Adobe Connect: What Fonts Are Supported in PowerPoint Uploads?

Adobe Connect and PowerPoint: The Fonts that Work (and other options)

by Alan Regan

Adobe Connect is a powerful tool for online teaching and collaboration. A great feature is the ability  to import content such as PowerPoint presentations, PDFs, or MP4 videos. Professors commonly import PowerPoint files, but sometimes the conversion looks different than what normally appears on their computers. The most common reason is that a font in the PowerPoint is not supported by the Adobe Connect service.

So what's a professor to do?

There are five options to explore:

1. Use fonts in your PowerPoint that Adobe Connect supports
2. Save your PowerPoint as a PDF and upload the PDF
3. Save your PowerPoint slides as JPEG images to add to a new PowerPoint
4. Save your PowerPoint as a video (MP4)
5. Embed your fonts in your PowerPoint

Fonts that Adobe Connect Supports

One of the easiest approaches is to focus your presentation design on core fonts that Adobe Connect supports. Adobe reports that Adobe Connect's hosted service runs on Windows servers and supports the fonts that are standard on those systems. The short list to help professors and instructional designers is:

• Arial
• Calibri
• Cambria
• Candara
• Comic Sans
• Courier New
• Georgia
• Impact
• Lucida Console
• Lucida Sans
• Palatino Linotype
• Symbol
• Tahoma
• Times New Roman
• Trebuchet MS
• Verdana
• Webdings
• Wingdings

If you choose this approach, be sure to limit your use to these fonts. Please be aware, there are often derivative fonts that have similar names. For example, there is a font called "Arial Narrow." These derivative fonts are not supported. Similarly, there may be similar font confusion on the Mac, such as Times vs. Times New Roman. Mac users should select the font names that match the list above.  Many of these fonts are provided when a recent version of Microsoft Office for Mac is installed.

For the full list of supported fonts, please visit Microsoft's website.

Save Your PowerPoint as a PDF

Adobe supports PDF documents in the "Share" pod, so another option is to save your PowerPoint presentation as a PDF. When you save a PowerPoint as a PDF, each slide will be a static "page" in your PDF.

Design Considerations:

• Animations and transitions will be lost
• Layer multiple bullet point reveals onto separate slides (if you want to focus attention one bullet point at a time)
• Layer multiple image reveals onto separate slides (if you want to reveal each element one point at a time)
• Embedded video and audio is not supported (you'd upload the video or audio file and share those elements separately)

PowerPoint Instructions:

The following steps are from Office 2013 for Windows. See the links below for other versions of Office.

• Once your PowerPoint is ready and designed to flatten to individual pages in a PDF...
• File > Save As
• Choose the location on your computer and name the file accordingly.
• From the "File Type" drop down, select "PDF" (if you have Adobe Acrobat Pro installed, you may be able to select File > Save as PDF directly)
• Click "Save."

Preview the PDF to verify that each page appears as you desire.  You can then upload this file to your Content area in Adobe Connect or via the Share pod in an Adobe Connect meeting.

See also: PowerPoint 2010 for Windows, PowerPoint 2013 for Windows, PowerPoint 2011 for Mac.

Save Your PowerPoint as JPEG Images

Similar to saving your PowerPoint as a PDF, you can also save your PowerPoint as individual JPEG images.  Each slide is saved as a single JPEG image and you can then create a new PowerPoint file and insert each image onto separate slides. This involves more time than the PDF method, obviously.

Design Considerations:

• Please refer to the previous design considerations in saving as a PDF.

PowerPoint Instructions:

The following steps are from Office 2013 for Windows. See the links below for other versions of Office.

• Once your PowerPoint is ready and designed to flatten to individual images...
• File > Save As
• Choose the location on your computer where you want to save the files.
• From the "File Type" drop down, select "JPEG File Interchange Format (.jpg)."
• Rename the file if desired, else click "Save."
• When prompted, select "All Slides."
• When prompted that it will create a new folder, click "OK."
• PowerPoint will create a new folder with the same title of your original PowerPoint file in the location you selected. Each slide will be an individual JPEG image.
• You may now create a new, blank PowerPoint and insert each image on new slides. You may need to remove the placeholder textbox on each slide for the image to automatically autofit to the full slide.

See also: PowerPoint 2010 for Windows, PowerPoint 2013 for Windows, PowerPoint 2011 for Mac.

Save Your PowerPoint as a Video (MP4)

This is a hidden gem in modern versions of Microsoft PowerPoint -- many people don't know that this option even exists! If you want to preserve the full experience of your presentation (animations, transitions, etc.), this may be an option to explore. It does require some design setup, such as declaring the transition time (advance slide "after" time) for each slide. To help with this, you can use the "Rehearse Timings" feature to help set these numbers for you.

Design Considerations:

• Design your PowerPoint as you normally would with desired fonts, images, transitions, animations, etc.
• Set the timing for each slide. Easiest is using the "Rehearse Timings" option in PowerPoint.
•  Windows: PowerPoint 2010 for Windows / PowerPoint 2013 for Windows.
• Mac: PowerPoint 2011 for Mac.

PowerPoint Instructions:

The following steps are from Office 2013 for Windows. See the links below for other versions of Office.

• Once your PowerPoint is ready, you've set your slide timings, etc....
• File > Save As
• Choose the location on your computer where you want to save the file.
• From the "Save as Type" drop-down, select "MPEG-4 video (.mp4)."
• Rename the file if desired.
• Click "Save."
• Be patient and don't close PowerPoint! Your presentation will now be converted and saved into a video file. The larger and more complex your presentation, the longer it will take to convert.

See also: "Turn your presentation into a video (PowerPoint 2010 Windows)," "Save your presentation as a video (PowerPoint 2013 Windows)," "Save presentation as movie file (PowerPoint 2011 Mac)."

Embed Your Fonts in Your PowerPoint

Full Disclosure: This is only an option for Windows PowerPoint (not Mac PowerPoint). Also, results may vary. We list this option since Adobe has mentioned it as a potential solution, but we caution you that we've had mixed results.

This option involves embedding your custom fonts into your PowerPoint when you save the file. While Microsoft Office allows you to embed both TrueType and OpenType fonts, it seems as if Adobe Connect will only support TrueType fonts. Also, since you're including the font within the PowerPoint file, it will also increase the size of your resulting PowerPoint file, too.

PowerPoint Instructions:

Remember, this option is only available for Windows versions of PowerPoint.

• Once your PowerPoint is ready...
• File > Save As
• Choose the location on your computer where you want to save the file.
• Name or rename the file.
• From the "Tools" drop down near the bottom, select "Save options."
• Scroll down and select "Embed fonts in the file" and the desired option (e.g. "Embed only the characters used in the presentation (best for reducing the file size)").
• Click "Ok."
• Click "Save."

See also: "How PowerPoint font embedding and replacement can save your presentation (PowerPoint 2007, 2010, 2013)"


We hope the above options will help you deliver powerful, effective, and professional presentations in Adobe Connect.

Why Professors Teaching Online Must Think Like Method Actors and Film Directors

Why Professors Teaching Online Must Think Like Method Actors and Film Directors

by Varun Khanna

Clearly, academia is going through a disruptive phase where students from all over the world believe that their next classroom experience may not come face-to-face from the local college but, half-way across the world via a web conferencing tool like Adobe Connect, Fuzebox or Bb Collaborate.

Even die-hard traditional universities that may have vowed never to join the blended/online classroom experience are now reevaluating their strategy.

So, what can professors do to enhance online engagement experience for their students?

Think - Camera! Lights! Action!

1. Camera Angle
2. Lighting 
3. Background
4. Color
5. Movement 
6. Eye contact 
7. Punctuate 
8. Script it 
9. Rehearse it 
10. Technique

Laptop Camera Angle
If your laptop camera is not eye-level then you are looking down on your students. If you have too much space on the top, to left or right, then you probably are projecting a diluted version of yourself online.

Lighting
Think soft warm light as opposed to fluorescent lighting that is rarely kind. Pick up a couple of small lamps with warm light bulbs from your local hardware store.  Place a light to your left and right (one closer than the other). Try not to have an overhead light that might create shadows on your face. Remember the Seinfeld episode where Jerry's girlfriend looks rather interesting under different lighting conditions?

Background
Sitting in front of a window during the day teaching an online class? You could be in a silhouette on camera.  If possible, your office desk should be at least 6 feet from the back wall.  If working from home, please take off any clothes hanging behind your home office door.

Color
Think strong colors that compliment the topic being covered in class. Solid colors do well on camera. Stripes, polka dots, plaid - not so much! Now if you are teaching double-declining depreciation - you are on your own!

Movement
Some web conferencing tools might not deliver the optimal frame rate per second that best represents smooth video quality.  Lower bandwidth connections will deliver higher quality video if you limit on-camera movement to a minimum, unless you are teaching P.E. online!

Eye Contact
If your laptop or desktop camera is eye level and you are looking directly into it from time to time, students will be more engaged as you bring content directly into their online world. Look to that green light on your Mac from time to time. If your laptop does not have an "on" light next to the built-in camera, paste a small stickie note next to it.

Punctuate
Online content delivery begs that you carefully punctuate! Punctuation may also come in the form of turning off your camera while your student/s are talking and then turning their camera/s off and turning your camera on to amplify your presence and response.

Script it
Your online class needs an even stronger (might I dare say, dramatic) script than what you would have in a face-to-face class. The script needs careful attention with a beginning, middle and an end. It will need constant revision. After all, your online audience is tiring as the semester progresses and every semester your audience is going to change. One glove fits all simply does not work!

Rehearse it
Even Academy award winning actors need an acting coach. Don’t be afraid to invite a good coach (instructional consultants or peers) to several online rehearsals and performance/s.

Rehearse it! Rehearse it!! Rehearse it!!!

Unless, you are Steven Segal!

Technique
Once you have mastered the technique - forget it! What that means is that as an online teacher you must, yes, must master the technical UI (user interface) of your web conferencing tool and LMS (Learning Management System) and make that second nature. Mastering a web conferencing tool like Bb Collaborate, Adobe Connect or Fuze is imperative. Once you have mastered it - you must forget it so that your students do not see these technology tools as a deterrent to delivering an Oscar worthy performance every time.

Break a leg! 

Distance Education Just Got A Little Closer!

Distance Education Just Got A Little Closer!

by Alan Regan & Varun Khanna

In my earlier post on Google Hangouts, I wrote about the benefits of using this new engaging online video tool to work in small groups (less than 15).

But, what if your group or class is more than 15? Pepperdine University's Technology & Learning group suggests Blackboard Collaborate as an online web conferencing platform.

With so many possible tools -- Courses (powered by Sakai), Google Hangouts, Bb Collaborate, Turnitin, Google Drive/Docs -- which tools do I choose?

Let's attempt to reduce the confusion surrounding all these technologies.

1. What is Courses (powered by Sakai)?
Courses (aka Sakai) is the official learning management system (LMS) used by Pepperdine University. It is the online destination where you might post your syllabus, send announcements to the class, administer tests & quizzes, assignments, gradebook, etc. In 2011, Pepperdine University moved over from Blackboard's learning management system to Courses (powered by Sakai). In short, it is the powerful brains behind courses.pepperdine.edu.

2. What is Blackboard Collaborate?
Blackboard Collaborate is an web conferencing platform that allows people to meet online.  It supports up to 200 people to attend a single meeting. Participants can take advantage of live audio, text chat, web camera video, shared whiteboard, application sharing, polling, and many other features.  Blackboard Collaborate is available as an optional tool within courses.pepperdine.edu.

3. What is Turnitin?
Turnitin is a plagiarism detection service that is also integrated into courses.pepperdine.edu. With this tool, professors and students can evaluate the amount of text in student papers that is similar to other sources.  It is a powerful way to educate students about academic integrity.  This service can be enabled by a professor within Assignments tool of Courses.

4. What are Google Hangouts, Drive/Docs, Google+, etc.
Google provides free applications that are hosted online in the cloud. Google Hangouts is a web conferencing service that allows small groups (up to 15 if you are using google.pepperdine.edu) to interact using audio and video. Google Drive is an online storage solution that offers up to 30 GB of total storage space. Within Google Drive are Google Docs -- mini applications that are similar to Microsoft Office.  A Google Document is like Microsoft Word, Google Presentation is like Microsoft PowerPoint, and Google Spreadsheet is like Microsoft Excel.  They share many common features with the Microsoft Office suite, but are not as robust.  These online documents allow multiple people to work simultaneously on a project or paper and are saved automatically every few seconds. Finally, Google+ is a social networking service similar to Facebook.

Let us turn our focus back to Blackboard Collaborate.

10 Things You Always Wanted To Know About Blackboard Collaborate:

1. Plug in your microphone and headset FIRST. This is a very important first step. Be sure that you have connected your headset to your computer before you start a Blackboard Collaborate session.  (If you plug in after you've started a session, the software may not recognize your device!) We also recommend a headset to avoid a majority of audio issues. After you've connected to Blackboard Collaborate, run the Audio Wizard to confirm that everything is working properly.

2. Go to browsercheck.pepperdine.edu. A quick scan will reveal whether your browser requires updates. To use Blackboard Collaborate your Java version must be the very latest. If you have an outdated version, click Fix It on browsercheck site.  Alternately, you can go directly to Java.com and download the latest version.

3. Log onto courses.pepperdine.edu using your Wavenet credentials. If you have not already enabled the tool in your site, edit your tools and add it.  It will appear as "Elluminate Live! Bridge."

4. Click Elluminate Live Bridge in the left menu. On the next page you can either Create Session or View Past Recordings.

5.  To create a session follow simple instructions. Click Finish. On the next page you will see a "guest" link.  You can copy this link to distribute to guest speakers or outside participants.

6. On the main page, you'll see the session (if scheduled for today).  When the session is available, click the link and then click the "Join" button.  (Don't accidentally click the guest link!)

7. Blackboard Collaborate is an application. So, it may take a few minutes to load and open depending on your computer and network speed. It is also common that the window may be hidden behind your browser window.  Look for the purple icon in your Windows task bar or MacOS dock.

Important: Once you are in a Bb Collaborate session, check your audio and video. You will not have time during the online class. A best practice is to arrive and check your online session settings at least 15 minutes prior to the given class or meeting time. Your professor most likely will have the bridge (access to Blackboard Collaborate) open at least 30 minutes prior to your official login time.

8. Only 6 people may talk at any given time. So, if the class is 20 or 199 - only 6 people may have the "Talk" button selected. It is a best practice to turn your microphone off when you are not speaking. The group will get distracted and fall behind if all they can do is hear the theme song to Who's Smarter Than a 5th Grader playing on your TV.

9. There are group chat features as well as peer-to-peer chat within Collaborate. If you are posting in group chat -- keep your comments short, to the point and keeping in mind that the entire class can see what you are typing. Peer-to-peer chats cannot be seen by your class (but may be visible to the instructor!).

10. Be patient! Be proactive! And, then be patient again! All online interactive technology tools are a work-in-progress. Slides may take a few seconds to load. Blackboard collaborate will strip all animations out of a Powerpoint presentation. Raise your hand feature is a polite way of asking a question. It takes a few sessions to get used to any online interactive platform. Blackboard Collaborate is no different. Play around with all the features before you attend your first class. You can always call Pepperdine technical support on all five graduate campuses to assist you with a training session. And lastly, turn off your smart phones (we know it's hard but, give it a shot anyways!).

Helpful Resources:

•     First Time Users for Blackboard Collaborate system check

•     Tutorials and documentation on Blackboard Collaborate

•     New option for dial-in teleconference (no headset needed)

•     Known issue with security changes released by Apple in OS X Mountain Lion  v10.8.4

•     Blackboard Collaborate Support Phone Number: 866-388-8674 (toll-free)

Google+ Hangouts: A Must-Have Easy-To-Use Technology Tool in Academia

Google+ Hangouts: A Must-Have Easy-To-Use Technology Tool in Academia 

by Varun Khanna

Google Hangouts are free audio & video online sessions. Fun. Easy-to-Use. Interactive.

What is Google Hangout?

An easy-to-use, free, online interactive and engagement audio/video tool for small groups (up to 15 for Pepperdine community).

Who can use Google Hangout?

Anyone with a Google+ account. 

What devices does Google Hangout support?
PC, Mac, or Smartphone/Tablet (iPhone, iPad or iPad mini).

10 things to know about Google+ Hangouts for Pepperdine faculty and student community

1.  Go to http://google.pepperdine.edu and click on Google Drive. Sign in using your Wavenet ID credentials.  Signing up for free at google.peppedine.edu has advantages. You get 30GB of cloud hard drive space for free. Additionally, Google Hangouts allows you up to 15 users (as opposed to 10 when you sign up with your personal Gmail account). Lastly, you can communicate with your Pepperdine community at lightning fast speeds.

Google.pepperdine.edu. Sign up to get 30 GB free.

2.  On the top left click on +You.  After you have signed up for Google+ the same link will change to +YourName. During the sign up process it is imperative that you list your age > 13 or Google will not allow you to sign up for Hangouts. 

Before Signing up with Google+

Click on +You and proceed to sign up for a Google + account

 

After Signing up with Google+

+YourName confirms that you have signed up for Google+ and can use Google Hangouts

3. Look for thesymbol on the right side once you are in Google +. This is the Google Hangout symbol.

4. You can create an immediateGoogle Hangout by inviting students/colleagues that are already online. 

5.  Or, you can go the left sidebar and create a futureGoogle Hangout event and invite students/colleagues. Note: There is a maximum of 15 invitees (including yourself for a Pepperdine Google Hangout event).

Google Side Bar menu. Click on Events to create Google Hangout session.

6.  Alternately, you may go to Google Calendar and create an event and invite your colleagues or students to the Google Hangout event. (Recommended)

• Title your Google Hangout Event

• Choose date and time. Important: Choose your time zone. This is especially important for online sessions when students and professor are spread out across different time zones.

• If you are going to be using video please do not forget to click on Add Video Call.

• You can set up Alerts to remind you about your upcoming Hangout meeting.

• As Pepperdine faculty/students you can invite up to 15 (including yourself).

• SAVE will allow you to send invites and the event will automatically be added to your Google Calendar

Setting up Google Hangouts using Google Calendar (recommended)

7.  You may also choose to record your Pepperdine Google Hangout session on YouTube. With Pepperdine Google Hangouts you are not restricted to the usual 15 minute recording as you would be on your regular Gmail account. 

8.  Note: your Google Hangout session will be made public by YouTube unless you change the video settings (Video Manager)  to private after your Google+ Hangout session has finished recording. 

9.  Too may users? Bandwidth issues? Jerky video? Turning off your Google Hangout camera with a single click may help. If you have your image uploaded it will default to the photo. You can also turn off your microphone within Google Hangout itself.

10.   During your Google Hangout, you can share in real time Google docs, folders, presentations, desktop as well videos with your student group.

You can always email techlearn@pepperdine.edu for a one-on-one consultation to learn how to use Google Hangouts.