Online Tutorials

[Margaret Allen]

Hi,

There are some new online tutorials which we would love you to have a look at. We are also keen for some feedback so do have a look and tell us what you think!

http://www.prometheanworld.com/uk/html/training/online.shtml

[airskeeter]

Margaret, I can't get it to work. It does not work with firefox so I opened it up and it did the test with IE. A Promethean screen comes up and that is all. Is there a log-in required?

[daverosthorn]

Margaret,

It doesn't work for me either!

I get the following message:

"Launch Presentation
Your podia presentation should open automatically in a new window. If it does not do so, click here"

but there is no popup and clicking "here" doesn't do anything!

[sartley]

Same with me, I'm afraid! :o

[Bridget Stanley]

Won't work for me either!

[leiafee]

I get prompted to install windows media player. Which I don't have on this machine. I'll try from another.

[Cliff Farrand]

Hi all

First of all thankyou very much for highlighting this issue - I can assure you that we are looking at a fix for this right now.

The issue seems to be due to a domain name mapping we are using - to test this out for me those that are interested and keen enough to do so please try the following link to see if you can open a tutorial in this way:

Test 1 (http://81.144.139.196/podia/launch.aspx?c=68&s=1&t=4204)

The following method uses the domain name for the server - please also try this

Test 2 (http://learning.prometheanworld.com/podia/launch.aspx?c=68&s=1&t=4204)

Any feedback would be appreciated ???? :)

[Rob Radcliffe]

In all 3 links I manage to get to a popup with Windows Media Player embedded. A dialog tells me the presentation has loaded and to click OK to play. Clicking Ok results in nothing at all, ie nothing actually starts playing... Ah, actually, eventually, I get some form of jingly music that plays for a couple of seconds then stops, getting all the way from one end of the media player bar to the other...

Then again, I am using Netscape, as my IE6 has been wrecked by spyware and I'm waiting for an opportunity to fix it... I would prefer actually not to use IE at all, so hopefully the tutorials will be optimised for cross-platform use and will work in other browsers?

[airskeeter]

Cliff,

Didn't work for me either.

Is there a way to get the site to set a cookie so it does not do the compatibility search...pita....

My pop-up blocker blocked the window from appearing as well....

[Bridget Stanley]

It has now worked for me - thank you! I think they are very well presented and I have completed the online feedback

[daverosthorn]

Hi all

First of all thankyou very much for highlighting this issue - I can assure you that we are looking at a fix for this right now.

The issue seems to be due to a domain name mapping we are using - to test this out for me those that are interested and keen enough to do so please try the following link to see if you can open a tutorial in this way:

Test 1 (http://81.144.139.196/podia/launch.aspx?c=68&s=1&t=4204)

The following method uses the domain name for the server - please also try this

Test 2 (http://learning.Prometheanworld.com/podia/launch.aspx?c=68&s=1&t=4204)

Any feedback would be appreciated ???? :)

Hi Cliff,

Your first Test worked fine. Fan-dilly-tastic.

The second test, however... same thing as last time...

Margaret,

It doesn't work for me either!

I get the following message:

"Launch Presentation
Your podia presentation should open automatically in a new window. If it does not do so, click here"

but there is no popup and clicking "here" doesn't do anything!

[Rob Radcliffe]

I can now hear John Eccleston speaking, but there is no video/image - maybe a codec needed, will investigate further! :o)

[Rob Radcliffe]

As far as I can tell, have the latest codecs installed. Even nicked the aspx url of the media stream from the popup window and opened it directly in Media Player 10 - still audio only :confused:

[sartley]

Test 1 was fine.

Test 2 did nothing.

[DG]

Margaret, this very first link works perfectly for me! It is running now.

I wonder if the others used the introductory test for Podia Compatibility?

The only thing I had to do was disable my Google Pop-up blovker for the site.

I run Windows 2000 on a 6 year old P3, with IE6 and Media Player 9.

BW
David G

[npastore]

To the Promethean Instructional Designers ....

I looked at the tutorials. I have lots and lots of recommendations that will optimize the effectiveness of your web-based tutorials. I am designing a very similar web-based ACTIVstudio help page for quick reference tutorials for all of the teachers in our district.

I have lots of experience designing and developing self-guided web-based software demeonstrations such as the ones that are becoming your online instruction for the ACTIVstudio software.

Promethean, if you are interested in learning more about what I am creating, feel free to send me an email at nick@nickpastore.com .

[carollafferty]

Didn't doanything for me either.

Got stuck here

Launch Presentation
Your podia presentation should open automatically in a new window. If it does not do so, click here.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
????

[John Fearn]

I've worked through the first half dozen or so today with some new users. These little gems are excellent. Thank you to all concened.

A few random thoughts (bearing in mind I've not yet had the chance to explore them fully yet):-

No problems at all with loading.

The pace of some is a bit snappy for novice users - yes, I do realise there is a pause button!

Some of the tutorials appear to have more than one section, but I've not been able to find anything other than the first section.

Next time I use them I'll run them on a second pc and projector - too much going on on a single screen.

[sbeck]

Both tests worked for me after turning off the Google Pop-up Blocker!
Thanks

[Chris Fry]

I found these potentially helpful but for two snags:
1) I could only access section 1 of each Tutorial
2) The tutorial window was too wide (unlike the description in the Introduction) and I could not comfortably work in AS while still seeing the tutorial window.

[lyford]

Mac users can't access this at all!
Can we link directly to the wmv feed? We should be able to play the files as well, but the embedded video won't come up.

[John Fearn]

Following up on my earlier post in this thread, and Chris Fry's post, I am pleased to say that I can now access all the sections of each tutorial.

These tutorials are a really great resource - thanks again to all concerned.

[Charlotte]

I have spent a very enjoyable hour or so completing the tutorials. Can't wait for some more of the advanced stuff to appear in them!! I've looked at some examples of flipcharts in AS2 that others have posted and I've tried and tried to recreate the magnifying glass idea to see through layers but to no avail!! If anyone has any step by step intructions I'd be very greatful.

[airskeeter]

Charlotte,

I made a quick flipchart with directions. Just make sure you position the layers correctly!!

Good Luck.

[Charlotte]

To AirSkeeter
Very much appreciated. As you said - it was my layers that were not correct so the magnifying glass was unable to function. Thank you :)

[Betty Garfoot]

Hi Margaret
When trying to run the tutorials, I had the error message, not run with my version of explorer... but had an option to 'click here' and the tutorial worked fine. I have only just looked at the first one. I think it very good as it is basic (which is what most staff need & want). Just the sort of think I do when training staff how to us Active but of course available any time. Thanks. Will check out the others & pass on any suggestions/comments.

Regards
Betty

[terrypin]

Hi,

There are some new online tutorials which we would love you to have a look at. We are also keen for some feedback so do have a look and tell us what you think!

http://www.Prometheanworld.com/uk/html/training/online.shtml

Unfortunately my initial feedback is negative. I went to the page given by your link. After a surprisingly long wait I got an apparent success message:

"Test Successful
Your system is ready to play podia presentations.
Proceed to presentation..."

I clicked on that link to do so - and was back in the loop of 'looking for WMP etc'. After several fruitless cycles, I gave up.

If it's relevant, my browser is Firefox, and I have WMP9 installed.

Terry Pinnell
West Sussex, UK

[Cliff Farrand]

Firefox is not supported by the Podia system - At this moment if you want to access the podia tutorials you must use Microsoft Explorer browser. The podia system is being developed and hopefully more platforms will be supported in the future.

Promethean are trialling two different online training methodologies at the moment with the purpose of getting feedback on this type of issue, so thank you for your observations, they are noted.

[Chris Fry]

Thanks. The problems I reported have now been fixed; I am impressed by the responsiveness of your organisation.

I would now like to advertise these tutorials to my colleagues, telling them to go to the Promethean site and follow the links via "training". However, although I can get to the tutorials by following the link in post 1 of this thread, I cannot get there by navigating from http://www.Prometheanworld.com/uk/html/training/. I get asked for a name and password, although I am currently logged on to the forum, and my forum name and password are rejected. Are the tutorials meant to be available via that route?

[Margaret Allen]

Hi Chris

The log on for the tutorials is not the same as the forum details. If you want to have the same log on "credentials" that's fine but you will need to register for the tutorials separately.

We are trying to monitor the tutorials in order to improve where we can, hence what appears to be a "duplication".

+wave+ HTH

[Chris Fry]

Margaret,

Thanks - I didn't think of that.

However, I now find that the two problems I raised in post #20 have returned.

Chris

[Moleskin Joe]

Firefox is not supported by the Podia system

Nor is Opera. This is really disappointing as both are, IMO, much better browsers. I do resent having to resort to IE.

[gapr29]

Hi:

It is not working for me. I get the following message (using safari, Mac OS10.3.9)

The page “podia - enterpise-scale multimedia communications” has content of MIME type “application/x-oleobject”. Because you don’t have a plug-in installed for this MIME type, this content can’t be displayed.

Greg

[davidlloyd]

I've registered for the online tutorials which has raised a minor point: There's actually a limit on the number of characters availble for the username and for the password. But there's no mention of it on the page. While it's not a big issue I think it would be clearer if the registration page did state how many characters are available for each.

For Bill: welcome to the fold. Have fun :D

[Cliff Farrand]

I've registered for the online tutorials which has raised a minor point: There's actually a limit on the number of characters availble for the username and for the password. But there's no mention of it on the page. While it's not a big issue I think it would be clearer if the registration page did state how many characters are available for each.

For Bill: welcome to the fold. Have fun :D
Hi David

Point taken - I have added a note that states that the maximum number of characters is actually 11 for both username and password.

[Cliff Farrand]

Hi:

It is not working for me. I get the following message (using safari, Mac OS10.3.9)

The page “podia - enterpise-scale multimedia communications” has content of MIME type “application/x-oleobject”. Because you don’t have a plug-in installed for this MIME type, this content can’t be displayed.

Greg
Hi Greg

These tutorials are PC based tutorials designed to be played on a PC and not a Mac. There will be Mac versions available at some stage.

Thank you for your feedback.

[Cliff Farrand]

Hi Chris

The log on for the tutorials is not the same as the forum details. If you want to have the same log on "credentials" that's fine but you will need to register for the tutorials separately.

We are trying to monitor the tutorials in order to improve where we can, hence what appears to be a "duplication".

+wave+ HTH
Just a quick note to all our keen users!

The Promethean website has seen tremendous growth in traffic and there are new sections being added at a frenzied rate! Promethean's strategy is to aim for a single log in account for restricted areas as soon as possible. The underlying technology employed in the creation of the Promethean websites is undergoing a radical overall and the benefits of this will hopefully become apparent over the next few months.

[Chris Fry]

Sorry to repeat this - most queries on this bulletin board get very quick responses but this one has not been either confirmed or contradicted so I'm beginning to wonder if there is something odd about my local setup. In post 20 I remarked that:

1) I could only access section 1 of each Tutorial
2) The tutorial window was too wide (unlike the description in the Introduction) and I could not comfortably work in AS while still seeing the tutorial window.

Soon afterwards I found that both these problems had been fixed. However, they have now both come back, which means I'm not yet ready to recommend these Tutorials to colleagues.

[Margaret Allen]

Chris,

Sorry that you have been overlooked! I have passed your "case" onto the training dept. to see if they can help. +wave+

[awplant]

Sorry for the delay in getting back to you. Our tutorials are proving very popular and we are hoping to enhance this service significantly over the coming months. Unfortunately, there have been some issues with the ACTIVstudio tutorials, this has meant that some customers may have had difficulty accessing them. We are currently working on a new version that will work in the same way as the ACTIVprimary tutorials. The ACTIVprimary tutorials use Flash and can be viewed in other browsers as well as IE. They can also be viewed on a Mac if required.

Hopefully, the new ACTIVstudio tutorials will be available before Christmas. We have just added some self-assessment tasks to the ACTIVprimary tutorials that you might enjoy and we are close to releasing a set of tutorials on voting.

Thanks for your interest and patience.

[Stijn]

Hello +wave+

I have got a problem loading the ACTIVstudio tutorials:

- When I am logged in on computer as an administrator, I can continue to the tutorials and they work fine. [clap]

- When I am logged in on computer as an normal user, I get stuck on the "Testing for compatibility with podia, please wait..." page which results to the next error message:

[SIZE=1]Configuration Problem
Configuration Problem
Windows Media Player could not be initialised on your machine. Possible reasons for this include:
You are not running Microsoft Internet Explorer v4.0 (or higher) on a Windows PC. The lectures are currently only supported on this platform.
Your machine is behind a firewall that blocks media traffic.
Windows Media Player v7.0 (or higher) is not installed on your machine and an attempt to install it for you was interrupted.
You were invited to download a codec, but you declined (a codec is a small file that tells Windows Media Player how to play certain types of media).
If none of these seem likely, the chances are that you have had a temporary problem with your internet connection. Check your connection and try again.

Error Detail: -1
Timeout (61s)[
SIZE]

This will be a problem because in our school every teacher is a normal user and there is no way we can make them administrators. There are no special ports set for administrators on the firewall so this should be the same for administrators and normal users. Are there special file rights we need to set? Please help? ????

Thank you
Stijn

[gapr29]

Hello Stijn:

It seems that your posting was sent directly to me instead of the forum. Try posting again.

I do have a suggestion.

1Make sure the AS 2 is installed when you are in normal mode, not the administrator mode. This will make sure the software is being accessed from your laptop not the server (which is what I think is happening.) This will mean, like we did at our school, that a techie will have to come and remove security to download the software to the laptops internal drive, then put the securities on again. It should run in normal mode after that. Make sure when you log on that you are also in the proper domain, if your school has more than one.

Good luck,

Greg