Every Elluminate session will have a moderator, who is in the driver's seat for the session and is usually the person leading the meeting, and participants, who may be other faculty or staff, or may be students. How you begin the process of preparing for and conducting an Elluminate session will be different depending on which role you are taking.

Moderator:

If you are moderating an Elluminate session, appropriate content preparation and session structure will be key to the success of the session. Before you even launch the Elluminate software, think through the kind of experience you want to provide and the level of interaction you want session participants to have, then plan out a storyboard for the session.

It's a good idea to run a test session with colleagues first, to ensure every element - from invitation to post-session feedback - is working smoothly. If you have the time, you will also find it helpful to review the participant training.

Here are the steps to get your session up and running:

• Faculty and staff should request an Elluminate account (allow twenty-four business hours to process)
• Complete the one-time set-up process on the computer you plan to use for the session
• Complete HSU's Introduction to Elluminate online training
• Review the Elluminate Getting Started for Moderators video and other Moderator documentation
• Send an email invitation to your session participants with the session details, how to access the session, and a link to the Elluminate Participant Orientation materials
• Enter the session 30 minutes before the scheduled start time
• Run the audio set-up wizard to ensure the audio channel is working correctly, or open up the conference call line if you're using teleconferencing over the phone.
• Upload your presentation materials

Participants and Guest Speakers:

• Complete the one-time set-up process on the computer you plan to use for the session.
• Review the Elluminate Participant Orientation materials.
• Join the session, using the link provided in the invitation, at least 15 minutes before the session start time
• Run the audio set-up wizard to ensure the audio channel is working correctly, or dial into the teleconference phone number if audio is handled using the phone system.

A Note on vRooms:

HSU's Elluminate license includes vRoom, an instant-meeting version of the full web conferencing application. vRoom includes all the functionality of a full Elluminate session except recording and teleconferencing but is designed specifically for small meetings with up to three people. It's ideal for office hours and other one-on-one sessions, as well as for collaborative sessions with colleagues or fellow students. Once it's set up, you can access your vRoom at any time. Just bookmark your vRoom landing page and use it whenever you wish.

When you sign up for your free vRoom, you also become a member of LearnCentral, the new social learning network for education, and the vRoom Best Practices Group, where you can connect with other vRoom users and share vRoom best practices and success stories.