Using the Virtual Classroom

Tutors can start their sessions from the Tutor Dashboard.

Note: We recommend using Google Chrome. System requirements for tutors can be found here.

1. Sign in to Littera.
2. The Dashboard opens.
3. The next upcoming session displays on the left.
4. Click Join Now. Tutors have the ability to join a session 30 minutes before the session start time, where applicable, to prepare as needed. 

Note: Students can enter the waiting room up to 10 minutes before the session start time. They will be brought into the classroom at the start time (provided the tutor has joined).

The Littera Virtual Classroom

Start a Session

1. In the waiting room, allow permissions for your microphone and camera and click Next. 
2. Choose the specific devices to use for the session.
3. Click Start Session.

Using the Whiteboard

1. The whiteboard opens. Your video appears in the top right, and students will appear below as they join.
2. The Control Bar appears at the bottom of your screen. Here you will find:
   
   • Chat: Click to open a text chat between you and the student(s) in the session.
     • Quick Tip: Copy and Paste Links - Tutors can copy and paste a link into the chat area for their students using the following computer keyboard shortcuts.
     • First, highlight or select the text/link you want to copy. (Use your mouse to click and drag over the text if needed.)
       • If using a MAC keyboard, kindly hold the [CMD] command key and press/tap the letter [C] to copy the text.
       • If using a Windows keyboard, kindly hold the [Ctrl] control key and press/tap the letter [C] to copy the text.
       • You can also try highlighting or selecting the text/link you want to copy, and then right-click the selected text or link, and choose "Copy" or "Copy Link Address" from the menu that appears.
     • Next, paste the text/link into the chat area.
       • If using a MAC keyboard, kindly hold the [CMD] command key and press/tap the letter [V] to paste the text/link.
       • If using a Windows keyboard, kindly hold the [Ctrl] control key and press/tap the letter [V] to paste the text/link. Hit enter to insert the text/link into the chat area.
         
   • Lock: Lock the whiteboard tab you are currently on. This prevents students from editing/annotating until given permission. 

   • Note: New tabs are unlocked by default.

   • Sync Class: Sync is on by default for all sessions. When the tutor moves to another tab, everyone stays in sync and follows them.
     • When it comes time for independent practice, tutors can click the Sync Class button in the control bar to turn Sync Class off. Students will be able to work independently in their own tab, while they apply what they learned in the session.
   • Share Screen: Choose to share your entire browser, a specific tab, or your screen. Currently, screen sharing is not supported on iPads devices.
     • To share audio, ensure you choose to share your browser tab and check the Share audio box at the bottom. 
     • You aren't able to interact/control your screen share on the whiteboard, but you can annotate on top. 
   • Microphone: Click to mute/unmute. 
   • Camera: Turn your camera off/on, and choose to Enable Background Blur.
   • Speaker: Turn classroom audio on/off.
3. You can click on Tools or right-click on the whiteboard to access the Tool Wheel. Each tool can be used on the whiteboard or on top of screen shares and uploads. Hover over a tool to see additional options.
   
   • Pen: Annotate the screen in different colors.
   • Laser: A laser pointer to highlight areas of the whiteboard
   • Shape: Add shapes to the screen in different colors
   • Line: Add lines in different colors to underline areas of the whiteboard
   • Text: Add a text box. There are 4 different height options. The text box resizes after text has been entered.
   • Select: Select and move or edit an object on the whiteboard.
   • Eraser: Erase specific objects from the whiteboard.
   • Clear: Clear the entire whiteboard.
4. More Tools opens additional tools to use on the whiteboard during the lesson, including:
   
   • Upload Photo/File: Upload files directly to the whiteboard via online search, from your computer, or by texting an image.
     • The page limit for uploaded documents is 25 pages/10MB file size.
   • Background: Change the whiteboard background to white or gray, or choose to add gridlines.
   • Keyboard Shortcuts: View a list of keyboard shortcuts compatible with the virtual whiteboard.
   • Export or Print: Export and save or print the whiteboard. 
   • Equation Editor: Choose a symbol from the menu to begin building an equation, and click Add Equation to Board.
   • Content Library: Upload content here to use for future sessions. Tutors using Teacher's College and Saga Math curriculum will also find lesson materials here.
   • Timer: Set a timer with or without an alarm for timed activities.
   • Table: Add a table to the whiteboard. 
   • Shape: Add a shape to the whiteboard.
   • Number Line: Select, then click and drag on the whiteboard to show a number line. Move the line direction to include negative numbers.
   • Calculator: The calculator is only visible to the person who opened it; however, an image of the calculator with your inputs and results can be added to the whiteboard to use as a discussion point during the session. 
5. Add Tabs to your whiteboard by clicking the plus sign at the top of your whiteboard page.
   
   • You can have up to 10 tabs at a time.
   • You can rename tabs by hovering over each individual tab, and selecting the pencil icon that appears.
   • Delete a tab by hovering over each individual tab, and selecting the x icon that appears.
     

Student Control Options

Tutors can mute students, turn their cameras off, and lock whiteboards to prevent students from editing them.

1. To mute a student, click the microphone icon on their video square. Click it again to unmute the student.
2. To turn a student's camera off, click the camera icon on their video square. Click it again to enable the student's camera.
3. To lock the whiteboard tab or page, navigate to it and click the Lock option in the control bar at the bottom.

   • Note: As a kind reminder, the Lock icon only disables the features found within the Tools and More Tools section for students. It also locks the Share Screen feature as well. At this time, the Lock icon does not disable the Chat area, the Camera and/or Mic features for students.

End a Session

Tutors will see a warning at the session end time, letting them know their session will end shortly and it is time to wrap up.

From the session:

1. On the control bar, click the blue End Session button to end the class.
2. A confirmation window opens. Click Confirm.
   • Once a session is ended, tutors and students cannot re-enter.

   • Note: Sessions automatically end approximately 5 minutes after the scheduled end time, if the tutor has not clicked End Session. If tutors or students leave the session after the scheduled end time, they cannot re-enter.

3. Provide feedback on the session and student progress.

Lessonspace

Start a Session

In the waiting room:

1. Allow access to your camera, microphone, and speaker(s).
2. Choose the specific devices to use for the session.
3. Click Join.

Using the Whiteboard

The classroom opens! You can:

1. Create a New Whiteboard Tab
2. Upload lesson materials directly by choosing Import PDF/Office.

The top toolbar contains all the tools you'll need, including:

Color Picker Select Tool Move Canvas

Draw/Pen Tool Highlighter Erase Tool

Shapes & Lines Add Text Equation Tool Content Library Upload File Take video snapshot Change Whiteboard Background

Undo Redo Whiteboard Zoom Additional Settings

Additional features can be found in the top right, including:

 

• Leading Mode: Leading Mode allows a tutor to lock a student into their view. This means that wherever you goes in the classroom, so do your students. Activate leading mode to ensure you are in control of your lesson. Click on the "crown" icon in the toolbar and toggle the option on or off to allow students to work independently.
• Read-Only Mode: If you don't want your students to make any edits on any tabs, turn on Read-Only mode, this way it's only you who can make changes in the classroom.
• Timer: Set a timer to give students time to work.
• Options: Switch between Light Mode or Dark Mode

Your device settings and reactions are located in the bottom right, and include:

	Settings: Change or test your devices, turn on advanced noise cancellation, blur your background, and troubleshoot technology issues
	Share Screen: Share either a specific browser tab, window, or your entire computer screen
	Mute Microphone: Temporarily mute as needed
	Stop Video: Temporarily pause video as needed- this should be used  sparingly
	Emojis & Reactions
	Chat & People: Choose to send a chat to the entire class or specific students, or use student control options

Student Control Options

Tutors have a few student control options available. 

1. Click on the Chat/People icon, and choose the People tab. You'll see the classroom (Main Room), yourself, and all students listed. Click on a student's name to:
   • Mute Microphone
   • Stop Video
   • Disable Editing of whiteboard

   • Kick/Ban User to remove them from the classroom

     Note: Be sure to mute students and turn off cameras from the People tab. Doing this from their video tiles only mutes and hides their video from you.

2. You can also mute and turn off cameras for all students at once from the Main Room.

End a Session

Tutors will see a warning at the session end time, letting them know their session will end shortly and it is time to wrap up.

From the session:

1. In the top right, click End Session to end the class.
2. A confirmation window opens. Click End Session for All.
   • Once a session is ended, tutors and students cannot re-enter.

   • Note: Sessions automatically end approximately 10 minutes after the scheduled end time, if the tutor has not clicked End Session. If tutors or students leave the session after the scheduled end time, they may be unable to re-enter.

3. Provide feedback on the session and student progress.