Elluminate Live! Help Site

(This site is modeled after the Mount St. Vincent University and John Hopkins University Elluminate help sites.)  

For individual assistance please call the Elluminate Helpdesk toll free 1 (866) 388-8674 option 2 

Basic Instructions:

External Elluminate Resources and Steps for configuring your machine. Allow 20 minutes for configuring your machine and testing your audio functions.

• 1. Go to http://elluminate.com/support/
• 2. Follow the directions for Steps 1, 2, 3
• You will probably have to download Java as part of Step 1. Follow the instructions for Java installation and note any updates from the link:  Important Technical Info
• 3. Extra training and resource links can be accessed by clicking on a link under Resources

Please note, you should do a disk cleanup once a month and do a Java update. Please refer to the following sites for disk clean up and Java clearing and update.

http://www.educ.kent.edu/centers/IRC/TIC/simpleTips/diskcleanup.html  http://www.java.com/en/download/help/5000020300.xml 

If you still have difficulties with Elluminate Live! Email your Elluminate questions to Stefanie McAllister slmcall@ilstu.edu .

Getting Started with Elluminate Live!

Complete the steps below to prepare your computer to use Elluminate Live!. You will have voice access to your instructor via your computer over the Internet. You will be able to hear all the students in your class, as well as your instructor. In addition, you will have a whiteboard to draw one, be able to view PowerPoint slides, participate in web tours, take quizzes or participate in polls during class.

At least one week before attending your first Elluminate Live! class, go through these steps to be sure everything works. If you detect problems, we can help you before class but not during class. See EAF contact information at the bottom of this page.

1. First, verify that you have the required computer system.  The following are the minimum requirements: For the most up-to-date specifications, see http://elluminate.com/support/docs/

• Pentium II 266 MHz (Pentium 400 recommended)
• 128 MB of RAM (memory) – 256 MB recommended
• Sound Card
• Computer Headset (with microphone and speakers)
• Internet Explorer 7.x  or Firefox 2.X
• Any level of Internet access (as low as 28.8 to T1 connections) will work. But, faster connection speed is best.  Some special setup may be necessary for those with Voice over IP phone service (such as Vonage). Test before class and work with Stefanie McAllister to be sure you have the correct setup.

2. Set up your headset/microphone:

You can use a headset/microphone which can be purchased from stores such as Radio Shack, Wal-Mart or any office supply store for $20. But either way, you will need a speaking device and a listening device. For the headset you will see two jacks (perhaps red and gray) at the end of the wire leading from the headset.  These two jacks need to be inserted into your system unit. 

OR

You can purchase a USB headset with microphone that can be inserted into a USB port. "Short for Universal Serial Bus, an external bus standard that supports data transfer rates of 12 Mbps. A single USB port can be used to connect up to 127 peripheral devices, such as mice, modems, and keyboards. USB also supports Plug-and-Play installation and hot plugging. " (http://webopedia.internet.com/TERM/U/USB.html) .

You are required to have a microphone and speakers for your Elluminate Classes.

Here is a figure of the traditional speaker and microphone plugs.	Here is a figure of the USB port on a PC.
On the back or front of the box, you should see three or four jack input holes – small round holes intended for line in, microphone and speaker. (Your computer may have icons that will help you to determine which jack gets inserted into which space.  The holes on some newer computers may be color-coded to match the input jacks. The gray jack is the speaker jack and the red jack is for the microphone. If you currently have speakers connected to the back of your system unit, you will need to remove the speaker jacks and replace them with the headset jacks for your online session.	On the back or front of the box, you should see one or two USB ports [rectangular slot] for many types of devices. If you have a USB microphone and headset you will insert the plug into the USB port. Once inserted, your Computer should say "New device detected." If you cannot hear from the headset, you may have to go into the Settings..Control Panel...Sounds and Audio Devices link. Look under the Audio Tab to be sure the Playback and Recording Devices match your USB headset and microphone.

Go to http://www.elluminate.com/support and install the Elluminate plug-ins and test your audio in the configuration room. [Steps 1, 2, 3 from the short instructions above.]

You will be taken to Elluminate Java Web Start installation page:

Step 1 - Java software check 

> From the installation page choose your operating system in the drop down box then click on "Get Required Software".

- Click Yes if you see a security warning that asks "Do you want to install and run...Java Plug-in..."

- When you see the License Agreement, click "I accept the terms in the license agreement" and click Next.

- Select the Typical Installation.

- When the installation is finished, Java Web Start is ready to use!   

Step 2 - Complete your setup 

Join the Configuration Room to test your connection and configure your audio.

If you are using Internet Explorer, you will need to click Allow download of file from the error at the top of your browser.

 From the software installation page click on the “Start Elluminate Live” button.>  The Elluminate Live™ software will automatically download when you first enter the virtual classroom and may take from a few minutes up to 15 minutes depending on your connection speed.  The first time you join an Elluminate Live™ session you may receive a security warning. This warning states that Elluminate Live™ is asking for unrestricted access to use your computers microphone and speakers. Please click Start to continue to launch the program.After starting Elluminate Live™ software you may see a License Agreement. Click on I Agree.

Next, you will see a screen indicating that the modules are being installed. As of Fall 2007, we are using version 8.1.

The first time you join a session, the Select connection speed dialog box appears prompting you to select a connection speed that you will be using. Please select the connection speed from the list that your computer uses to connect to the internet.  Selecting the correct connection speed enables the audio and video features of the Elluminate Live client to function at the optimum level. After you exit the session, the connection speed is automatically saved and stored in a file.In the configuration room, select Tools>Audio>Audio Set Up Wizard and follow those instructions. If you were able to successfully configure your audio, you are ready for class!

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4. You will receive the link either through email from your professor, Stefanie McAllister, or will access the link through WebCT. While it might be a good idea to bookmark your link, sometimes Stefanie is required to change the link. If you have trouble accessing a link, email Stefanie immediately and provide your phone number, and also look for a new link in your email or on your WebCT course.

Click on the URL that you have been provided with for the Elluminate Live session. A new browser window will open and the Elluminate Live software will start.

Next you will be prompted for a username, this can be anything, but please type in your First and Last Name.  The Elluminate Live software will load and you may be asked to accept the Elluminate Live license agreement. If so, when the dialogue appears, select “I agree.”

 The Elluminate Live interface will appear and you are ready to begin your session.

Please note, you should do a disk cleanup once a month and do a Java update. Please refer to the following sites for disk clean up and Java clearing and update

http://www.educ.kent.edu/centers/IRC/TIC/simpleTips/diskcleanup.html http://www.java.com/en/download/help/5000020300.xml

If you still have difficulties with Elluminate Live! Email your Elluminate questions to Stefanie McAllister slmcall@ilstu.edu.