The WorldWideWhiteboard™ consists of a large whiteboard region. Along the left-hand side is the tool bar. It provides special symbols and shapes, color and line thickness selection, highlighting, and cursor movement. Details on the various tool bar items will be given here. The WorldWideWhiteboard™ depicted below shows the default tool bar buttons. Additional topical tool bar buttons are possible. These buttons are given here.
Along the top of the WorldWideWhiteboard™ is a menu bar with several pull-down menu items. While some of these items provide the same functionality as the tool bar items, there are others that are unique to the menu bar. A detailed description of the menu bar will be given here.
On the right side of the WorldWideWhiteboard™ is a user list, which is used in the Live Classroom mode of the WorldWideWhiteboard™. This user list shows which users are in the WorldWideWhiteboard™ session, allows the leader of the session to control read and write access to the WorldWideWhiteboard™ and chat area, allows users to send private messages, and allows leaders to send poll questions to the users in the session. More details are given here.
At the bottom of the WorldWideWhiteboard™ are one or more operations buttons (e.g. <Submit>), and a status line. The status line displays real-time information, such as queue status, submission status, what the current discussion is about, and who has joined the group. It is definitely something you want to keep your eye on!
Getting Started
Once you've started an interactive board, you should see a solid black box cursor called the text cursor. Text is inserted at the cursor by simply typing. There are four basic ways of repositioning the text cursor. The first is by the Home key on the keyboard which will reposition the cursor to the top left-hand corner of the WorldWideWhiteboard™. The second is by the Tab key on the keyboard, which will reposition the text cursor forward or backward (hold the <shift> button) one tab space. The third is via the arrow keys on your keyboard. The fourth is by clicking the left mouse button once the mouse cursor is at the point you wish to place the cursor.
The mouse pointer (its form will vary from system to system) is used for graphical operations. For instance, you can freehand draw starting at your mouse pointer by holding your left mouse button down while dragging the pointer. (Be patient, the response time depends on the quality of your internet connection, your CPU, and your Java run-time system provided with the browser.)
In the discussions below, clicking will refer to clicking once on the left mouse button. In general, when an operation has been selected, clicking the right mouse button will cancel the operation, if the operation is still pending. There is also a menu item [Edit -> Cancel] for cancelation of pending operations if the user has only one mouse button.
Note: If you have a mouse with only one button, the left button functions apply. Use the menu alternative for right button functions.
The Tool Bar
The tool bar provides functions, shapes, color selection and cursor positioning. To select a tool bar item, simply click on it. The order of the items can be customized by the administrator. Items may also be left out. Thus, you may experience slightly different tool bars from one course or book to another.
The main philosophy of the tool bar is that the motions are similar to writing the symbols with, say, chalk on a chalk board. The buttons can be categorized as either default or extra. Default buttons are the set of buttons you obtain if no symbol pads have been selected. Extra buttons are topical buttons that will be included by default if the corresponding topical keypad has been selected.
In alphabetical order, the items are:
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arrow: After selecting the arrow tool, a small arrow symbol will attach itself to the mouse pointer. First, use the mouse to position the end of the arrow (and click to place it), then position (and click) to place the arrowhead. Arrows are drawn in the selected color, with the default being black. See thickness for control of the thickness of lines. (Return to WorldWideWhiteboard™) |
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brackets: After clicking on the brackets icon, a small bracket symbol will attach itself to the mouse pointer. Position the upper end of the bracket, and click to place. Next move the mouse to stretch and invert, if desired (for a closing bracket), the bracket to the desired size; then click again to complete. (Return to WorldWideWhiteboard™) |
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color selection: Clicking on a color in the color icon sets the color for freehand drawing, highlighting, lines, arrows, ellipses/circles, and rectangles/squares. (Hint: to verify you have the desired color, check that the highlighter color or the selected thickness color has changed to your chosen color). If you select black, the highlighter will become orange. (Return to WorldWideWhiteboard™) |
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ellipse: After selecting the ellipse icon, a small ellipse will attach itself to the mouse pointer. Position the center point of the ellipse, and click to place. Next, move the mouse to stretch the oval to the desired size. Once you've stretched it to the desired size, click again. <control>+[ellipse]: Holding down the control key while selecting this button will result in a circle. <shift>+[ellipse] and <shift>+<control>+[ellipse] draw a filled ellipse and a filled circle, respectively. Ellipses and circles are drawn in the selected color, with the default being black. (Return to WorldWideWhiteboard™) |
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highlighting: The highlighting button shows the current color of the highlighter. Select this item and then position the mouse pointer where you wish to start highlighting. Depress the left mouse button and drag the pointer over the region you wish highlighted. To terminate the highlighting, release the left button. (Return to WorldWideWhiteboard™) |
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line: After selecting the line icon, a small line symbol will attach itself to the mouse pointer. Position one endpoint of the line, and click to place. Next, position the mouse pointer to the other endpoint of the line and click again. <control>+[line]: For continued line segments, hold down the control key while selecting this button. To terminate a continued line segment, click with the left mouse button while holding down the control key. Lines are drawn in the selected color, with the default being black. See thickness for control of the thickness of lines. (Return to WorldWideWhiteboard™) |
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parentheses: After clicking on the parentheses icon, a small parenthesis symbol will attach itself to the mouse pointer. Position the upper end of the parenthesis, and click to place. Next, move the mouse to stretch and invert, if desired (for a closing parenthesis), the parenthesis to the desired size; then click again to complete. (Return to WorldWideWhiteboard™) |
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rectangle: After clicking on the rectangle icon, a small rectangle will attach itself to the mouse pointer. Position the mouse pointer to the desired position of the top left point of the rectangle, and click to place. Next, move the mouse pointer to the bottom right corner of the rectangle and click again. <control>+[rectangle]: Holding down the control key while selecting the rectangle tool results in a square. <shift>+[rectangle] and <shift>+<control>+[rectangle] draw a filled rectangle and a filled square respectively. Rectangles and squares are drawn in the selected color, with the default being black. (Return to WorldWideWhiteboard™) |
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thickness: This allows you to cycle among three different line thicknesses that will be used in rendering the various graphical primitives. The default thickness is the smallest. The selected thickness will be displayed on this button in the currently selected color. (Return to WorldWideWhiteboard™) |
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url: After clicking on the url icon, place the url onto the whiteboard by clicking the mouse at the desired location. At that point the small url icon will change to an http://. Type in the remainder of the url finishing with the enter/return key. At this point the url will turn blue and be sent to all of the other participants. Participants can then click on this url and it will be displayed in a new window, allowing the participants to discuss it on the whiteboard while simultaneously viewing its contents. (Return to WorldWideWhiteboard™) |
In alphabetical order, the items are:
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accounting table (accounting): After selecting the accounting table tool, a small accounting table symbol will attach itself to the mouse pointer. First, use the mouse to position the top left corner of the table and click to place it. Next, move the mouse pointer down and to the right to make the table the desired size. Click again to place. (Return to WorldWideWhiteboard™) |
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aromatic (chemistry): After selecting the aromatic tool, a small aromatic symbol will attach itself to the mouse pointer. First, use the mouse to position the top center point of the symbol (and click to place it), then stretch downward to size the symbol (and click) to complete it. Aromatic symbols are drawn in the selected color, with the default being black. See thickness for control of the thickness of lines. (Return to WorldWideWhiteboard™) |
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cubic spline (chemistry & mathematics & accounting): After clicking on the cubic spline icon, the user places the spline's four control points by clicking at their location on the whiteboard. Once all four points have been placed, an outline of the spline will appear. The user can then adjust the curve by dragging the spline's control points. To complete the cubic spline, simply click the mouse off of the spline. (Return to WorldWideWhiteboard™) |
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dipole (chemistry): After selecting the dipole tool, a small dipole symbol will attach itself to the mouse pointer. First, use the mouse to position the tail of the dipole (and click to place it), then stretch and place the head of the dipole (and click) to complete it. Dipole symbols are drawn in the selected color, with the default being black. See thickness for control of the thickness of lines. (Return to WorldWideWhiteboard™) |
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dotted line
(english): After selecting the dotted line tool, a small dotted line symbol will attach itself to the mouse pointer. First, use the mouse to position one end of the dotted line (and click to place it), then stretch and place the other end of the dotted line (and click) to complete it. Dotted line symbols are drawn in the selected color, with the default being black. (Return to WorldWideWhiteboard™) |
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double arrow (chemistry & mathematics & accounting): After selecting the double arrow tool, a small double arrow symbol will attach itself to the mouse pointer. First, use the mouse to position one end of the double arrow (and click to place it), then stretch and place the other end of the double arrow (and click) to complete it. Double arrow symbols are drawn in the selected color, with the default being black. See thickness for control of the thickness of lines. (Return to WorldWideWhiteboard™) |
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double line
(chemistry): After selecting the double line tool, a small double line symbol will attach itself to the mouse pointer. First, use the mouse to position one end of the double line (and click to place it), then stretch and place the other end of the double line (and click) to complete it. Double line symbols are drawn in the selected color, with the default being black. See thickness for control of the thickness of lines. (Return to WorldWideWhiteboard™) |
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fraction (chemistry & mathematics & accounting): After selecting the fraction icon, a fraction outline will attach itself to the mouse pointer. Position the fraction outline, and click to place. At this point, the fraction contains two empty text boxes, one in the numerator and one in the denominator. Type to fill in the numerator and then press either the tab or return key to move to the denominator. Once the denominator is complete, press the return key and your text cursor will reappear, indicating the fraction has been completed. (Return to WorldWideWhiteboard™) |
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graph paper (chemistry & mathematics & accounting): After selecting the graph paper icon, a small graph paper symbol will attach itself to the mouse pointer. Position the mouse pointer to the desired position of the top left point of the graph paper, and click to place. Next, move the mouse pointer to the bottom right corner of the graph paper and click again. <control>+[graph paper]: Holding down the control key while selecting the graph paper tool accesses polar graph paper. (Return to WorldWideWhiteboard™) |
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integral
(mathematics): After selecting the integral icon, a small integral sign will attach itself to the mouse pointer. Position the top left of the integral sign, and click to place. Next, stretch the integral sign to the desired size, then click again to complete. (Return to WorldWideWhiteboard™) |
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lower (english): After selecting the lower icon, a small lower symbol will attach itself to the mouse pointer. Position the mouse pointer to the desired position of the top left point of the lower symbol, and click to place. Next, move the mouse pointer to the bottom right corner of the lower symbol and click again. Lower symbols are drawn in the selected color, with the default being black. See thickness for control of the thickness of lines (Return to WorldWideWhiteboard™) |
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matrix/table (mathematics): After selecting the matrix icon, a matrix outline will attach itself to the mouse pointer. Position the top left of the matrix skeleton, and click to place. Next, move the cursor to the bottom right, to stretch the matrix to the desired size, then click to fix. At this point you will have a matrix full of empty text boxes. Starting at the top left corner, type into these text boxes, using the tab or return key to move to the next text box. Once the bottom right text box has been filled, press the return key to indicate completion; the text cursor should then reappear. The keyboard arrow keys can also be used for navigation within the matrix. (Return to WorldWideWhiteboard™) |
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move to left (english): After selecting the move to left icon, a small move to left symbol will attach itself to the mouse pointer. Position the mouse pointer to the desired position of the top left point of the move to left symbol, and click to place. Next, move the mouse pointer to the bottom right corner of the move to left symbol and click again. Move to left symbols are drawn in the selected color, with the default being black. See thickness for control of the thickness of lines (Return to WorldWideWhiteboard™) |
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move to right (english): After selecting the move to right icon, a small move to right symbol will attach itself to the mouse pointer. Position the mouse pointer to the desired position of the top right point of the move to right symbol, and click to place. Next, move the mouse pointer to the bottom right corner of the move to right symbol and click again. Move to right symbols are drawn in the selected color, with the default being black. See thickness for control of the thickness of lines (Return to WorldWideWhiteboard™) |
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quadratic spline (mathematics & accounting): After clicking on the quadratic spline icon, the user places the quadratic spline's three control points by clicking at their location on the whiteboard. Once all three points have been placed an outline of the spline will appear. The user can then adjust the curve by dragging the spline's control points. To complete the quadratic spline, simply click the mouse off of the spline. (Return to WorldWideWhiteboard™) |
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raise (english): After selecting the raise icon, a small raise symbol will attach itself to the mouse pointer. Position the mouse pointer to the desired position of the top left point of the raise symbol, and click to place. Next, move the mouse pointer to the bottom right corner of the raise symbol and click again. raise symbols are drawn in the selected color, with the default being black. See thickness for control of the thickness of lines (Return to WorldWideWhiteboard™) |
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summation (mathematics & accounting): After selecting the summation icon, a small summation sign will attach itself to the mouse pointer. Position the top left corner of the summation sign, and click to place. Next, stretch the summation sign to the desired size, then click again to complete. (Return to WorldWideWhiteboard™) |
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square root (chemistry & mathematics & accounting): After clicking on the square root icon, a small square root symbol will attach itself to the mouse pointer. Position the start of the square root symbol, and click to place. Next, move upwards to fix the vertical height of the radical. Click. Now move right to fix the length of the top. Click again and you are done. The motion is similar to the way you would write a radical sign by hand. (Return to WorldWideWhiteboard™) |
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triple line
(chemistry): After selecting the triple line tool, a small triple line symbol will attach itself to the mouse pointer. First, use the mouse to position one end of the triple line (and click to place it), then stretch and place the other end of the triple line (and click) to complete it. Triple line symbols are drawn in the selected color, with the default being black. See thickness for control of the thickness of lines. (Return to WorldWideWhiteboard™) |
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wedge (chemistry): After selecting the wedge tool, a small wedge symbol will attach itself to the mouse pointer. First, use the mouse to position the wide end of the wedge (and click to place it), then stretch and place the point of the wedge (and click) to complete it. Wedge symbols are drawn in the selected color, with the default being black. Wedge thickness is dependent on font size. (Return to WorldWideWhiteboard™) |
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zig-zagged line
(english): After selecting the zig-zagged line tool, a small zig-zagged line symbol will attach itself to the mouse pointer. First, use the mouse to position one end of the zig-zagged line (and click to place it), then stretch and place the other end of the zig-zagged line (and click) to complete it. Zig-zagged line symbols are drawn in the selected color, with the default being black. (Return to WorldWideWhiteboard™) |
The Menu Bar
As mentioned earlier, some of the menu bar provides the same functionality as the tool bar, for those users who are more comfortable with a word-based interface. The menu bar also contains editing and other functions not available from the tool bar. To access a menu bar item, click on the item. A sub-menu will be displayed. Select the item you wish from the submenu.
Menu bar items are listed below, from left to right.
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Session: This item permits you to redraw the screen, to print the current contents of the WorldWideWhiteboard™, to load an image onto the screen, to disable/enable chat (live sessions only), to print the chat log (live discussion only), or to exit the WorldWideWhiteboard™. Use the Redraw option to scratch redraw your screen when display glitches occur. When Save is selected, a new window will pop-up containing a GIF image of the whiteboard as it appeared when you made the save request. To save the image, simply select the Save As... option under the File menu located at the top left corner of the new window. After saving, you can close the save window and continue with your current WorldWideWhiteboard™ activity. When Print is selected, a new window will pop-up containing a printable version of the whiteboard as it appeared when you made the print request. To send the file to your printer, simply select the Print... option under the File menu located at the top left corner of the new window. After printing, you can close the print window and continue with your current WorldWideWhiteboard™ activity. The Load option allows users to load .gif and .jpg files up to
500K in size onto the WorldWideWhiteboard™. Once an image is loaded
onto the WorldWideWhiteboard™, it can be copied, moved, deleted,
and annotated like any other WorldWideWhiteboard™ object. It also
allows you to load .au audio files. When an audio file is loaded onto
the whiteboard an audio icon ( The Chat element is available during live sessions only. It opens a chat region at the bottom of the WorldWideWhiteboard™ in which group members can chat. The chat lines are color coded with the user's color. The chat feature is useful to carry on conversations between members that members do not want included on the WorldWideWhiteboard™. The chat area can be detached and stretched. The chat lines are wrapped, so there is no need for scrolling left and right to view the entire line of chat. The Chat log element is available during live discussion sessions only. It displays in a new window, all the chatting that has occurred during the current session, omitting all system messages. This is helpful for those that join a session late and want to get caught up on what's been discussed. The Userlist element is available during
live discussion sessions only. It detaches and reattaches the user list
from the main WorldWideWhiteboard™ area. |
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Edit: This item allows you to edit objects that YOU have put on the WorldWideWhiteboard™. It allows you to clear the screen, undo the last item put on the WorldWideWhiteboard™, cancel an action, paste/edit a text box, enable the grid option, toggle snap on/off, modify objects on the WorldWideWhiteboard™, and move, copy, or delete YOUR objects on the WorldWideWhiteboard™. Clear allows you to remove everything you previously entered on the whiteboard. If you are in interactive mode, the clear will clear ONLY the information YOU have entered. Undo will remove the last item you added to the whiteboard. Undo
will work repetitively. Cancel has the same effect as the right mouse button on a multi-buttoned mouse. If selected before completing a graphical object, it will clear away the object and cancel the action. This menu item is included primarily for Macintosh users. Paste Text allows you to maintain an editable
text box. When you select paste text, a cut and paste paragraph
window will pop-up. You can either type your text in the box, or copy
text from another window and paste it into the cut and paste paragraph
window. You can change the font size and style of the text. When you are
finished, click the ok button at the bottom of the window. When
the cut and paste paragraph window closes (it will close automatically),
simply click the mouse on the WorldWideWhiteboard™ where you want
the upper, left-hand corner of the text box to appear. Grid will display a background grid to assist placement of items accurately. This grid is only displayed on your screen and not broadcasted to the other users. A toggle switch on the menu bar indicates when the grid function is enabled. The default is for grid to be off. Snap will automatically snap the cursor to the closest 10x10 pixel grip point. This helps with alignment. A toggle switch on the menu bar indicates when the snap function is enabled. The default is for snap to be off. Modify allows you to alter pasted text, correct URLs, re-size graph paper, and change the size, color and thickness of ovals, rectangles, and splines. Once modify is selected, you must then select the item to be modified by moving the mouse on the whiteboard until the desired item is highlighted in brown and then clicking. You can then resize and change the color and/or the thickness of the entity as you wish (as applicable). Move is a powerful tool offered under the [Edit] sub-menu. Move comes in two varieties: move->region & move->object. After selecting move->object, each object that the mouse points at will highlight to brown. When the color change indicates the correct item, click on it. Position the item, then place it by clicking again. Move->region is similar. When this option is selected, a brown rectangle will be displayed at the mouse pointer position. With the mouse, place the upper left-hand corner of this rectangle at the upper left-hand corner of the region you wish to move, and click. Then, move the mouse pointer to the lower right-hand corner of the area you are moving and click again. All items found in the selected move region will be highlighted in brown. You may then move all of the selected objects at once with the mouse. When the items are correctly positioned, you may place them by clicking once. If you change your mind about the move before completing it (with either move->region or move->object), click the rightmost mouse button to cancel. Copy is another tool offered under the [Edit] sub-menu. Copy
comes in two varieties: copy->region & copy->object. After
selecting copy->object, each object that the mouse points at will
highlight to brown. When the color change indicates the correct item,
click on it. Position the copy of the item, then place it by clicking
again. Copy->region is similar. When this option is selected, a
brown rectangle will be displayed at the mouse pointer position. With
the mouse, place the upper left-hand corner of this rectangle at the upper
left-hand corner of the region you wish to copy, and click. Then, move
the mouse pointer to the lower right-hand corner of the area you are copying
and click again. All items found in the selected copy region will be highlighted
in brown. You may then copy all of the selected objects at once with the
mouse. When the items are correctly positioned, you may place them by
clicking once. If you change your mind about the copy before completing
it (with either copy->region or copy->object), click the
rightmost mouse button to cancel. The last operation available on the [Edit] sub-menu is delete.
There are also two methods of deleting. Once a delete action is selected,
the cursor will disappear. After selecting delete->object, run
your mouse pointer over the window area. As you move over objects they
become highlighted in brown. If there are multiple objects intersecting
the point your mouse cursor is on, all will be highlighted. Once the object(s)
that you wish to delete are highlighted, simply click your mouse and the
highlighted item(s) will be deleted. When delete->region is selected,
a brown rectangle will be displayed at the mouse pointer position. With
the mouse, place the upper left-hand corner of this rectangle at the upper
left-hand corner of the region you wish to delete, and click. Then, move
your mouse pointer to the lower right-hand corner of the area you are
deleting and click again. All items found in the selected delete region
will be highlighted in brown. If you wish to continue with the deletion
of these items, again click the left mouse button, otherwise click the
right mouse button to cancel. |
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Capture: (only for Windows platforms) The capture menu provides users the ability to grab parts of the screen and insert that image into the WorldWideWhiteboard™. The Non-whiteboard region operation on the [Capture] sub-menu will minimize the WorldWideWhiteboard™, and let the user capture any part of the screen. After the WorldWideWhiteboard™ minimizes, a crosshairs will be displayed at the mouse pointer position. With the mouse, place the center of the crosshairs at the upper left-hand corner of the region you wish to capture, and click and hold the button. While still holding the button down, drag the mouse down and to the right until the red box contains everything that you wish to capture. When you've gotten as much of the screen as you want in the red box, release mouse button. This will bring up a Preview window, where you can see your selection. See below for an explanation of the Preview window. The Window operation on the [Capture] sub-menu lets the user grab an entire window. After selecting Window, the WorldWideWhiteboard™ will minimize. With the mouse, move over the window you wish to capture. You'll see a red box which indicates what window you are currently over. When you have the red box around the window you wish to capture, click and release the mouse button. This will bring up a Preview window, where you can see your selection. See below for an explanation of the Preview window. The Whole screen operation on the [Capture] sub-menu grabs the entire contents of the screen, excluding the WorldWideWhiteboard™. Simply select Whole screen, and the Preview window will come up. See below for an explanation of the Preview window. The Whiteboard region operation on the [Capture] sub-menu works the same as the non-whiteboard region operation, except that the WorldWideWhiteboard™ does not get minimized. This allows the user to select and grab parts of the WorldWideWhiteboard™. See the above for the description of how the operation works. From this Preview window, you can choose to Send the image to the WorldWideWhiteboard™, Recapture another part of the screen in the case you don't like the current selection (not available when loading office documents), Save will let you save the selection as a GIF or JPEG image file (not available when loading office documents), Cancel will return you to the WorldWideWhiteboard™ without sending any image, Pre and Next will all you to navigate the pages of the loaded office document (not available when capturing). The Load MS Office Docs operation is one of the Conferencing
Features. Help with this operation can be found here.
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Tools: See here to get help with using the Graphing Calculator. The Cut & Paste Text operation is the same as the Paste Text option under the Edit menu. See above for help with Paste Text. The Load MS Office Docs, Share Application, Broadcast, and Launch A/V URL operations are some of the Conferencing Features. See here below for help with these options. The Private Chat operation allows the leader to toggle the availability of private chat messages between users. When the leader selects Private Chat, the private chat button in the user list will become disabled if it was previously enabled, or it will become enabled if it was previously disabled. The text on the private chat button will be "faded" if it is disabled, and will be black if enabled. The Private Chat menu option will have a check mark by it if private chat is enabled, and no check mark if private chat is disabled. The Beep User operation allows the leader to toggle the availability
of the users ability to send an audible alert to other users. When the
leader selects Beep User, the beep button in the user list will
become disabled if it was previously enabled, or it will become enabled
if it was previously disabled. The text on the beep button will be "faded"
if it is disabled, and will be black if enabled. The Beep User
menu option will have a check mark by it if beep is enabled, and no check
mark if beep is disabled. |
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Symbols: The symbols menu provides the capability of popping up one or more special symbols keypads. These keypads can then be set aside and used as needed. To obtain a special symbol from one of the keyboards at the current text input cursor, simply click on the required symbol. (Macintosh users will need to double click.). Below are the various keypads that are currently available.
(Return to WorldWideWhiteboard™) |
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Fonts: The fonts menu provides the capability of changing the font size (8pt, 10pt, 12pt, 14pt, 18pt, or 24pt), and style (bold, plain, italic, or bolditalic). Once a font change is made, it is retained until another font change is requested. Font changes are restricted to fonts available on your system. (Return to WorldWideWhiteboard™) |
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Colors: This item is an alternative way of changing the drawing color. My Color lets the user use their own personal color to draw and
create shapes and lines with. The color used by My Color is unique
to all other users in the room. |
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Users: This menu will only appear on the live group discussion board. Current Users operation brings up the User List separated from the WorldWideWhiteboard™. If boot is enabled, the leader can boot a participant by holding the shift key down and clicking on that participant's name in the user list. Once a participant has been booted, that participant cannot rejoin the session. Mark All is only available to the leader and permits the leader to toggle all other participants into read-only mode or read-write mode (which is the default). Userlist will detach and attach the User List from the WorldWideWhiteboard™. |
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Help: The help menu provides basic help as well as the keystrokes for shapes and fonts, the users manual and the current version number you're running. When the chemistry keypad has been selected, chemistry specific help is made available, including the periodic table and tables of common ions and bonds. Hint: You can leave open help windows and move it to the side to use as a guide while typing. (Return to WorldWideWhiteboard™) |
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Float: |
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Audio Setting: |
The User List
As mentioned above, the user list contains information about who the current users in the Live Chat Room are, and provides some functions for the students and leaders of the session. Some buttons are available for the leader that are not available for the regular members of the session.
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Private Chat (regular member & leader): Click on the users' names in the user list that you want to send a private message to. It will become highlighted, indicating that it is selected. Click the private chat button on the user list, and a Private Messaging window will open. Enter in your message, and click Send Message to send it. Clicking Clear will delete the contents of the Private Messaging window. Click Cancel to cancel sending the private message. (Return to WorldWideWhiteboard™) |
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Dismiss (regular member & leader): Click on the Dismiss button, and the user list will disappear. To have the user list re-attach to the WorldWideWhiteboard™, choose user list from the Session menu. (Return to WorldWideWhiteboard™) |
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Mark All (leader): Click on the Mark All button to have all of the regular members of the session put in read only mode for WorldWideWhiteboard™ and Chat access. Click the Mark All button again to have all of the regular members of the session put back into read/write mode for WorldWideWhiteboard™ and Chat access. (Return to WorldWideWhiteboard™) |
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Poll Question (leader): Click on the Poll button and the Polling window will open. Enter in the question that you want the users in the session to answer yes or no to. Click the Poll button in the Polling window to send the question. The users will be presented with a window that has the question, and yes and no buttons. The results from the polling question will be tallied and displayed underneath the last user's name on the user list. (Return to WorldWideWhiteboard™) |
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My Hand (regular member): Click on the My Hand button, and an image of a hand will appear next to the user's name in the user list. Click the My Hand button again to make the hand disappear. This button is always available, regardless of read/write access restrictions. (Return to WorldWideWhiteboard™) |
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Beep (regular member &
leader): Click on the users' names in the user list that you want to send an audible alert to. It will become highlighted, indicating that it is selected. Click the beep button on the user list, and the user will hear the audible alert. (Return to WorldWideWhiteboard™) |
On the user list, you might see check marks (
),
X's (
), and microphone icons (
)
and (
) by user's names
in the Mic, W, and C columns. The Mic column represents the audio status. The
W column represents read only or read/write access to the WorldWideWhiteboard™,
and the C column represents read only or read/write access to the Chat area.
When a user has an in a column, that means
the user has read only access for the corresponding column. When a user has
a in a column, that means the user
has read/write access for the corresponding column. When a user has a
in the Mic column, that means the user is allowed to speak if they wish. When
a user has a in the Mic
column, that means the user is currently speaking. See the Integrated
Multiway Audio section below for more information on the audio.
WorldWideWhiteboard™ Hints
Using the Graphing Calculator
Function Text Field (see Entering Expressions).
Into the field enter the expression for the function of the variable x.
To draw the graph of more than one function, enter the expressions, delimited by comma. At the beginning you can
define temporary variables (sub-expressions) using the following format:
"name1":="expression1";"name2":="expression2";.
Example:
T:=x-3;t,t^2,t^3/4
Will display the graphs of the
functions y=x-3,y=(x-3)^2,y=(x-3)^3/4.
Remark. Pressing the key ENTER in any text field will re-draw the graph(s) using the new data. The same will happen if you press the button "Plot".
Number of points N, and the domain [a, b].The function(s) will be calculated at N+1 equidistant points,
starting at a and ending with b. Depending on the Options for the graph, marks
for the calculated points and/or the connecting lines will be shown. The number
N should be integer, positive and less than 10000. Suggested value is 200.
The numbers X0, X1, Y0, Y1 show the minimum and maximum value
for x and y in the displayed window. You can change
the values directly or by using zooming features of the Graph
Window. The values for X0 and X1 should be in
interval [a, b], and the values Y0, Y1 between the
minimum and the maximum for the displayed function. If some of the numbers are
outside the limits, the number will be corrected automatically.
Changing those values will not create a new entry in the history menu.
Entering ExpressionsAn expression can include numbers and constants, variables, operations, and standard functions. Any number of blanks and parentheses may be used to make the expression more readable.
The numbers are written as integers (143), as numbers with fixed decimal point
(3.12) or using scientific notation (1.234E-11).
There are two pre-defined constants: pi=3.14159... and e=2.71828....
All standard algebraic operations, like addition +,
subtraction -, multiplication *, division /
and exponents ^ are allowed.
For a list of the standard function, see
"Standard Functions" below.
For piecewise defined functions see
"The Function case" below.
Examples:
2*(x+1)^2-(3/4)^0.5
exp(cos(-x+pi/2))
case(x<0,-1,x>0,1,0)
| Function | Description |
| Trigonometric Functions | |
sin(x) |
Returns the sine of |
cos(x) |
Returns the cosine of |
tan(x) |
Returns the tangent of |
acos(x) |
Returns the arccosine of |
asin(x) |
Returns the arcsine of |
atan(x) |
Returns the arctangent of |
| Hyperbolic Functions | |
sinh(x) |
Returns the hyperbolic sine of |
cosh(x) |
Returns the hyperbolic cosine of |
tanh(x) |
Returns the hyperbolic tangent of |
acosh(x) |
Returns the hyperbolic arccosine of |
asinh(x) |
Returns the hyperbolic arcsine of |
atanh(x) |
Returns the hyperbolic arctangent of |
| Exponential and Logarithmic Functions | |
exp(x) |
Returns |
ln(x) |
Returns the natural logarithm (base |
pow(a,x) |
Returns |
log(b,x) |
Returns the logarithm base b of |
| Other Functions | |
abs(x) |
Returns the absolute value of |
sqrt(x) |
Returns the square root of |
arg(x,y) |
Returns the arctangent of the quotient " |
ceil(x) |
Returns the smallest integer greater than or equal to |
floor(x) |
Returns the largest integer less than or equal to |
round(x) |
Returns the value of |
max(x,y) |
Returns the greater of two numbers. |
min(x,y) |
Returns the lesser of two numbers. |
random |
Returns a pseudo-random integer number between 0 and |
) is
displayed. Click on the green triangle to play the audio file, the red
rectangle to stop playing it.
case (Piecewise Defined Functions)The function case has one of the following forms:
case(COND,TRUE,FALSE) or
case(
COND1,TRUE1,
COND2,TRUE2,...
CONDn,TRUEn,FALSE)
where COND are relational expressions, and
TRUE and FALSE are expressions.
The first form of case will be evaluated as
the result of the expression TRUE, provided
COND is true, and as the result of the expression
FALSE otherwise.
The second form of case can be read as
If COND1 is true,
return the result of TRUE1.
Else if COND2 is true,
return the result of TRUE2
...
If no one of the COND is true,
return the result of FALSE.
A relational expression is an inequality (relation)
between two expressions or result of a logical operation between
relational expression.
| Symbols used in relations | |
| Symbol | Description |
| < | less than |
| > | greater than |
| = | equal to |
| <= | less than or equal |
| >= | greater than or equal |
| = | not equal |
| Logical operations | |
| | | or |
| & | and |
Examples:
case(x<0,-x,x)
will be evaluated as -x for negative
x and as x for non-negative x.
The expression is the same as abs(x).
case(x>pi,0,x<0,0,sin(x))
case((x<=pi)&(x=>0),sin(x),0)
will be evaluated as sin(x) for x in the interval
[0,pi] and 0 otherwise.
Displaying expression or coordinates of a point.
If you click at a point inside the Graph Window with the (left) mouse button near a calculated point, the expression for the point will be displayed between the buttons "Plot" and "Reset" of the calculator. If there is no calculated point nearby, the coordinates of the point will be displayed.
Zooming."Reset" Button: Press the button
"Reset" to display the maximum window, which has borders a, b, the minimum for
y, and the maximum for y. If the option "AutoReset" is selected, any new
expression or change in the interval will "Reset" to the maximum window
automatically.
Zoom in: To see more details (zoom in) inside a specific region on the graph, drag a rectangle with the (left) mouse button. This rectangle represents the new displayed window.
Zoom out: To show a larger area click with the right mouse button at a point inside the Graph Window. The size of the displayed window will double approximately. You cannot zoom out of the maximum window.
One-Directional Zooming: You can click with the left or the right mouse button near the legend area for x or y, to zoom (in or out resp.) only with respect to this variable.
Menu Options.The following options for the Graph Window are available:
| "Lines" | To connect the calculated points with lines. |
| "Marks" | To show a mark at each calculated point. |
| "Frame" | To display the border of the Graph Window. |
| "Grid" | Grid lines for easy reading of the coordinates of a point. |
| "Axes" | Will show x and/or y-axes, provided they are visible from the displayed window. |
| "AutoReset" | See the "Reset" button above. |
All changes to the graph are saved in a history object.
Any change in the functions field, the number of the points, or the interval for the variable x, will create a new entry in the History. Changing the displayed window (zooming) will only update the current history item.
To jump to a specific history object select the desired item in menu History.
You can go "Back" and "Forward" one item at a time using the menu or the buttons "á" and "…". To delete all history objects older than the current use "Clear History" item from the menu. When the object was received as a communication it should show the ID of the sender.
CommunicationsTo send or receive a graph from other participants, use the Communications menu, or the buttons "Send" and "Recv". If the option "Receive all" is selected, than you will receive the graph automatically. (You can use the History to return to the previous Graph Window.)
Conferencing Features
The Conferencing Features are tools that enhances the WorldWideWhiteboard™.
It provides the ability to load Microsoft Office documents (Word, Excel, Powerpoint,
etc) directly into the WorldWideWhiteboard™. Also, it allows for application sharing,
which means that the leader can start sharing an application, and that application
is displayed in the WorldWideWhiteboard™. Users can see changes as they happen.
Also, live audio broadcasting can be used from within the WorldWideWhiteboard™.
The leader can choose to only broadcast, or to broadcast and record audio and
screen capture. This recording allows the leader to make available synchronous
playback of the session at a later date. Other third-party live audio and video
streaming technologies can be utilized as well by starting that streaming session
manually, and using the WorldWideWhiteboard™ to launch a specified URL on the
student computers
.
|
See here to get help with using the Graphing Calculator. See here to get help with using Cut & Paste Text. The Load MS Office Docs operation will allow users to upload any
Microsoft Office document directly onto the WorldWideWhiteboard™.
After the user selects Load MS Office Docs, an Open dialog box
will appear. Select the file to be loaded, and click the Open button.
The Preview window will open, with the selected document displayed. See
above for an explanation of the Preview window.
The user can use the Pre and Next buttons to move between
the pages of the document. If the user does not wish to upload this document,
they can click the Cancel button, and they will return to the WorldWideWhiteboard™.
If the user is pleased with the document, they will click the Send
button. The user will now return to the WorldWideWhiteboard™, and
the mouse will be attached to a red rectangle as it moves around the WorldWideWhiteboard™.
This is telling the user that they need to click on the WorldWideWhiteboard™
where they want to place the first page of the uploaded document. After
placing the first page, subsequent pages are automatically inserted in
to their corresponding pages in the live session. The Share Application operation allows the members of the live session to view an application from the leader's computer. After the user selects Share Application, they have the option to Start Sharing or Stop Sharing. To start sharing an application, the user will select Start Sharing. After selecting Start Sharing, an Applications View dialog box will appear. This dialog box contains a list of all the running applications on the user's computer. The user needs to select the application which they wish to share on the WorldWideWhiteboard™. If available, select the time between screen updates from the "Update every" drop-down menu. The user then clicks the Share button to share the application. They will now return to the WorldWideWhiteboard™, and the application will be displayed in the whiteboard region. Users can draw on top of the image, make comments, etc, just as if it was an uploaded image. If the leader wishes to pause the refreshing of the application, the leader can minimize the application. While minimized, the image of the application in the WorldWideWhiteboard™ will not change. When the user wants to stop sharing the application, they need to choose the Stop Sharing. The Broadcast operation allows the leader to use Windows Media technology to broadcast audio to the users in the session, as well as allowing the leader to archive the audio and screen capture from the session. After the leader selects Broadcast, they have the option to Start Broadcast Audio, Start Broadcast Audio (archive), or Stop Broadcast. To take advantage of broadcasting audio, the leader must have Windows Media Encoder 7.1 installed along with a working microphone and sound card. The students must have Windows Media Player 7.1 or higher installed along with working speakers and sound card. To start broadcasting audio only, the leader will select Start Broadcast Audio. A small pop-up box will appear once it has started. To start broadcasting audio while recording the audio and screen capture, the leader will select Start Broadcast Audio (archive). A "Save As" dialog box will appear, prompting the leader to choose where to save the Windows Media file. There will be a default file name provided, but the leader can change this, and the destination, to whatever they desire. After clicking "Save", a small pop-up box will appear once the broadcasting has started. When the leader wishes to stop broadcasting, they will select Stop Broadcast. If the leader was broadcasting and archiving, a small pop-up box will appear telling the leader where the archive was saved. The Pass the Mic feature allows the leader to grant other members the capability to broadcast audio. The leader must first click inside the mic column corresponding to the members name inside the userlist. A small microphone image will appear followed by a prompt asking the selected member to begin broadcasting. Once the member clicks OK, the microphone image changes to a speaker image confirming that the member is now broadcasting. The leader can pass the mic to another member by clicking inside the mic column corresponding to the members name. The Launch A/V URL operation allows the leader to share a live
broadcast with the other members of the group. The leader first must setup
the live stream with their live streaming software. When the leader has
the URL for the live stream, they will select Launch A/V URL. A
"Share a live audio/video stream" dialog box will appear. The leader will
enter the URL for the stream in the text area provided, and click Send.
Now, that URL will be sent to each of the members WorldWideWhiteboard™s.
The member's WorldWideWhiteboard™s will launch that URL automatically,
and the member's live streaming audio/video player will be launched. Any
new users that enter the room will have the URL of the live stream launched
by their WorldWideWhiteboard™ as well. |
As mentioned above with the Audio Setting button and Mic column, the whiteboard can be enabled with Integrated Multiway Audio. This allows any number of users to be able to speak and hear at once through the whiteboard, just as if it was a conference call over the phone. The leader of the session has controls over who can speak and who cannot through the use of the Mic column. The leader only needs to click in the Mic column for a user to allow that user to speak. If the leader clicks a user's microphone or speaker image, that user will have their speaking privileges taken away. If a user has the microphone image in their Mic column, then they "have a mic". To begin speaking, click once on the microphone image. This will turn the image into a speaker image. When the speaker image is in the user's Mic column, their microphone is active and everyone can hear what they are saying. To stop speaking, click on the speaker image. The image will turn back into a microphone image.
Some common issues to remember with the Integrated Multiway Audio are as follows: