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How to Use Conferences
View Faculty Instructions
- View a conference
- Why can't I respond to this conference note?
- Sort table of contents by topic, date, and author
- Sort what's new since last log in (unread notes/red stars
 )
- Navigate Previous and Next notes
- View Threading
- Print complete text of all notes at once
- Download the text of all notes you have written
- Choose a text formatting style
- Include topic note text
- Create a main topic
- Respond to a note (animated illustration)
- Attach files in a conference note (optional)
- Forward a single note as an e-mail message
- Character Limit in Text Boxes
- How are My Conference Notes Graded?
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1. View a Conference
- Click on Conferences in the Class Menu. The class menu will then reveal the conferences submenu, which will show all class conferences listed by title.
- Click the title of the conference you wish to participate in.
- Click on Full Screen View to open the conference in its own new window. This makes the conference larger for easier reading, and allows you to work in both the conference and the rest of the classroom at the same time.
- To return to normal view, click on Close Window in the Full Screen View to close the window. This will not close WebTycho.
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2. Why Can't I Respond to This Conference Note?
Faculty control student access and may change the status at any time. If you are are unable to respond to a note, first check the status at the top of the page. If you find the conference is labeled as Respond Only or Read Only, contact your instructor to discuss posting options.
Conference Status
- Read and Write: Students can Create a Main Topic and Respond.
- Read Only: Students can only read topics that the faculty member creates. No Respond button will be available.
- Respond Only: Students can only Respond to topics that the faculty member creates.
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3. Sort Table of Contents by Topic, Date, and Author
By clicking on each of the column titles in the conference view, you may organize all notes in one of three ways: By author, by title, or by date.
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4. What's New Since Last Log In? Unread Notes
To quickly sort for new postings only, click on Unread Notes. You may use this view to read one by one, or you may click Read All Notes to see a full display. Once you click Read All Notes then all notes within are removed from the "Unread Notes" display.
Optional: A red star is also displayed beside a conference title in the Class Menu to indicate that there are unread notes within that conference. This appears only if you have enabled this feature with Account Preferences. Red star markers may slow performance. To disable this feature go to Account Preferences and select the Disabled radio button.
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5. Previous and Next Notes
For speedier navigation through a conference, instead of using the topic thread following each note, you may use the "VCR" type buttons provided at the top and bottom of each conference note. When you read the last note of a Main Topic thread you will be returned to the Table of Contents.
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6. View the Thread of all Notes in a Conference
The thread, or sequence of all posted notes appears at the bottom of the page. This is the only way to view notes in a conference that has exceeded it's maximum size limit (approximately 200 notes.)
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7. Print Complete Text of All Notes at Once
- Click on Read All Notes on the Table of Contents page of a conference. This reveals a handy, "at-a-glance" review of all conference activity, and allows a quick visual search for a particular note.
- Click on View Thread button on any page of a Main Topic to read all notes posted for this Main Topic only.
- Click in the frame containing the notes, and select File > Print from your browser's toolbar.
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8. Download the Text of All Notes You Have Written
A link in your Portfolio called Download Conference Notes will deliver, on a single page, the text of all notes you have written in all conferences. This may be done as often as you wish.
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9. Choose a Text Formatting Style
Three options are available: Plain Text, Text Formatting Editor and HTML, plus a Spell Checking tool. Be sure to select a kind of text box before you begin typing.
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10. Include Topic Note Text
As a convenient reference in your response, this tool allows you to display the text of the note you are responding to, the way many e-mail programs do. Note that faculty may disable this tool for all class members, which overrides settings you may make to your personal Account Preferences.
- Click on Options at the top of the classroom
- Select Account Preferences
- Click the radio button for Yes or No beside Include topic note text when responding in conferences: Respond to a note
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11. Create a Main Topic
A Main Topic is a sub-idea of the Conference title, and the beginning of a threaded discussion. Main Topics may be created by all class members, unless the faculty member set the Conference as Respond Only.
- Choose which of text box to use.
- Click on Create a Main Topic on the first page of the Conference
- Enter a title in the title box (do not use HTML tags or quotation marks in title box), and the text of your message in the text box.
- You may also attach files.
- Click Submit
- Your note will be presented as it will be seen by all class members. As the note's author, you have the option to return to the note and edit or delete it at any time.
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12. Respond to a Conference Note
A response is a reply made to a main topic or another response. The back and forth of a discussion takes form in responses. All class members create responses.
- Click on Respond
- Enter a new title (do not use HTML tags or quotation marks in title box) if you like (optional), and enter the text of your message in the text box.
- Attach files (Optional)
- Click Submit. You will see your note as it will be seen by all class members.
- As the note's author, you have the option to return to the note and edit or delete it at any time.
 
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13. Attach Files (Optional)
Files of any type may be attached to a conference note. Be sure to ask others whether they have the same software the file was created with so they may download and open the file. When opening a file attached by someone else, be sure to first save it to disk and then run anti-virus software before opening.
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14. Forward a Single Note as an E-mail Message
- Click on Forward as E-mail which will open a new e-mail message window.
- Enter an e-mail address. You may forward to only one e-mail address at a time. Attempts to string multiple addresses separated by spaces or punctuation will prevent the message from being sent.
- Enter an explanatory message in the text box provided.
- Click Submit.
15. Character Limit in Text Boxes
Keep in mind that there is a limit to the amount (~30K-35K) of text that can fit within these text boxes. Anything larger should be attached as a file for submission. Attempts to submit textual material larger than this will result in loss of text.
16. How are My Conference Notes Graded?
Your instructor will devise his or her own method for evaluating your conference notes. One option he or she may choose is to create an item in your Portfolio under Other Graded Work.
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