Infiniti Virtual Classroom: Student & Parent Guide

Infiniti guide - students

January 2020

Infiniti guide - students

Student & parent guide

TalentEd uses our custom-built platform Infiniti for online learning. The purpose of this document is to help you access your Infiniti account and make the best use of it. Contents Student & parent guide ...... 2 1: Logging In ...... 3 2: Changing your password and adding Whatsapp notifications ...... 3 3: Navigating your dashboard ...... 4 4: Entering your session ...... 4 5: Operating in the virtual classroom ...... 5 Controlling your Microphone, Audio and Camera ...... 6 Changing your Classroom Settings ...... 6 Chat (public and private) ...... 6 Using Reactions...... 6 Using the Annotation tools ...... 6 Using the text editor ...... 7 Getting help during a session ...... 7 Ending a session ...... 7 6: Sending messages ...... 7 7: Sending and receiving homework ...... 8 8: Accessing help ...... 8 9: Hardware requirements ...... 8 10: Tips for optimizing your use of Infiniti ...... 8

Infiniti guide - students

1: Logging In

• Once you are assigned to a TalentEd online programme, you will receive a welcome email with your account details. This email will be titled ‘Your account at Talent Ed’ and will come from [email protected]. We recommend you add this address to your email contacts to avoid this email going to spam. Please check your ‘spam’ or ‘junk’ folder if you cannot find it, and contact [email protected] if you still cannot find it. • This email will contain your username (this will be your email), a temporary password and a link to our login page. The login page can be found at: https://learning.talented.uk/login.php. We suggest you bookmark this link for easy access in future. • We strongly recommend you use Chrome or Mozilla browsers to access the Infiniti platform. You can download these for free if you do not already have them here: https://www.google.com/intl/en_uk/chrome/ • If joining from an iOS device, use Safari • Log in to your account by clicking on the link to the login page and entering your credentials as provided in the welcome email.

2: Changing your password and adding Whatsapp notifications

• Once logged in, you can reset your password to something more memorable by clicking on your name in the upper right corner of your Dashboard and selecting ‘Profile’. • In the ‘Profile’ page select ‘Change Password’ and use a password with at least one lower- case letter, one upper-case letter, one number and one special character that is at least 8 characters long. • You can also use this section to change your email address. As default we will use the parent/guardian email address, but it may be more convenient to switch this to the students’ address. • As default, we will send you a WhatsApp reminder on the day of your tuition sessions. If you would like to turn off Whatsapp notifications, please do so on the ‘Whatsapp reminders’ tab.

Infiniti guide - students

3: Navigating your dashboard

• From your dashboard you can access everything you need, including your scheduled lessons, homework and messages. • In the ‘Schedule’ section you will be able to view your scheduled tutorial sessions, and a list of previous lessons you have already had. • In the ‘Messages’ section you can send and receive messages from your tutor. • In the ‘Homework’ section you will be able to send and receive Homework from your tutor. • In the ‘Library’ section, you will be able to access session slides and other relevant materials uploaded by TalentEd or your tutor. • In the ‘Help’ section you will have an in-depth manual and help videos with Step-by-Step instructions for every element of your account and classroom.

4: Entering your session

• You can access a session directly from your dashboard or the Future Schedule section • In your Dashboard and ‘Future Schedule’ section, you simply need to click on the ‘Enter’ button to the right of the corresponding class you wish to enter. This will only be possible at the designated time and day of the session, once your tutor has started the session. • You will then be brought into the classroom. • You will be asked to give permissions to your microphone and headphones to the browser – please do this for both audio and microphone or you will not be able to communicate. • You will be asked to complete the ‘Echo Test’ – say something and click ‘yes’ if you can hear yourself. This means that your microphone and speakers are working well. Click ‘No’ if you cannot hear yourself. You will then be prompted to change your speaker and microphone source. • Once you have completed these tests you will enter the classroom. As default your video will not be on when you enter the session, so you will need to turn this on once you have entered (see following section for details)

Infiniti guide - students 5: Operating in the virtual classroom

Infiniti guide - students

Controlling your Microphone, Audio and Camera • You can mute or unmute yourself by either using the relevant icon on the botton middle left part of your screen or by clicking on your name and picking "Mute Participant". • You can also choose your audio settings. You often see this when you enter the classroom, but you can change your audio settings anytime. While still in the session, go ahead and click the "Leave audio" button. Then select "Microphone", do the echo test and if you hear yourself click "Yes". • If you want to share your webcam, click on the webcam icon. Here you can choose the quality of the camera that you want. Please note, if you have a lower internet speed, we recommend choosing a lower quality. • When you are ready, go ahead and click "Start Sharing"! • You can stop sharing your webcam by just clicking the button again.

Video guide: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LyOgtGRUTdI&feature=emb_title

Changing your Classroom Settings • To change the settings of your classroom, please head to the upper right part of your screen and click the three dots that are the "Option" button. • Here, you can exit the fullscreen by clicking the respective button. • By clicking on "Settings", you can see and select your settings. For example, you can enable or disable webcams or turn popup alerts on and off. • By clicking on "About", you can see details about the Classroom. • By clicking on "Help", you can head to the Help page. • By clicking on "Keyboard Shortcuts", you can discover some of the shortcuts. • From here, you can also "End your session" and "Logout". • When you are done changing your Settings, make sure to click "Save" in order to save your changes.

Video guide: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=21&v=0tIY6C1WG58&feature=emb_title

Chat (public and private) • Click on the Public Chat button to send messages to all participants • To send a private message, click on another participant’s name on the left hand side of your screen under the ‘Participants’ list. Then select the ‘Send private message’ option. • Note you will only be able to send private messages to your tutor, not to other students.

Using Reactions • Click on your name, under the Participants' list, then click on "React" and choose one of the options. • One of the available reacts is raising your hand. • When you react, your name gets to the top of the Participants' list and you are able to grab your teacher's attention. • To undo or clear your reaction, click to your name and select "Clear reactions". Then you can go ahead and change your reactions again.

Video guide: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=7&v=_e- WMi7bwzg&feature=emb_title

Using the Annotation tools • At certain times your tutor may give you annotation access, which will allow you to annotate the presentation yourself. 6

Infiniti guide - students

• You can use text, pencil and shapes like ellipse, colouring them differently for a better and clearer visual result. • You can undo your previous annotation using the "Undo" button or clear the whole whiteboard using the trashcan-shaped button.

Video guide: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzwK4BhcQwc&feature=emb_title

Using the text editor • You may have uploaded a document in your classroom. Rather than using the Text Annotation Tool to display a long concept, you can use the "Text Editor" instead. • On the left side of your screen, you will find the 'Text editor' section. Click on it and you can start typing. The things you write will be visible to everyone. • You can use the text editor to write and keep notes. You are able to change font, use bold, italics, undo what you've written, and redo what you've written. There is also an option for bullet points and numbers so you can write lists. • If you want to save your current notes, click on the last icon of the Text Editor, the one with the two arrows. From there, you can export your notes as different kind of files like "html" or "plain text". Simply click and your file will be exported.

Getting help during a session • Contact the Live Chat at the bottom right of the screen via the orange button. • Use the Helpdesk by click the bottom right Live Chat button and then select the Search Helpdesk option

Ending a session • To leave a session, you have two options • Either select the three vertical dots at the upper right of your classroom, and select ‘Log out’. You will be taken back to your dashboard. • Alternatively, simply close the browser tab you are using

6: Sending messages • Click on "Messages" on the menu. • Select "Inbox" to view messages sent to your account. • Select "Starred" to view starred messages. • Select "Sent" to view sent messages. • Select "Compose" to send a message to someone from your contacts in the Platform.

Infiniti guide - students

• Choose the recipient of your message, enter a subject line and your message. To attach a file, you must upload it to your library first. Click "Send". • The message is now available in your "Sent" section and in the "Inbox" of the message recipient. It is also sent to the recipient's email. • IMPORTANT: TalentEd will have access to all messages sent over the platform. You must NEVER share or request personal contact details from tutors.

7: Sending and receiving homework

Receiving homework • Your tutor may set you homework to complete. This will appear in the Homework section of your dashboard. • If you have been set homework, you will receive a notification of this to your email (the one you have set on the profile page) and via WhatsApp if you have enabled WhatsApp notifications • To view, simply click Browse in the Homework section, select the relevant file, and it will download to your computer.

Sending Homework • To send homework please click on ‘Homework’ in your Dashboard and then 'Send’ • Select your recipients (i.e. your tutor) by clicking on ‘Select Recipients’ - a dropdown menu will appear with a list of your students • Then select the ‘Browse’ button and choose a file that contains your homework • Click ‘Send’ when you are ready and the homework will be sent to your tutor.

8: Accessing help

There are many ways to get support. If you have accessed the platform already: • There is a Live Chat available for you via the orange circule at the bottom right corner of all your screens where you may receive immediate help. • There is a Help page in your dashboard with detailed instructions.

If you have not received your welcome email, or are struggling to log in to the platform, please email [email protected].

9: Hardware requirements

• You are recommended to work from a laptop/desktop or tablet. Our platform works across devices however please try to use the appropriate updated browser and operating system! • Wear a headset! This helps you avoid background noise and other interference. • The platform runs best off Chrome or Mozilla browsers, or Safari on iOS devices

10: Tips for optimizing your use of Infiniti

• Try to have your lighting sourced positioned behind your camera shining onto your face. When the source of lighting is facing your camera, it will appear strange to other users. • If you are experiencing lag, it may be due to a weak internet connection. Ask your family/co-residents to avoid gaming/streaming/downloads during your lesson if this is the case.

Infiniti guide - students

We are excited to have you join us!

Thanks,

The TalentEd team