Language Lab Training

Part 1. Basics

1. Hardware

At the teachers’ desk you will find:

2 monitors

A/D 1 VCR player

Players 2 cassette decks 1 PC
1 DVD player

1 server box

Screens: the lefthand screen shows desktop controls; the righthand shows the language
lab teacher control centre.

2. Start-up

The Lab software will fire up automatically for all users. The teacher must also click ‘OK’ on
the AVIDAnet client on the left hand screen (It will have the default user name ‘Prof’).

3. Check users audio recorder and playback works

Get students to start VACS and to record & playback a test file.

If not working, try:

a) adjusting the controls on AVIDAnet application panel:

b) adjusting Windows Volume Control:

4. Grouping students

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Language Labs. HowTo. Part 1.
 i. Select group icon (top left of control centre)
ii. Give name
iii. Click 'Select'
iv. Click the students you want to select (or drag a selector around them)
v. Click 'OK'

NB: you can deselect any student from the group in the same way.

5. Viewing and listening to student desktops – simply click a student once only. A grey
frame appears and the student’s desktop will appear in your left hand monitor

6. Oral/Aural communication

There are various ways of initiating communication with/between students. Here are some
of them:

6.1. Teacher -> student (one-way communication; student can't reply without
calling)

i) Whole Class - Call All (on right hand panel)

ii) Group - Call Group (right click on Group panel)

iii) Whole Class – Microphone Icon on top panel (drag to group). NB: this also
enables you to record your voice as you speak.

6.2. Teacher <-> Student (two-way communication; student can reply)

i) Intercom – right click on student icon

ii) Call Teacher - initiated from student's application

6.3. Student -> Class (one-way communication)

i) Student Call All – (right click on student). The assigned student can speak
to the rest of the class
ii) Student Icon on top panel (drag to group) NB: enables you to record the
student output

7. Playing Audio/Video materials - Transmitting A/V

7.1. using the A/D players (on the left hand side of the desk)

i) Make sure all the players along the top of Teacher Control Centre are active - if
not, you may need to resart the A/D converter (big box on bottom of left-hand side
stack).

ii) To preview a source, click it and then press the black arrow on the bottom panel
of the Teacher Control Centre. (NB: You can use the bottom panel to rewind, fast
forward etc, and to digitise clips before the lesson.)

iii) To play the source to the group, drag the player source to the group panel. (NB:
The source will only play to the group to which it's assigned).

Transmission Options:

'active' - the file will play only

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 'copy' - the file will digitize and play + student microphones on
'copy mute' - file will digitize and play + student microphones off

(NB: make sure to give your file a session name and a filename. So you can collect
later).

7.2. by accessing a digital file & launcing VACS

Click on the ‘Applications’ menu (right hand pane) and then ‘Launch Application’. Now
launch your file. (e.g. audio or video using VACS).

8. Sending & Collecting a file (text, audio, video etc)

8.1. Sending

Step 1. File Transfer -> Send Files -> Browse -> Session Name -> OK

Step 2. Ask Students to open Stream Folder (on their desktop), or ask them to click here:

8.2. Collecting

Step 1. File Transfer -> Collect Files -> Select Session Name -> OK

Step 2. Open Desktop -> Collected Files Folder -> Session Name -> (here you will see
individual student folders).

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Remember

It’s a good idea to bring a back-up lesson (paper-based) with you, in case the technology
lets you down!

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Language Labs. HowTo. Part 1.