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PolarConnect Frequently Asked Questions

About

Question: What happened to Live from the International Polar Year or Live from IPY! events?
Answer:

The funding for Live from IPY! and the International Polar Year ended in 2009. PolarConnect is the same as Live from IPY!, just funded through a new grant from the National Science Foundation.

Question: How are the PolarConnect events scheduled?
Answer:

Events are scheduled based primarily on the school schedule of the teacher in the field, so that their students back home can participate in the whole event. Schedules are also based on the research schedule, dates and times of transport between sites, time zones, and more!

Question: How can I find out when new events have been scheduled?
Answer:

All events are advertised as soon as they are scheduled using the Polar Education E-Mail List, which you can subscribe for here.

Question: What kinds of topics do you cover in PolarConnect events?
Answer:

Because we are connecting with teachers and scientists in the field through PolarTREC, the topics are always changing and they vary greatly. When a new event is announced we try to tell you a little about the science taking place, and send you a link to the teachers journal so you can read about the work being done. However, live events don't just talk about science, they also often include life in the field, careers, people of the polar regions, and more.

How to Participate

Question: Do I have to download any software on to my computer to participate?
Answer:

Yes, you will need to download Blackboard Collaborate and potentially a Java Application. These tools are both widely used in school systems across the United States, though you may need approval from your school systems administrator. All the more reason to configure your computer before the event time.

Question: I do not have the Internet; can I still participate?
Answer:

Yes! You can join by calling in on a toll free number with a telephone and listening to the audio portion of the call that way. If you would like to see the slides, you will have to email info [at] polartrec [dot] com to get them sent to you so that you can follow along.

Question: The event time does not line up with my class periods perfectly; may I join late or leave early?
Answer:

Yes, this is just fine and you will not disrupt the event by doing so. You can access the archive shortly after the event to listen to the parts you missed.

Question: Can I mute my phone?
Answer:

If you are using the phone for the conference call audio, press * 6 to mute/* 6 to unmute. If you are using Collaborate VOIP (talking through your computer microphone), you will always be muted unless you click the the talk button. To stop talking, un-click the talk button.

Troubleshooting

Question: I can’t see video! What should I do?
Answer:

Collaborate has a video feature, but chances are, there is no video for the event you are participating in. Most of the time we are connecting with presenters in very remote locations with limited Internet connections, and video is not possible. Unfortunately, this is a common misconception that people sometimes have of the live events.

Question: I cannot see the slides; what should I do?
Answer:

When configuring your system, go through all the necessary steps. At the time of presentation, try closing the Collaborate window and retracing your steps and coming back into the room.

Question: I hear this echoing sound or high pitched feedback; how do I fix that?
Answer:

If you are using both the phone and computer, the computer must be muted. The echo or feedback should go away.

Question: Collaborate won’t work for me, what should I do?
Answer:

Do you have pop-ups enabled? Pop-up’s must be enabled for Collaborate to work. You can generally do this in the “Preferences” setting of your Internet browser. Did you run the set-up wizard? You must configure your computer and download Collaborate. It is best to do this ahead of time with the Configuration Link provided by PolarTREC staff. Did you try using a different browser? Try using another browser such as Google Chrome, Safari, Firefox, etc. This may make the difference.

Question: No matter what internet browser I try, I cannot access the Collaborate site. What should I do?
Answer:

Your school, university, or institution may have a firewall or may be blocking your access to the site. If this is the case, participants must work with their systems administrator to allow access to this site.

Question: My slides are loading really slowly. How can I fix this?
Answer:

If you have a low bandwidth connection, you may have a slight delay in the slides coming up. If it is a big problem, e-mail info [at] polartrec [dot] com and we may be able to send you a PDF of the slides.

Question: I can’t hear the audio.
Answer:

If you are using the computer for audio, make sure you have speakers plugged in and turned up. If still not working, try exiting Collaborate and logging in again. If you are using the phone for audio, try hanging up and calling back in to the conference call.

Question: I have more questions! I need more help!
Answer:

Contact ARCUS at 907-474-1600 or email info [at] polartrec [dot] com.