrolled into the online
Blackboard section for this course. For information about Blackboard,
carefully review the information and links available at both of the
following two sites:
- Scanner for Student ID.
Students
are required to upload a scan of their Wayne State University One
Card
picture ID in color, on the Digital ToolBox assignment area of
Blackboard.
- This requirement is for a OneCard as such. Not a drivers'
license. Not a passport. A OneCard as such. If you are off campus, and
you plan to do the online alternatives for the final exam Part Three,
and the research presentation (or if you plan to receive credit for the
First Digital DropBox Assignment), you'll still need to come to campus
and
obtain a OneCard.
- There are no exceptions to this requirement, so please
don't waste your time and your instructor's time by asking.
- This is the only task for which a scanner is needed.
- Color scanners are generally available at computer labs
and libraries, including several Wayne State University campus
libraries, as well as at commercial copy centers. As always, in this
graduate course at a top business school, it is in the student's
interest, and it reflects well upon the student, if the student can
demonstrate the virtue of resourcefulness.
- The due date for this task is found in the Schedule of Assignments section of
the main page of the syllabus.
- The One Card should be scanned to a .jpg format, in color
(not black and white), and should
be named with the student's name.
- For example, Sally E. Kim's One
Card should be scanned to a file named Sally_E_Kim.jpg, and uploaded at
the Digital Drop Box assignment section of Blackboard.
- Upload the actual .jpg file itself; do not embed
or
insert the .jpg file
into a Word file, a .ZIP compressed file, a .pdf file, or other format.
- Do not email your color scan to Prof. Spalding.
Instead, upload it through the Digital DropBox assignment area on
Blackboard.
- In the text box for the Submission, enter "OneCard Scan
from ____________" (and insert your name).
- Attach your local scan file from your computer. For
the Name of the file, re-enter the same information as the link title:
"OneCard
Scan from ____________" (and insert your name).
- Before you hit the Submit button, you'll see your file
name and link title listed: this is your "receipt" or proof that
your file is being submitted.
- Do not email or call to ask if your file came
through. Instead, make sure your file is listed as an Attached
File, and Submit it.
- No need to add a comment in the Comment section.
- No need to ask Prof. Spalding if the scan has been
received. Simply log back into Blackboard (preferably from
another computer, using a different browser, or after clearing the
cache and cookies on your regular browser), and make sure that you can
find your scan on your Digital DropBox and view it online.
- If you don't have a scanner, ask around: it is likely
that you know someone who has a home or office printers that include a
scanner. Or, have your One Card scanned at a Kinko's, an office supply
store, or similar retail outlet. Again, ask around and be
resourceful.
- If you live outside of the Detroit area, and cannot come to
campus to obtain your OneCard in time for the deadline for the
assignment, contact the OneCard office and have them send you a OneCard
without your picture. Then, scan both the OneCard and your driver
license (with picture and home address outside of the Detroit area),
and upload both scans at once.
- Remember that the deadline for the assignment is not
deferred for any reason, including the need to obtain and scan your
OneCard.
Optional Technology and Skills
ORAL PRESENTATIONS ONLINE
- Digital Camera or Digital
Video Camera. Most student in this course
prefer to record their research paper presentation and upload it onto
the Discussion Board, rather than present in person. This procedure is
optional, but can result in possible extra credit points. For more
information
about this, carefully read the Research Paper page of the syllabus from
top to bottom.
- If you don't have a digital camera, ask around: it is
likely that you know someone who has a digital camera that has the
capability of recording a ten minute video.
USING
WIMBA
- Headphones with Microphone,
and Web Cam. For students who choose to do Part Three of their
Final Exam as an online oral exam (i.e., an informal 10 to 15 minute
interview), rather than a formal in-person closed book closed notes
written
exam, and for students who wish to take advantage of online office
hours (rather than rely on email),
headphones with microphone, plus a web cam, are required.
- Headphones, rather than speakers, are required, in part to
avoid feedback on the WIMBA system. But they are also required for
privacy considerations and other reasons.
- Do not rely on
the built-in microphone on your webcam, or the built-in speakers on
your computer. It is required that you use a headset with
microphone.
- For a list of webcams that have been shown to be compatible
with WIMBA, see: Cameras that are recommended for video use with
Wimba video.
- These need not be expensive. Headphones that include
a microphone are available for less than $ 20, and web cameras are also
available for less than $ 40.
- Blackboard Live Classroom (WIMBA).
Students can interact with Prof. Spalding during online office hours,
and can take Part Three of their Final Exam, using the Blackboard Live
Classroom communication tool (sometimes referred to as WIMBA).
- Using WIMBA. To
practice in a Dead Live WIMBA classroom, or to interact with Prof.
Spalding during online office
hours, Part Three of the Final Exam, students use Blackboard WIMBA Live
Classroom, available at the Communication button on Blackboard.
- For technical information about the WIMBA Classroom
system, see Wimba Classroom.
- WIMBA seems to work best when you are using the Firefox browser.
- Before attempting to use WIMBA, read through the
information about WIMBA available at:
- Before browsing to Blackboard to use WIMBA, close all
programs and then open your browser.
- Before browsing to Blackboard, clear the cookies, and
the cache, on your browser. If you do not do
this,
it is likely
that you will not be able to transmit your webcam through WIMBA (even
if
the WIMBA "Setup Wizard"
seems to
indicate that your equipment is functional).
- Firefox
browser users click on Tools,
then
Clear Private
Data, and then make sure that both Cache and Cookies are checked before
they Clear Private Data Now.
- Make sure that you do not have any webcam window or
software open, other than WIMBA. Other webcam software and
windows interfere with WIMBA.
- The WIMBA "Setup Wizard" does not test to see if
your webcam is actually transmitting through WIMBA.
- It tests other things,
but not this crucial feature.
- You can find out if you are broadcasting your web
cam through WIMBA by making yourself the Presenter in the empty "Dead
Live
Classroom" set up on Blackboard for this purpose.
- Make sure your webcam is broadcasting through
WIMBA when you are the "Presenter" on WIMBA.
- If you are unsure about this, read the WIMBA Help
documentation.
- The most important step in making sure your
webcam is broadcasting through WIMBA, is to clear the cookies, and the
cache, on your browser prior to browsing to Blackboard to use WIMBA
(see above).
- Before Using WIMBA
- Make sure you are using a headset with microphone, and a WIMBA-compatible
video
camera. The headset is required; speakers (built-in or
otherwise) and non-headset microphones (built into the video camera or
otherwise) are not allowed.
- There are several reasons for the headset requirement,
including confidentiality of communications, feedback issues from
speakers, etc.
- Students who attempt to earn credit for Part Three of the
Final Exam without a headset (that is, by using computer speakers or by
using a non-headset microphone) will lose credit.
- Students who attempt to engage in office hours without a
headset (that is, with speakers or with a non-headset microphone) will
be invited to leave the WIMBA classroom.
- Before logging onto Blackboard to use a WIMBA Live
Classroom, make sure you have cleared the cache, and all cookies, from
your browser.
- If you don't know how to clear the cache, and all
cookies, from your browser, find your way to someone who can help you,
such as a technician at a campus computer lab.
- If possible, it is also a good idea to reboot your
computer before signing onto Blackboard to use the Live Classroom.
- Before signing onto Blackboard to use the Live
Classroom, also make sure no other windows are open, including any
other tabs or windows within your browser.
- Before you enter a WIMBA room, be
sure to run the setup wizard (on
the right-hand side of your screen) to make sure your computer,
headphones and microphone are ready to use the Live Classroom.
- Make sure your browser allows pop-ups from wayne.edu,
from http://208.185.34.123, and from https://208.185.34.123
- Before you enter a WIMBA room, write down the dial-in phone
number and the Student PIN Code, just in case you have trouble
with your audio and need to dial in for the audio. Plan to have
your cell phone handy for this contingency as well.
- Synchronize the clock on your computer so that you have the
exact Internet time showing.
- If you are not in the Detroit area, make sure you know
what time it is in Detroit. You can verify this by checking the Detroit
time at the External Links area of the Blackboard site for this course.
- Students who enter the Final Exam Part Three interview
room early will lose points, since this can interfere with another
student's interview.
- Make sure you are using your headset, and that your
computer speakers are off. This is both to prevent feedback, and, to
ensure confidentiality in your conversations with Prof. Spalding.
- Practice Using WIMBA in the
Empty Room (Dead Live Classroom) before meeting with Prof. Spalding on
WIMBA.
- Go through the
"Setup Wizard" before entering for the first time. Even if you complete
the wizard successfully, it is necessary that you make sure that you
camera is transmitting properly (below).
- As soon as you enter the classroom, click on
the Video icon
to the
right of the Talk Button. (the Video
icon is to the immediate left of the blue telephone icon).
- Once the video pop-up pops up, click the both the "Start
Transmitting Video" button
(on the left,
along the bottom of the Video
pop-up, with an icon that looks like
an eye)
and the "Show preview video" button
(in the middle, along the bottom of the
Video pop-up, with an icon that looks like a
small picture within a larger picture) to enable both of these
buttons.
- The "Start
Transmitting Video" button should now be orange
, not
gray. If you see yourself in the larger background of the video
pop-up, your video is working. Proceed, below. If not, exit the room
and exit your
browser. Clear the cache and cookies (see above) and start over.
- The "Show preview video" button should also now
be orange
, not
gray. You should not have any trouble seeing yourself in the
lower picture-in-picture, since that does not go through the Internet.
It's the background picture that needs to be working in order for you
to proceed or to earn credit for an online Part Three of your final
exam.
- The third button enlarges the WIMBA webcam
image. Do not click on that
button to enlarge the video image: it will interfere with your ability
to use the rest of the WIMBA features.
- If your camera is operating properly, you'll see
the Presenter in the Live Classroom (yourself, or Prof. Spalding or,
during Office Hours, possibly another
student) in the larger (background) view, and your own transmission in
the lower (picture-in-picture) view.
- If you do not see yourself in both the larger background picture, and the lower (picture-in-picture)
view, your camera is not working.
If
you plan to use the WIMBA system for your Part Three of your Final
Exam, you will not receive credit unless your camera is working
properly.
- The primary reason that a camera is not working
properly is that the student did go through all the steps described in
the section "Before Using WIMBA" above. In particular, if the student
did not clear the cache and cookies immediately before signing onto
Blackboard to use WIMBA, the camera will likely not work properly.
- So, start over at the top of this page and try again.
- As necessary,
make use of
the Help function to train yourself to use the Live Classroom.
- After using WIMBA in the Dead Live Live Classroom, remember to clear the
cache and cookies (see above) and start over before attempting to using WIMBA for Part
Three of the Final Exam or for office hour appointments.
- Using WIMBA for Part Three
of the Final Exam, or for Office Hour Appointments
- As soon as you enter the classroom, click on
the Video icon
to the
right of the Talk Button. (the Video
icon is to the immediate left of the blue telephone icon).
- Once the video pop-up pops up, click the both the "Start
Transmitting Video" button
(on
the left, along the bottom of the Video
pop-up, with an icon that looks like
an eye)
and the "Show preview video" button
(in the
middle, along the bottom of the
Video pop-up, with an icon that looks like a
small picture within a larger picture) to enable both of these
buttons.
- The "Start
Transmitting Video" button should now be orange
, not
gray. If you see yourself in the larger background of the video
pop-up, your video is working. Proceed, below. If not, exit the room
and exit your
browser. Clear the cache and cookies (see above) and start over.
- The "Show preview video" button should also now be
orange
, not
gray. You should not have any trouble seeing yourself in the
lower
picture-in-picture, since that does not go through the Internet. It's
the background picture that needs to be working in order for you to
proceed or to earn credit for an online Part Three of your final exam.
- After your Video is working, hold down the TALK
button and say "Hello, this is _______" and give your full name.
Then release the TALK button and wait for a response. Do not just say
Hello, but, instead, give your full first and last name.
- Allow for some delay (a few seconds) between your
speaking and when you hear an answer.
- Remember to click and hold the TALK button every time you
speak.
- When your WIMBA Classroom
Session is Completed, click on the Exit
link. The Exit link is above the WIMBA logo, which is in the lower
right corner of the screen.
- For privacy purposes, students must properly exit the WIMBA
classroom. Students who do not properly exit from their Final Exam Part
Three interview will lose credit. This interferes with the privacy and
communication between Prof. Spalding and the student who has the next
appointment.
ONLINE
APPOINTMENTS
ON WIMBA
- Part Three of Final Exam.
See the Exams page
of
the syllabus for details. Before you plan to take
advantage of the online alternative to the in-person closed book closed
notes Part Three of the Final Exam, be sure to read and master all of
the recommendations and requirements for USING WIMBA as
described
above.
- For Part Three of the Final Exam, do NOT enter the WIMBA
interview room until your appointed time EXACTLY (to the second, not
sooner, not later), based on Internet time. As explained on the Exams
page of the syllabus, the
(exact) time and the date of the appointment is established ahead of
time.
- Occasional Online Office
Hours.
Occasionally Prof. Spalding determines, as a result
of email communications
with a
student, that a one-on-one conversation with that student is required
or appropriate. In such a case, Prof. Spalding will, by email, invite
the student
to set up an appointment with him for a one-on-one conversation in the
Online Office room on Live Classroom
(with web cam
enabled). The
(exact) time and the date of the appointment is established by email
ahead of
time.
- Prior to the appointment, you must have scanned your
Wayne State University One Card
picture ID and and have Sent it to Prof. Spalding using the Digital
Drop Box
tool on Blackboard.
- Remember to make sure your video is enabled.
Prof. Spalding does not conduct one-on-one consultations unless he can
see
that it is really you.
Rev. 09/15/2010 Copyright 2007 and
2010:
Albert D.
Spalding, JD, CPA/CFF