Thomas' Work Space

In the spirit of ‘Better improvised instruction and information distribution than failing classes in the lab”, I recorded a 1-on-1 instruction on how to pair students, including some other basic Lab300 features into a 5-minute screencast with voice over  (open with Windows Media Player): sanako-lab300_pairing-and-basics.wmv

For an overview, see the following table of contents (when reviewing the video before starting your class in the Lab, search your webmail for the link to this instruction.)

1. Not shown: teach students once and for all: always log in first;
2. Grouping setup pane (all into L, then into A, excluding unused seats);
3. Pair discussion setup pane (button: select for manual pair select mode);
4. Not shown: teacher should use button: duo launch to facilitate student control of audio;
5. Within group A pane , teacher uses button:transfer, changes program source to audio cassette:
   Pair discussion setup pane : “re-pair”, using button:cancel all, button:random to have Lab 300 software choose pairs;
6. Within group A pane , teacher uses button:headphone for talking to group (not shown: remember to undo when finished!)
7. From classroom layout: teachers clicks student icon to bring up student pane;
8. From student pane, teacher views student screen, listens to student (or pair), uses student button:intercom for talking to student (or pair);
9. From top menu: Other / thumbnail view of group: teacher brings up Mosaic window, to monitor (“police”) entire group screens; translates what you see to individual student, and uses button:lock (keyboard, screen or both) to prevent students from not staying on task [Demo this in first lab class to your students, using the screen projector , and hopefully they will hopefully stay on task];
10. From menu: Other/ thumbnail view of group, teacher brings up Mosaic window and double clicks student screen to control individual student computer (e.g. to close a web browser – another way to police, less effective, but possible; better used for collaboration) . [Better policing options can be set up in the using the Lab300 web browser).