Step-by-step guide:
Online discussions programme on e-health
Please read through the instructions in Sections 1 & 2 to understand how to access and
use the live webcast and forum
You will need to follow the steps in Section 3 before the programme to see if your
computer can access the live webcast
If you encounter any problems please refer to Section 4 or contact me, Emily Ashurst at
emily.ashurst@plymouth.ac.uk
SECTION 1: STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS
First live webcast & forum chat (6-7pm)
To watch the live presentation and discuss the topics with others in the forum, you will need to
open two Internet browser windows on your computer. To do this, please follow the instructions
below:
STEP 1: Approximately 5 – 10 minutes before the webcast is due to start, please visit the
website www.stakeholdersonline.org.uk , click registered participants, then click Go to forum (or
alternatively click on this link: www.stakeholdersonline.org.uk/forum/)
STEP 2: Enter your username and password (please see email containing username/ password
details if you have forgotten, or email me if you encounter any problems)
STEP 3: Once you are in the forum, please click on the topic First webcast discussions
STEP 4: Then you will need to open a second web browser window and visit the website
www.stakeholdersonline.org.uk , click registered participants, then click Go to live webcast (or
alternatively click on this link: http://video.plymouth.ac.uk/webcast2)
STEP 5: Now you will have the forum open and the webcast open in another browser window,
you can adjust the size and position of each window to view the video and discussion forum
side by side or above and below. You can adjust the size of each window by clicking and sliding
the bottom right corner of the browser window to enlarge or shrink, and move the position of the
each window by clicking and sliding the top bar of the browser window (see figure 1).
N.B. You do not need a microphone, as your contributions will be by typed messages only.
Week-long forum access (anytime)
After the live webcast, you will be able to access the forum again at your convenience to
continue & create new discussions. To do this, please follow the instructions below:
STEP 1: Please visit the website www.stakeholdersonline.org.uk , click registered participants,
then click Go to forum (or alternatively click on this link: www.stakeholdersonline.org.uk/forum/)
STEP 2: Enter your username and password (please see email containing username/ password
details if you have forgotten, or email me if you encounter any problems)
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STEP 3: Once you are in the forum, please select whichever topic you wish to discuss.
Final live webcast & forum chat (6-7pm)
To watch the final live presentation and discuss the topics with others in the forum, you will
again, need to open two Internet browser windows on your computer. To do this, please follow
the instructions as shown in First live webcast & forum chat, but at STEP 3, please click on
the topic Final webcast discussions
Figure 1: Adjusting the two web browser windows to view both the live webcast & forum chat
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SECTION 2. HOW TO USE THE FORUM
Once logged into the forum, you can click on a topic to view comments and you can add your
own comments by clicking on „POST REPLY‟:
You can add your comment as shown below:
N.B. If you are writing in response to another participant‟s comment, please start your message
with their username so it is clear to whom you are responding
To send your message click “Submit”
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To add a new topic you, can click on “NEW TOPIC”, enter a title and your message then click
“Submit”
To exit a topic and return to the main page, please click “Board index” at the top left of the page,
or to return to the list of topics, please click the forum title also located at the top left of the page
At the end of each visit to the forum, please click „Logout‟ in the top right corner
SECTION 3. BEFORE THE PROGRAMME
Before the programme date, please following the instructions below so you can get a feel for
how the system works and test to make sure you have no problems accessing the live webcast.
STEP 1: Test to see if your computer can access the webcast
To do this, please click on the link http://video.plymouth.ac.uk/webcast2 then allow a few
moments for the video to appear. You will be viewing a live video stream so you will see either a
live webcast taking place, or a black screen that displays a bar at the bottom if you run the
curser over the screen (see image below).
If this is your first time viewing a webcast, you may see a small box with a red „x‟ where the
video should be or get a message that appears along the top of the screen saying “This website
wants to run the following add-on: „Windows Media Player’ from „Microsoft Corp‟. If you trust the
website and the add-on and want to allow it to run, click here…” Please click to allow the add-on
to run and follow the instructions on that message. Alternatively if you have a Mac, allow
„QuickTime‟ player to run.
There will be no audio present if you are seeing the black screen. To test for audio please see
the next step b) Test to see if your computer can play sound
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If you can‟t view the video, try following the suggestions in SECTION 4: TROUBLESHOOTING,
in this document
STEP 2: Test to see if your computer can play sound
The webcast black screen does not play sound, so to find out if your computer can play videos
with sound please click on this link (or any other video from www.youtube.com):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOSg7LFgt6Y&feature=related
If you can‟t hear sound with the video, please try following the suggestions in SECTION 4:
TROUBLESHOOTING in this document
SECTION 4. TROUBLESHOOTING
If you encounter any problems accessing or using the live webcast and forum, please consult
the troubleshooting guide below. If these don‟t solve the problem, please contact me,
emily.ashurst@plymouth.ac.uk and I will do my best to help!
Trouble with the webcast
No sound?
Make sure that you have speakers or headphones connected to your computer. There are three
volume settings you can adjust:
One is at the bottom of the webcast screen
The second is the speaker icon at the bottom right of the window
(for Windows PCs). Double click on it and make sure the volume is
not muted and is turned up
The third is any control that your own speakers or headphones
may have
Problems viewing video?
If you do not see the video, your web browser might ask you if you want to run active-x
and whether you trust this site. You can! And so if asked to run active-x you should say yes.
There is a video on You Tube that shows you how to do this at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8miNoDpEAI
Video ‘freezes’?
If the picture or the chat seems to have „frozen‟ you can press the F5 key to refresh you web
browser (the F5 key is normally located at the top of your keyboard). If that does not work the
more drastic solution is to try logging off (use the exit webcast button) then try logging on again.
Slow Internet speed?
Your Internet connection should support a download speed of 384 kbps or better. To test the
speed of your Internet connection please click on this link:
http://www.broadbandspeedchecker.co.uk/
Using a Mac
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If you are having trouble accessing the webcast using a Mac, try clicking on „Mac users, click
here for Silverlight‟ in the webcast window. Alternatively, try using a PC instead for the webcasts
during this course.
Using Firefox Internet browser
If you are using Mozilla Firefox as your Internet browser you may need to download Windows
Media Player. Please follow the instructions in the link to install Windows Media Player Firefox
Plugin: http://port25.technet.com/pages/windows-media-player-firefox-plugin-download.aspx
Using Google Chrome
If you can‟t access the webcast using Google Chrome try following the instructions above
(Using Firefox Internet browser) or try using Internet Explorer instead
More drastic measures to webcast problems:
Allow pop ups
Click „Tools‟ at the top right end of the browser window, select „Internet Options‟, select „Privacy‟
and select „Always allow pop ups for this site‟, click „Apply‟ and then „OK‟. Alternatively, un-tick
the „block pop ups‟ button, click „Apply‟ and then „OK‟. If you allow all pop ups, remember to
return to re-tick the „block pop ups‟ button after the webcast.
Allow cookies
Click „Tools‟ at the top right end of the browser window, select „Internet Options‟, select „Privacy‟
tab and click on „Default Setting‟ or move the lever to „Medium‟. Click „Apply‟ and then „OK‟.
Manually enable ActiveX add-on if the webcast video does not appear and neither does
the add on prompt
Open Internet Explorer and click „Tools‟ at the top right end of the browser window. Select
„Internet Options‟. Select „Security‟ tab. Ensure that „Internet‟ is highlighted then select „Custom
Level‟. Scroll down to the ActiveX controls and click:
„Enable‟ for „Automatic prompt for ActiveX Control‟
„Prompt‟ for „Download signed ActiveX Control‟
„Prompt‟ for „Download unsigned ActiveX Control‟
Then click „OK‟, click „Yes‟ on the pop up message, click „Apply‟ in the Internet Options box,
then click “OK‟ and close the browser window. Now, when you access the webcast test page,
there should be a prompt at the top of the page asking you if you want to run Windows Media
Player add-on. Click to allow and follow the instructions
Reduce security on firewall
Select “start‟ menu on your computer, then select „Control Panel‟. Select „Network Connections‟,
then change windows firewall settings. Turn firewall off. But ensure that you turn it back on after
the webcast
Ask for help
You can contact emily.ashurst@plymouth.ac.uk and she will do her best to help! Alternatively
find a computer savvy friend to help you or use a different computer
Trouble with the forum
Problems logging in?
Please ensure you have typed in your username and password correctly. If you have forgotten
your username or password, please contact emily.ashurst@plymouth.ac.uk
Ask for help
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You can contact emily.ashurst@plymouth.ac.uk and she will do her best to help! Alternatively
find a computer savvy friend to help you
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