Siebel Distance Learning Guide > Conducting a Distance Learning Session >

Getting Ready to Conduct a Distance Learning Session


When you have finished setting up your presentation environment and are familiar with the Distance Learning toolbar, you are ready to start planning a session. You plan a session by completing the following tasks.

To get ready to conduct a Distance Learning session

  1. Decide whether or not you want a private room. If you do, you should set up a breakout room. For more information on how to set up a breakout room, see Creating and Maintaining Breakout Rooms.
  2. Go to the Session Administration screen and schedule the session. For information on how to schedule a session, see Adding a Session.
  3. Decide whether you are going to host a standard or custom session. This decision should come from your knowledge of potential session attendees. Standard sessions are where everyone has the same privilege; there is no distinction between instructor and attendee.
  4. You should host a custom session if you want to do any of the following:

  5. If you have chosen to set up a custom session, decide whether you want a Group or Multi-level session. To give your assistants some privilege, set up a Multi-level session. To give only the instructors and attendees privileges, use Group to minimize confusion.
  6. NOTE:  You can have multiple people log in as instructor.

  7. Determine your audience's connection speed. It is generally a good idea to use the Optimized transmission mode option. The option is optimized for speed with lower quality. If you want to display pictures, you may want to use the Standard or Full Image Transmission options. It is recommended that you test out to see what quality/speed works for you.
  8. If many of the attendees are on slow networks, it is recommended that you use the Show at Once option. This way everyone gets the image at the same time for a smooth presentation. For more information, on the Show at Once options, see Optimizing Your Presentation for Slide Shows.

  9. Decide what kind of audio to use. Set up a telephone conference or use Voice Over IP. Voice Over IP is only recommended for high bandwidth networks.
  10. Notify your attendees by providing them with a link to the session.
  11. Decide how you want your attendees to join. If it is a one way presentation (presentation over the Web), have them use the HTML Viewer. The HTML Viewer is easier to access for attendees since there is no software to download. You can send out a direct link to the session by creating the link in the following manner:

    http://<<host name>>/DistanceLrn/ptk-apps/Meetings/cgi-bin/java_join.exe/<<Name of breakout room>>/<Name of Session>>

    NOTE:  If there is not a breakout room, do not include it in the link. Instead, use a "_" where it says: <<Name of breakout room>>.

  12. To use application sharing, you need to have attendees download the full client. They can auto-download or download the software in advance. To use the full client, attendees must not be behind a restrictive firewall. It is recommended that you test the connection prior to the session. For more information on firewalls and HTTP Gateway, see Providing Support Through Firewalls.
  13. Set up your agenda.
  14. Determine if you are going to have quizzes. If yes, you might want to prepare your quizzes in advance.

    Determine if you are going to use the Chat option. If yes, you can edit your canned chat messages. To edit or customize your chat messages, go to Start > Programs > Siebel Distance Learning > Client > Edit Chat Message.

    Determine if you are going to share documents. If yes, you may want to upload your documents in advance.


 Siebel Distance Learning Guide 
 Published: 18 April 2003