UMConnect

Do It Yourself: "How to use UMConnect" Seminar
Held April 23, 2009
Seminar Handout

Advantages and disadvantages of video conferencing with UMConnect
Here are some tips for using UMConnect for your video conference.

1. Works best for live presentation with PowerPoint slides.
2. Best times to use UMConnect are before 11a.m. and after 5 p.m.
3. Connecting computers to Ethernet instead of wireless typically yields better results.
4. When using Ethernet, keep cable lengths to 20 feet or less.
5. Provides sharing of computer desktop/applications, whiteboards, and online chat.
6. UMConnect allows for multiple hosts or presenters. This allows multiple people to take turns running a presentation.
7. When recording sessions, have one computer dedicated to recording and a second computer dedicated to running the presentation. Wireless does not always provide the best output.
8. Enlarging the video pod (i.e., expanding the video window) requires more bandwidth and can reduce audio quality.

1. Go to the UMConnect website and log on with your Internet ID and Internet Password
2. You will need to install the Adobe Acrobat Connect Meeting Add-in.  If you have issues installing the software, send an e-mail to cfans.help@umn.edu.
3. To create a meeting, go to the section labled UMConnect Meetings
   Getting Started with Creating Meetings.

UMConnect Tips

1. Font Substitution - When your PowerPoint file is uploaded, it is converted and font substitution can occur. Upload your file prior to the meeting so you can make adjustments to fonts or pictures ahead of time.
2. Uneditable Recordings - When recording a session with an introduction and question-and-answer section, it is best to stop and start recording after each section if you plan to make the recordings available for public use, as you cannot cut out any portion after the fact.
3. PowerPoint Content - Because of the file conversion process, it is best not to embed video in your PowerPoint presentation.
4. Pictures of Presenters - To illustrate who is speaking, create a shared pod, and load a PowerPoint file with a picture of each presenter on his or her own slide. Then change from one picture to the next as each speaker presents.
5. Video Pod - In order to reduce the amount of bandwidth dedicated to video, you can set the pod to render a still image instead of a live feed.

UMConnect Presenter
UMConnect provides an add-in tool for MS PowerPoint that allows you to record audio onto individual slides in your presentation. When your presentation is complete, you can publish it to UMConnect for others to view.

• Troubleshooting UMConnect Presenter
• Publishing to the UMConnect Server
• Adding Adobe Presentations to Webvista and Moodle
• UMConnect  Presenter Quick Start Guide (.pdf)
  

Resources & Training Materials
The University Technology Training Center offers a few training seminars to provide further instruction and hands-on training.

UMConnect Handouts created by Extension (all are .pdf files)

• UMConnect Quick Reference Guide
• UMConnect  Presenter Quick Start Guide
• Create a UMConnect Meeting - Quick Reference Guide
• Meeting Manager Quick Reference