Screenleap Easy Screen Sharing

Using screen sharing software for a webinar is always a leap of faith. What do I mean by that? If you have ever attempted to host a webinar with one tool or another then you probably have experienced just how frustrating it can be to connect. Many of the screen sharing applications ask you to download plug-ins which can make the experience even more frustrating for those users who may be less technically inclined. That is why I was so glad to learn about a new screen sharing tool called Screenleap which I started to use last week.

First off, the screen sharing service is free, and if you are joining a session there is no software to install. It doesn't get any easier that this. I demonstrated Screenleap this week in my graduate class and within a minute all 20 of my students were viewing my screen. Great way to publish the teachers screen to your students in a classroom. All my students had to do was go to Screenleap and enter a 9 digit number that I posted- to begin the session and within seconds they were able to view my screen. This worked without a hitch and the ease of use was fantastic! 

 During the class one of my students wanted to share her screen so that she could demonstrate a math web site- so she initiated the screen sharing session and at the instructors station I entered the 9 digit code and then I was able to see her screen which was projected in the classroom for all the other students to see. Screenleap works as stated and probably is one of the easiest screen sharing applications I have ever used. So if you get the chance check out Screenleap you will be glad you did.

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Screensharing and More with Glance

Over the years I have used Glance to do webinars and for screen sharing sessions. One of the things that I like most about Glance is the ease of use and the lack of complexity. This is crucial especially when you are supporting others who may not be technically inclined. With Glance you simply select, Start a session and you are provided with your Glance.net URL and a session key that you provide to your client. It is just that simple- your client goes to the URL address provided, enters the session key you provided them and within seconds they see your screen. Like I said before, if you are working with clients that are new to this type of support it is crucial that the process is streamlined and easy. In the case of Glance, I have to say it is as easy as it gets.

Just yesterday, I received an email from Glance that they released a beta of the Glance application so that now you will be able to view your clients screen and take remote control to help provide support. To provide remote support using Glance it is as simple as selecting Start session - view guest's screen. You will be prompted if you want to just initially view or if you would like to view and take remote control of your clients computer when they log in. Again you simply provide your client with your Glance URL address and the session key. Once this accomplished they will be prompted to download a small viewing application. Having tested it out this past week the download and installation went very quickly. Once installed you will now be able to view your clients screen and remotely control their computer. This is a great tool for providing webinars and now for doing remote support without having to leave the office.

Glance starts at $49.95 a month or $499 dollars for a full year for a Glance Personal account. The program is cross platform and I have used it with my PC and my Mac with excellent results. For the Glance Personal account you can host an unlimited number of sessions and can have up to 100 users online with you- which is great for webinars. There are Glance Corporate accounts as well which you can find out more information about on their website. Some of the new features like sharing your clients screen and remote access are only available at this time on Windows. Hopefully this will change. Glance has been really good about adding support for Macintosh, so I will assume that it is just a matter of time.

In these tough economic times, tools like Glance are going to make a real difference in allowing consultants and trainers to provide high quality services without the need to travel. If you are looking for online training in Captivate 3, MindManager 7, JCVGantt Pro, Adobe Presenter or Adobe Acrobat 9 Extended give me a holler. Imagine how much time can be saved by doing training in the privacy of your home or office using tools like Glance. Glance is very easy and powerful tool that simply delivers! So if you have the opportunity download the application and give it a try, you will be glad you did.

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Adobe AIR version of Acrobat.com

In the past year I have written about Adobe and its unique set of online tools. Adobe continues to add features to their Acrobat.com site and provides all of us with an incredible tool set. I have written about Buzzword, Adobe's online word processing tool which has not only has a great looking interface but really gives you the feeling that you are working on a desktop application. If you have not given Buzzword a try it is worth checking out. I recently found that Adobe has released an Acrobat.com wideget that is written in Adobe AIR that gives you easy access to your files and application at Acrobat.com. Adobe's use of Flash and mix of Adobe AIR gives the applications a unique look which I find very pleasing to the eye. The programs work quickly over the internet and at times it is hard to belief that you are using these applications that reside on the internet. Here is how Adobe has described the widget:

The Adobe AIR version of Acrobat.com provides an easy way of interacting with Acrobat.com by dragging and dropping files and folders from your local computer directly into your Acrobat.com account, and browsing, previewing, sharing or publishing files easily from your computer. The application can be minimized to a widget on your desktop providing easy access to the Acrobat.com services.You can download the Acrobat.com widget and keep it on your desktop which makes uploading files and gain access to the applications that much easier.

Acrobat.com Widget



On the Acrobat.com website you can also use it to convert up to 5 documents to PDF format which could come in handy. You also get a fair amount of storage space where you can store your files and share them with others which can provide you with a way to collaborate on word processing documents. Buzzword does track all changes and revisions which makes it easy to see who did what and when.

One of the applications that I recently decided to try out on the Acrobat.com website was Adobe Connect, which lets you meet and share your computer screen online. Adobe ConnectNow lets you connect with two other computers which could make it ideal for doing small webinars and for providing technical support. Adobe ConnectNow allows you to use your webcam as well as setting up a pod for you to store documents and files that you would like your participants to have access to. Your participants are also provided with chatting capabilities and you can use your built-in webcam microphone to talk to your participants using VOIP. You can also choose to use the teleconference number that is available to you through Adobe ConnectNow. Considering the price of admission this is an invaluable tool and one you should look into. So if you get the chance download the Acrobat.com widget and let me know what you think.

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PersonalBrain 101 Web Classes

If you are just getting started learning how to best use the PersonalBrain then you should consider signing up for the free PersonalBrain Webinar's that are held every Friday. Both Matt and Shelley do a great job of explaining the basics and will quickly get you up to speed on how to best work and design your brain using the PersonalBrain. I have participated in these webinars and have always found them to be very informative and worthwhile. So if you are just getting started using the PersonalBrain then you should consider signing up for the free webinar this Friday. The webinars are every Friday, 10:00 AM Pacific Time / 1:00 Eastern Time

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Inside the Mind of an Educator: Using the PersonalBrain

Just a reminder join me for :Inside the Mind of an Educator: Using PersonalBrain for Your Classroom, Studies and Beyond
Special Web Event with Dr. Brian S. Friedlander

When: Thursday, April 17th at 11:00 am Pacific / 2:00 pm Eastern Time

What: Students and teachers deal with complex issues and concepts that have many relationships and connections. PersonalBrain offers a new and exciting way to bring your content to life and foster a deeper understanding of your subject matter. Teachers and school administrators can use PersonalBrain to organize lesson plans and activities. Students and instructors can organize key topics and ideas to see the big picture on key ideas and simplify complex topics to drive understanding and new insights.

Who: Dr. Brian S. Friedlander is a certified (licensed) school psychologist with expertise in assistive and educational technology. He maintains an assistive technology practice that provides assessments, workshops and individual trainings. His columns can be read at: http://assistivetek.blogspot.com Dr. Friedlander is also an Assistant Professor of Education at the College of St. Elizabeth in New Jersey, where he teaches graduate courses in special education and educational technology.

Topics Covered:

• An introduction to visual learning and PersonalBrain for education
• Visually mapping and organizing ideas for enhanced understanding
• Classroom brainstorming techniques and creating interactive Brains
• Example Brains on lesson plans, research and course material from both student and teacher perspective

Register by clicking here

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Webinar: Using PersonalBrain for Your Classroom, Studies and Beyond

Come join me for a free webinar on Thursday, April 17 11:00 am Pacific Time / 2:00 pm Eastern Time hosted by TheBrain as I discuss innovative ways to use the PersonalBrain in the classroom. During the webinar I will be focus on the following topics:

• An introduction to visual learning and PersonalBrain for education
• Visually mapping and organizing ideas for enhanced understanding
• Classroom brainstorming techniques and creating interactive Brains
• Example Brains on lesson plans, research and course material from both student and teacher perspective

If you have never used the PersonalBrain then come learn how this powerful organizational tool can be incorporated into the classroom. All attendees who participate in the seminar will receive a free electronic issue of Inclusion Times, which is an educational technology newsletter published by yours truly.

If you have the chance please download a free copy of the PersonalBrain before the webinar so that you have a frame of reference for the program. Here is a link to TheBrain March 2008 Newsletter which is chock full of great information. Click on this link to Register for the Free Webinar.

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