NSBasic
NSBasic
NSBasic
Basics
Presented by: Shashi Mishra Trish Dumin
The Title Bar This indicates that you are in the Control Window and displays the name of the NetSupport School Instructor workstation. The Menu Bar
The Menu Bar contains a series of drop down Menus that can be used to access the various tools and configuration utilities. These menus can be used to select Student workstations to work with, as well as maintaining and organizing Student workstations into work groups. The Toolbar
The Toolbar contains shortcuts to many of the most frequently used tasks and tools. Clicking on an individual item takes you straight to that task or function, eliminating the need to work through the drop down menus. Positioning the cursor over an icon will display a brief description of its function. For convenience, features that are of a similar nature, Show, Show Video, Show Replay Files for example, are grouped within the same toolbar icon. The Quick View Bar The Quick View Bar is used to switch between currently connected Students. Clicking on the button containing the required Students name enables you to immediately View that Students Window. The Quick Execute Bar The Quick Execute Bar enables you to execute a previously saved application to a Students machine, without having to direct your way through the drop down menu. By clicking on the button containing the required application, you immediately execute it on the Selected Student or Group. The Group Bar Until you have defined groups of Students only the ALL group will appear on this toolbar. Once defined, the group name along with the number of members will appear and the Group tool icons will become fully active, allowing you to add, delete and change Group properties. The Status Bar The Control Status Bar is displayed at the bottom of the Control Window. It shows the Status of the Control, the number of currently connected Students and the number of items in the Folder. Icons on the Left side of the Control Window Normal (List) View
Monitor Mode
Web View
Application View
Survey View
Whiteboard View
The List View displays the currently connected Students or Groups. In Advanced class we will discuss how to rename the connected student using names. Monitor Mode
Monitor Mode, similar to the Scan feature, enables the Instructor to view multiple Student screens simultaneously. Web View The Web Control Module is used to monitor and control the websites visited by connected Students. A record of sites visited in a session can be stored and, if required, the Instructor can restrict or approve the use of specific URLs. The Instructor can temporarily suspend all Internet access. The Web Control Module can be used to perform the following functions: 1. Identify URLs currently running on the Student workstation 2. Close the current/running URL on a Student workstation 3. Change the current URL running on a Student workstation 4. Launch a URL on all connected Students 5. Setting up an Approved or Restricted Web Site List Application View
The Application Control Module is used to monitor and control the applications used by connected Students. A record of applications used in a session can be stored and, if required, the Instructor can restrict or approve the use of applications. The Application Control Module can be used to perform the following functions: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Identify applications currently running on the Student workstation Close current/ running applications on a Student workstation Change the current application running on a Student workstation Launch an application on all connected Students Setting up Approved or Restricted Applications
Survey View
The Student Survey tool enables the Instructor to get instant feedback from Students during or at the end of a session. The Instructor sends connected Students a question together with a selection of pre-defined responses. Student responses are gathered at the Instructor with the results shown as an overall percentage and by individual Student. White Board View
A full screen Interactive Whiteboard is provided, enabling the Instructor to use NetSupports annotation tools to highlight the screen and show the results to a selected group of Students.
Monitor Mode
Monitor Mode, similar to the Scan feature, enables the Instructor to view multiple Student screens simultaneously. A convenient thumbnail view of each connected Student screen is displayed at the Instructor providing a quick and easy method for monitoring Student activity. While in Monitor mode the Instructor still has access to the full range of NetSupport features such as View, Chat and File Transfer.
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In the Control Window menu; Select {View}{Monitor View}, Or, Click the Monitor Mode icon on the left hand side of the Control Window.
If a workstation was not available at the time the Instructor initialized, you can subsequently connect to it by clicking on the Refresh icon in the Toolbar. This will re-search the network and connect any additional Students meeting the criteria.
3. Select from the Control Window menu {Client}{Power Management Power Off}
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Or, In the Control toolbar; click the Manage icon arrow and select Power Off.
4. The Student workstations will now Power Off. Rebooting or Logging out Students Having connected to a Student or Group of Students you are able to remotely Logout or Reboot the Student workstations at the end of a session. This is a simple way to prepare multiple workstations for the next group of students. To Reboot or Logout a Student 1. Select a Student or Group of Students. 2. In the Control Window menu; Select {Client}{Reboot or Logout}. Or, In the Control toolbar; click the Manage icon arrow and select Reboot or Logout.
Or, If displayed, click the Reboot or Logout icon on the toolbar. 3. A message will appear, confirming the Student(s) included in the Reboot/Logout. 4. Click Yes to continue.
To Blank All Student Screens 1. In the Control Window menu; Select {School}{Blank Screen}. Or, from the toolbar, select Blank All 2. The Lock symbol will appear on each Students icon on the Instructors machine. 3. To restore the screens, repeat the above process.
Advanced>> Click the Advanced button to reveals options that will be covered in the Advanced Class. To end the Show 1. Double click the Show Icon in the taskbar. 2. This will display the Showing dialog. 3. Click End. Or, 1. Right click on the Show icon on the taskbar. 2. Click End Show. To enable the Instructor to Continue working in the background while Showing 1. On the taskbar, click the Show icon. 2. The Showing dialog will be displayed. 3. Click Continue. 4. The Control Window will be displayed and the Title Bar will indicate that the Show is Suspended. You can now continue to use the Podium workstation without the Students seeing what you are doing. The Students screens will still display the previous Show. Unfortunately, the over-head display will still show what you are doing unless you turn the projector off. To Resume a Show while Suspended 1. In the Control Window Toolbar; Click Resume. 2. Students will now see the application currently displayed at the Podium machine. 3. The Showing dialog will be displayed on the Instructors screen from which you can choose to End, Resume or Continue the Show. To end a Show while Suspended 1. In the Control Window menu; Select {Client}{End Show}. 2. Students will now see their own display. To set a Show Leader while Suspended With the Show suspended, the Instructor can assign Show Leader status to one of the selected Students. This unlocks the mouse and keyboard of the Student, enabling them to take over the demonstration. The Instructor continues to oversee the Show and can End the Show as required. Note: See the Show Leader section below for more information.
Show Leader
While the Instructors screen is being shown to the class, it may be appropriate for a Student to take over the demonstration. For this purpose, the Instructor can assign Show Leader status to a selected Student. The mouse and keyboard of the Show Leaders PC are unlocked and they can continue the presentation on the Instructors behalf. The Instructor can still interact simultaneously with the Show Leader and can suspend or end the session as required. To create a Show Leader 1. Start Showing the Instructors screen to Students as normal. 2. When you are ready to create a Show Leader, click the Show Icon in the taskbar. 3. This will display the Showing dialog and the Show will be suspended. Student screens will still display the Instructors screen. 4. Click Show Leader. 5. The Show Leader dialog will be displayed. Note: If the Show icon on taskbar option has
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previously been selected, you can create a Show Leader by right clicking on the icon and selecting Show Leader. 6. Click This Client and select the Student who will be the Show Leader. Note: The Show Leader will have full access to your desktop. 7. Click OK. 8. The message You are leading the Show will appear at the selected Students machine. 9. Click Resume to restart the Show. The Show Leader and Instructor can now interact together in leading the Show.
SHARE/WATCH/CONTROL
There are three modes in which you can View a Students workstation: Share The Students screen will be displayed at both the Podium machine and the Student. Both the Instructor and the Student will be able to enter keystrokes and mouse movements. Watch The Students screen will be displayed at both the Podium machine and the Students. Only the Student will be able to enter keystrokes and mouse movements. The Instructor will be locked out. The Student's screen will be displayed at both the Podium and the Students. Only the Instructor will be able to enter keystrokes and mouse movements. The Student will be locked out.
Control
To change the Viewing mode 1. While Viewing the Students machine, from the toolbar; click the View Mode icon and select Share, Watch or Control. Or, From Client menu, Select either {Share/Watch/Control}. Other View Window options are:
Scaling to Fit
It may be that the Students machine is running in a higher resolution than the Instructors machine. In this case choosing the Scale to Fit option from the View Window menu or toolbar, will re-size its screen to fit the Window in which it is displayed.
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Note: While Viewing a Student in Full Screen a floating toolbar will also be displayed. If you close this down, remember to use the hot keys, usually CTRL+RSHIFT+LSHIFT, to get back to the Control Window or press <PAUSE ALT> to display the drop down menus.
Switching between Full Screen and Windowed Mode At The Instructors machine
While the Show is in progress, the Exhibited screen appears Full Screen at the Instructors machine. If preferred, you can switch to Windowed mode. A toolbar appears, from which the Instructor can perform a number of tasks.
To Switch Between Full Screen and Windowed Mode 1. Select Full Screen from the Toolbar.
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Notes:
To return to Windowed Mode, click the Full Screen button on the floating toolbar. Suspend or Stop the Exhibit The Instructor can choose to end the Show or temporarily suspend it. While suspended, the Instructor and/or Student can prepare a new demonstration in the background. The previously exhibited screen remains on the other Student screens until the Show is resumed. To Suspend The Exhibit 1. In the Window toolbar or floating toolbar, select Suspend. 2. While suspended, the Instructor and Exhibiting Student can work in the background. The other Students screens remain frozen. 3. To resume the Show, select Resume. To Stop The Exhibit 1. From the Window toolbar or floating toolbar, select Stop.
TEACHING TOOLS
Annotating Screens
The Show, Exhibit and View features provide a useful Annotate tool that can be used to highlight areas of an Instructor or Students screen in order to emphasize a key learning point. To annotate a Show screen While the Instructors screen is being shown, the Instructor may want to draw the students attention to a particular area. The Annotate tools can be used to highlight the relevant part of the screen. 1. While SHOWING, right click on the Showing icon and select Annotate Screen. Or, Double click on the Annotate icon. 2. The Annotate toolbar will appear. 3. Select the tool, color, etc and use the mouse to draw over the relevant part of the Instructors screen. Note: If you do not want the Students to see the screen being annotated in real-time, click Suspend. This freezes the Show enabling the Instructor to continue working in the background. Click Suspend again to restart the Show, this refreshes the display at the Student screens. To annotate a screen while Viewing While Viewing, the Instructor can use the Annotate tools to highlight a particular area of the Student screen. In Share and Watch Mode, the Student can also use the Annotate toolbar options. The Instructor can still use the other View Window options while Annotating, Chat, File Transfer etc. 1. View the required Student. 2. In the View Toolbar; Click the Annotate icon. 3. The Annotate Toolbar will appear. To annotate a screen while Exhibiting The screen of a Student that is being Exhibited can be Annotated in order to draw the attention of the other Students to a particular learning point. Depending on the Mode being used, both the Instructor and/or the Exhibited Student can use the Annotate options. 1. Exhibit the required Student screen. 2. In the Exhibit Window Toolbar Click the Annotate icon. 3. The Annotate Toolbar will appear. Note: If you do not want the Students to see the screen being annotated in real-time, click Suspend. This freezes the Show enabling the Instructor or Exhibited Student to continue working in the background. Click Resume to restart the Show, this refreshes the display at the Student screens.
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Annotate Toolbar
Options Save Screen -Saves the Annotated screen to a file. Save Selection -When the select region tool is active, you can highlight screen and save an area of the screen to a file. Clear Screen -Clears the annotations. Undo- Undo the most recent Annotation. Exit - Ends Annotate but stays in Show, Exhibit or View mode. Tool Toolbar- Choose from a range of tools with which to annotate the screen. For example, freehand draw, draw arrow, select region. Color - Sets the pen color. Width -Sets the width of the line. Fill - Sets the color and fill style. Font -Sets text font. Suspend -Suspends the Show allowing you to go back to the Control View Window. (Not available when Viewing or Exhibiting) End- Ends the Show, and takes you back to Control View Window. (Not available when Viewing or Exhibiting)
Distributing Files
As well as enabling you to Transfer Files (this will be covered in the Advanced class) to and from individual Students, NetSupport also allows you to Distribute Files to multiple Students simultaneously. You can Distribute Files to: All connected Students; Selected Students; A pre-defined Group of Students. To Distribute Files to a defined Group of Students 1. In the Control Window, from the Group Bar; select the (appropriate student group) Tab. 2. From the toolbar; click the File Distribution icon. 3. The File Distribution Window will appear 4. From the Local Pane Tree View, select the item(s) to be copied to the Students. 5. Destination Directory is the location on the Student workstations where the files/directories are copied. Note: Unless otherwise specified, the Students Destination Directory will be the same as the item(s) location on the Instructor workstation. If the Student does not have the same Directory available, the item(s) will be copied to the C Drive by default and the folders automatically created. Or, To set a specific Destination Directory on the Student workstation, right click on the Student icon in the Remote Pane and select Set Destination. Select a destination, click OK. 6. Click Copy. To Distribute Files to a selected number of Students 1. From the toolbar; Click the File Distribution icon, 2. The File Distribution Window will appear. 3. In the Remote Pane indicate which Students you wish to copy files to by unchecking or checking the checkbox beside the Student name.
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4. In the Local Pane Tree View, select the item(s) to be copied to the Students. 5. Destination Directory is the location on the Student workstations where the files/directories are copied .
Note: Unless otherwise specified, the Students Destination Directory will be the same as the item(s) location on the Instructor workstation. If the Student does not have the same Directory available, the item(s) will be copied to the C Drive by default and the folders automatically created. Or, To set a specific Destination Directory on the Student workstation, right click on the Student icon in the Remote Pane and select Set Destination. Select a destination, click OK. 6. Click Copy.
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File Menu - The File drop down menu contains the following options: Open -Allows you to select and load the appropriate video file. Close -Closes the open video file. Exit -Shuts down the Video Player. View Menu - The View drop down menu contains the following options: Text Labels -Hides and displays text labels on the Video Player toolbar. Toolbar -Hides and displays the Video Player toolbar. Status Bar -Hides and displays the Status Bar of the Video Player. Zoom -Resizes the video screen Play Menu - The Play drop down menu contains the following options: Play -Starts the loaded video file. Stop -Returns to the beginning of the loaded video file. Pause -Blanks the Students video screen and pauses the video file at the Instructors workstation. Start -Returns to the beginning of the video file. End -Fast forwards to the end of the video file. Mute Students -If students are not using headphones while they are watching a video, the sound coming from each workstation can be distracting. This option turns audio off at the Students workstations but leaves it on at the Podium machine. Help Menu - Provides access to the on-line Help and general Version information.
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Chat Menu The content of a Chat session can be stored for future reference. Select Save to create a file containing the text or select Copy to be able to paste the Chat content into another application or file.
Window Menu Only the Instructors Chat Window will have a Window drop down menu. This menu enables you to toggle between opened screens or Tile them. Chat Progress The main body of the Chat Window is used to record the progress of a Chat session. It holds details of members who have joined or left the discussion, as well as the messages that have been sent by each member. Message This is where you type your comments. Type the message and hit Enter or click Send. Auto Send Each message is restricted to 128 characters. Check this box to automatically send the message when the limit is reached. Close Ends the Chat session. Members Members currently included in the Chat session are listed here. The Instructor can add or remove Students from the Chat session as required. Unless disabled in the create discussion window, Students have the option to Leave the session of their own accord. Invite The Chat Properties dialog is initially used to select the Students to include/exclude from the Chat session. To add Students when the Chat session is in progress, click Invite. The Add Members dialog will appear, select the required Students and click Add. You can send a copy of the Chat progress to new members by checking the Send discussion history box. Note: Students that have been removed or have decided to leave the Chat session can be invited back. Eject To remove Students from the Chat session, select the Student in the Members list and click Eject. Ejected Students can be invited back into the session if required. Notes: Students can also initiate Chat sessions by opening the Student Main Window and selecting {Commands}{Chat}. By default, the Student can only Chat to the Instructor. However, the Instructor can enable the option for Students to Chat to each other by selecting the Menu, then Control Window, then {View}{Current Settings User Interface} and checking Student to Student Chat. If the Student does not respond to the Chat Window, you can send an audible beep to each workstation by selecting Chat Window menu and then {Chat}{Send Beep}.
Chat to a Student while Viewing 1. In View menu; Select {Tools}{Chat}. 2. The Chat Window will appear on the Instructor and Student workstation. To End Chat 1. In Chat menu; Select {Close}.
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To send a message
1. In the List View; Select the Student you want to send a message. 2. Right click and select {Message}. Or, In the Control Window menu; Select {Client}{Message}. Or, In the Control toolbar; Click the Communicate icon and select Message. 3. The Message dialog box will appear. Choose whether to send the message to all Available Students, All Connected Students or only the Currently Selected Student. Enter the message and decide whether to show the message at the Students PCs for a specified time. 4. Click Send. The Message will be displayed in a dialog at the Students screens and will remain until the User closes the dialog or the specified time limit expires. Send a message while Viewing 1. In the Client menu; Select {Message}. 2. The Send Message dialog box will appear. 3. Enter your message. 4. Click Send. The message will be displayed on the Student screen currently being viewed by the Instructor and will remain until the Student clicks OK.
Help Requests
NetSupport allows a Student to Request Help from an Instructor. They do this either by selecting the request Help Command from the Student menu or by pressing the hotkeys. To request help 1. Press the Hotkeys, usually ALT+LSHIFT+RSHIFT OR, Right Click the Netsupport icon in the taskbar and select Request Help. 2. This opens a dialog box into which they type their name and the message. 3. Click OK. 4. The Help Request will then be sent to the connected Instructor. If a Student raises a Help Request an alert will be raised at the Podium machine. Any outstanding Help Requests will be visible to the Instructor with a Help Request icon displayed next to the Student icon. This will show until that Help Request has been cleared. Note: The students must be informed at the beginning of the class that they can request help and how.
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To display current Help Requests 1. In the Control Window menu; Select {School}{Help Requests}. 2. The Help request Window will open and list the Requests. If there are any help requests pending since the last time the Instructor connected to the Student, the Help Request Window will be open as the Instructor initializes. 3. By clicking on the View Client or Chat toolbar buttons, you can reply to the Students Help Request.
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