The LearnLinc software can be divided into two main pieces: the server and the client, each of which is made up of several individual elements.
Client/Server Architecture
LearnLinc relies on a client/server architecture to enable students and an instructor to meet and collaborate in the Virtual Classroom. When users join a class, they are connecting to the LearnLinc server. Based on information from the Virtual Campus, the server determines which
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A client/server architecture is one in which computers con-nect to each other through a central server computer, rather than connecting directly to one another.class the user wants to join and connects the user’s client software to a communication channel for that class. All the class information is sent to the students and instructor on that channel.
You can think of a communication channel in terms of a TV channel. Just as everyone who tunes their TV to a certain channel sees the same TV program at the same time, everyone who joins the same class receives the same data at the same time. In the same way that your TV has multiple channels LearnLinc has multiple channels, so that multiple classes can take place at one time without interfering with one another.
To join a LearnLinc class, each user must have the LearnLinc classroom software (the client) installed on his or her computer, and must be able to connect to the LearnLinc server. The components of both the server and the client are described in detail in the following sections.
Server Components
The LearnLinc server provides several functions for LearnLinc users, including storing LearnLinc information, making LearnLinc information available to users, and connecting LearnLinc users in virtual classrooms.
To accomplish these functions, the LearnLinc server relies on the:
• Name Service
• Classroom Service
• File Service Name Service
The Name Service is a database that stores all LearnLinc information, including LearnLinc user, course, class, and resource information. In addition, the Name Service also stores system information that is not visible to most LearnLinc users. The Name Service is a Microsoft Access database. If your organization uses SQL Server, contact LearnLinc Customer Service to learn about your options for using LearnLinc with SQL Server instead.
• LearnLinc students and instructors access Name Service information when they view information in the LearnLinc Virtual Campus web site, and in the LearnLinc Virtual Classroom.
• LearnLinc authors manage the Name Service by adding, editing, and deleting resources and courses in the Virtual Campus.
• LearnLinc administrators manage the Name Service by performing editing tasks in the Virtual Campus, and by using the LearnLinc Administration tool.
Classroom Service
The Classroom Service connects two or more LearnLinc users in a Virtual Classroom by sharing and synchronizing information among them in real time. This information includes hand raising, application and content use, and audio or video conferencing information.
The Virtual Classroom is displayed to users in the form of the LearnLinc palette, which displays all classroom information, and provides users with access to interactive classroom tools.
File Service
The File Service enables LearnLinc users to display their pictures in the LearnLinc palette. If the user’s picture has been uploaded to the LearnLinc server, it will be displayed when he or she takes the floor during a LearnLinc class.
Interface Components
LearnLinc has several interface components that users work with to view or edit information, participate in LearnLinc classes, and manage the LearnLinc environment. These interfaces are:
• Virtual Campus Web Site
• LearnLinc Palette
• Whiteboard
• Q&A
• AppShare and AppView
• Glimpse
• Classroom Recorder and Player
• Administration Tool
• Server Information Page
• Troubleshooting Page
• Server Configuration Control Panel Virtual Campus Web Site
The LearnLinc Virtual Campus is a web site that your organization hosts on its own server.
The Virtual Campus provides students and instructors with easy access to LearnLinc courses, classes, resources, and contact information for other users. In addition, the Virtual Campus provides users with links to their classes, so that they can enter a virtual classroom. In addition,
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When a user takes the floor in a LearnLinc class, he or she is the floor holder. The floor holder is the student, instructor, or assistant who is currently “on air” during a LearnLinc class. The floor holder can be heard and/or seen if conferencing is in use, and can launch andsynchronize applications for
LearnLinc instructors, authors, and administrators can use the Virtual Campus to manage LearnLinc information by editing courses, classes, resources, and users.
LearnLinc Palette
The LearnLinc palette is the main interface element in a LearnLinc class. The palette displays the most commonly used tools, including conferencing (audio or video), the class list, the agenda, feedback, and text chat.
These tools enable students and instructors to interact with one another in real time. For example, when a student raises his or her hand, the instructor sees a hand raise notification immediately. Similarly, when anyone in the class sends out a text chat message, the rest of the
class sees the message right away, and can respond to it. The instructor’s palette is slightly different from the student palette. Diagrams of each palette follow.
Instructor’s Palette
Generally, the differences between the student and instructor palettes concern the amount of information displayed to the user. Instructors see some additional information that students either cannot see, or can only see if the instructor chooses to show it to them.
Student’s Palette
Whiteboard
Whiteboard is a collaboration tool that students and the instructor can use to share simple drawings, text, imported pictures, and screen captures. For more information about whiteboard, please see “Collaborating With Your Students on the Whiteboard” on page 393.
Q&A
Q&A is a multiple choice question and answer tool. The instructor, or the current floor holder, can use Q&A to ask a series of multiple choice questions and see the class’ response instantly.
For more information about Q&A, please see “Polling the Class With Q&A Multiple Choice Questions” on page 445.
AppShare and AppView
AppShare and Appview enable the instructor to show an application on his or her computer to the rest of the class. For both tools, the students in the class do not have to have the shared application installed on their computers.
AppShare enables instructors to share their actions on one or several applications with the class, allow a selected student to use the shared applications, and allow students to share their applications with the class.
AppView enables instructors to use an application on his or her computer, and show his or her actions to the class. Students do not have to have the application installed on their computers.
Students cannot use the instructor’s application, nor can they share their own applications with AppView. For more information on either AppShare or AppView, please see “Sharing
Applications With the Class” on page 413.
Glimpse
Instructors can use Glimpse to take a screen capture of any student’s desktop during class.
Glimpse is only available to instructors, and students are not aware that their desktops have been glimpsed. For more information on Glimpse, please see “Viewing a Student Desktop With Glimpse” on page 461.
Classroom Recorder and Player
The LearnLinc Classroom Recorder is an application that records a class on a student computer.
The Classroom Recorder captures all classroom activity, including audio, video, text chat, and any actions on the classroom workspace. The recorder also uploads the recorded file and adds
it to your course resource list. Students who miss class can play the recorded class from the contents list or you can run the recording during class to recap a lesson.
The LearnLinc Classroom Player is an application you or your students launch to play the recorded class files. The player lets you choose whether you want to stream the recorded file from the server to your computer, or download the file so that you can play it later. Streaming is useful when you want to play the recorded class during an active class. Downloading is useful when students want to play a file on their own at a later time.
For more information on the Classroom Recorder and the Classroom Player, please see
“Recording Classes” on page 341.
Administration Tool
In addition to the Virtual Campus, administrators have several other tools to manage and troubleshoot LearnLinc. The Administration tool can be used to manage all LearnLinc system information, and can only be used by administrators.
The Administration tool displays information about all LearnLinc courses, classes, resources, users, and authority levels, and enables an administrator to add, edit, or delete any of these items. Note that most administrative tasks can also be performed in the Virtual Campus.
The Administration tool is installed with the LearnLinc server. It can be installed on other computers from either the LearnLinc Server CD, or the Virtual Campus download page. You must be logged-in as an administrator to download the Administration tool from the Virtual Campus. For more information on using the Administration tool, please see “Installing LearnLinc” on page 43 and “Managing Users” on page 125.
Server Information Page
The Server Information page provides you with information about the status of the LearnLinc server, any active classrooms, and your installed LearnLinc licences.
The Server Information page can be accessed from your web browser at http://servername/ll/
ll.dll/ServerInfo, where servername is the name of your LearnLinc server.
Do not enter “.htm” at the end of the URL for the ServerInfo page.
Troubleshooting Page
The troubleshooting page provides you with configuration information for the server, and tests your connection to the LearnLinc server.
You can use the troubleshooting page to gather information about any client computer’s connection to the LearnLinc server by asking the user at the computer to go the
troubleshooting page and send you the information it displays. The URL for the
troubleshooting page is tap//ServerInfo/virtualdirectory/troubleshooting.asp, where ServerInfo is the name of your LearnLinc server and virtualdirectory is the name of the folder in which the Virtual Campus is stored. For example, tap//www.xyzlearning.com/learnlinc/
troubleshooting.asp.
Server Configuration Control Panel
The server configuration control panel enables you to configure server information, including:
• setting a UDP audio port for audio conferences (optional)
• specifying a server log file and viewing the current log
• changing the LearnLinc server address
• changing the Virtual Campus location.
For more information on the Server configuration control panel, please see “Installing LearnLinc” on page 43.