Things to do before the first Breeze session

Breeze requires that you have the Flash player installed for your browser. Most current browser installations include this, but as a test, check out this page (which is a video using a Flash player) and see if you can view the video and hear the audio. You don't have to play the entire video if you don't want.

Video to test for Flash player: vas.calsvideo.arizona.edu/camtasia/general/site-planning.html (video about planning a website)

Before your first session with Breeze, you should also check out these pages:

breeze.ltc.arizona.edu/common/help/en/support/meeting_test.htm This document is a test page put up by the Learning Technology Center and will check player installation and connectivity.

www.macromedia.com/shockwave/welcome This will check for both Flash and Shockwave player installation, and will offer updates to the latest versions. (Note: the Flash player is needed for a Breeze meeting, but the Shockwave player is not, if you don't want to install the Shockwave player). Be sure that version 6.0.79 or higher of the Flash player is installed.

breeze.ltc.arizona.edu/common/help/en/support/downloads.htm This link will take you to the Learning Technologies Center downloads page, which has links for getting the Macromedia Breeze Meeting Add-In. This add-in is not required but will solve some screen resolution problems.

Before you connect to a given Breeze session

Based on some testing we have done with some of the earlier classes, some participants have had problems getting a horizontal or vertical scroll bar when they select the "scroll" option in the share pod, after they connect to the site (described below more). The type of monitor and its resolution can affect what you see.

We suggest that you change the monitor resolution on YOUR computer before the class starts. For a Windows' machine, right click anywhere on your desktop, and pick the option of Properties. Then select the tab of Settings, and change the resolution to 1024 by 768. This will make your resolution the same as the instructor's machine and should minimize some the "extra space" around the display area. After the class, you can change the monitor resolution back.

Connecting to the class Breeze demonstration

To participate in the Breeze demonstration, you will go to this website address: http://breeze.ltc.arizona.edu/webtraining and see this type of display. At least for this training, select the option to Enter as a guest.

If you go to this page address before the scheduled class, you will not be able to get into the meeting or class.

Type in your first name and then your last name. I am then sent a message by the system that you are trying to enter as a guest, and I will let you in to the meeting.

As you come into the system, if you don't have the Flash player on your computer, you will be asked to stop and download the file and then you will have to install it. This is one reason first time users will have to "come to class" early, at least 20 minutes before the class officially starts. Even after your first Breeze class, you need to plan to connect to the site 5 minutes before the class officially starts.

The next screen will look something like the image to the left. The breeze meeting area is composed of sections called "pods.".

One of the pods, usually to the left, lists the participant names. These are the people attending the meeting.

Underneath that is the chat area, or chat pod.

The area to the top shows attendees who have a microphone and/or camera enabled. This is the Camera and Voice pod.

The large area to the right is the Sharing pod, which allows the host or other presenters to share documents or programs.

Since we have people at different Internet speeds, we need to lower the connection setting for the Breeze meeting. As soon as you get to the class site, click on the Meeting option in the top menu, find the option for My Connection Speed, and pick (unless otherwise directed by me as the host) the option of DSL.

If you have a microphone

Depending on the number of people in the "Breeze" part of the meeting, I will limit your ability to use your microphone until certain parts of the class. You cannot use your microphone in the meeting (and have everyone else hear you) until I change a setting on the system (since I am the leader) that lets you use your microphone (and/or camera). In part, you can see the reason for this. In a large demonstration or meeting, it could be disruptive if everyone were showing their camera or talking on the microphone.

Some of the people will have a microphone. Although you can hear me talking, even if you don't have a microphone, once I allow you to use your microphone, you actually have to "tell the Breeze system" you are using a microphone and to broadcast what you are saying.

To activate your microphone, you need to click on the "Talk button" below the Camera and Voice pod. click the button on the bottom left of the Camera and Voice pod. When Talk is turned on, the button becomes shaded.

There is also a lock symbol next to the Talk button. Clicking on the Lock symbol turns on the the 'hands free' mode. Use this mode only if you will be talking for an extended time. Do not leave the 'Lock' button depressed when you are not talking. If you do, you may create echoes, feedback, or other disruptive sounds which other attendees witll hear.

Instead, click on the 'Talk' button only when you want to speak. This allows anything you say to be heard by other attendees.

The first time you use your microphone in a Breeze meeting, you should check the microphone by running through a series of screens. Begin the test by clicking on Meeting, then Audio Setup Wizard. There are about 5 screens in this wizard.

One of the sceens shown to the left lets you test the sound output.Click on the Test button to see if you can hear a sentence recorded already.

Another screen lets you record a phrase. To begin recording, click on Record and then speak the sentence. You should see some lights "flashing" in the window as you record. Click on the Stop (square) to stop recording. Then you can click on the Play icon (triangle) to play back your recoding. If your voice is too loud or too soft, you may have to adjust the microphone gane (see the last step).

The next stop lets you test the background noice, or Silence, level. Click on the Test Silence button and remain quiet while the test runs.

In the last step, some final settings are accessed by clicking the Advanced Settings button.

It is VERY important to UNCHECK the Automatic Microphone Gain checkbox on this screen. Other settings may also need to be changed if you are directed to by the host.

When you are done on this screen, click OK to save your Advanced Settings, then Finish to close the Audio Setup Wizard.

Using the chat feature

During this training meeting we will also be using the chat feature, which is one of the boxes or pods to the left of the main display. Type in your question or comment and click on the "return symbol" next to it. After sending your comment or question, it will be shown in the chat listing. If you don't have a microphone, this is how you will talk to me. And perhaps for special "speaking periods" you will talk to me this way during the presentation.

 

"Zooming in" on the display in the share pod

During the presentation, you might feel that the part of the screen showing the "demonstration" is hard to see. You can correct this by clicking on the scroll icon in the lower left part of the panel, in the "pod" for the demonstration. This is a setting you control on YOUR machine, and does not affect anyone else watching.

To leave the class

To get out of the meeting, simply close your Internet browser window. I will see in the "class list" when someone leaves.

Last revised June 13, 2006, with input from Sheila Merrigan and Robert Armstrong, in the Arizona Cooperative Extension Office.