How to Use the ACT2 Networking Web Site

Paul SchumannNovember 23, 2009

Outline

How to become a member How to create My Page How to use the front page. How to use a Forum. How to use the Blog. How to use Members. How to use Events. How to use Videos. How to use Photos. How to use Music. How to use Chat. How to use Groups.

How to Become a Member

Click on Sign Up on the front page box in upper right corner.

Or, respond to an invitation.

Complete form Remember

password

How to Create My Page Click on My Page tab on front

page.

Click on My Page link in upper left hand corner

Make choices of photo and appearance on this page.

The address indicated is the URL for you’re my Page.

How to create My Page (cont.) Click on My Apps

Directory link. Select the Apps

(applications) you would like on you’re My Page.

How to Create My Page (cont.) After saving changes,

return to My Page Click on My Apps link to

see the apps you’ve created.

Complete or edit My Profile section.

Add more information about yourself in text box.

If you have an RSS (really simple syndication) feed from another web site, complete the information in the RSS box.

How to Use the Front Page

The front page (Main) is the entry page into all the content in the web site.

You can search the site.

Left Center Right

Description of siteMembersLatest activityACT2 Mission

EventsBlog postsForumGroupsPhotosVideosMusicChat

NameGoogle adsAboutBadgeNews feed

Badges, Terms of Service, Privacy and Help links are at the bottom of the page.

Three Columns

How to Use Front Page (cont.)

Latest activity posted› Events› Blog posts› Forum› Groups› Photos› Videos› Music

Chat: A text chat room for members online.

Name: Your name and a control box.

Google ads: Google content ads that pay for the site.

About: Who created the site. Badge: If you are a member

of another networking site (like Facebook), you can obtain a badge here to put on your pages or web site.

News feed: An RSS feed of news relative to the members. This will expand over time to multiple RSS feeds.

How to Use a Forum

A forum is a place where questions can be asked or topical areas for discussion can be created.

There is a forum to discuss how to use this networking site.

Click on the Forum tab to get started.

How to Use a Forum (cont.) To create a forum:

› Click on the Add a Discussion link.

› Add a discussion title or question

› Describe the topic or question. Provide elaboration.

› Use the simple text editing functions B – bold I – italics U – underline S – strike out ∞ - hyper link ◙ - insert picture or graphic

› Add tags (keywords)› Attach files (if any)

How to Use a Forum (cont.)

To join a forum:› Click on the Forum

Tab› Select the forum

you’d like to join and click on that link.

› Click on the Reply to This link.

› Add you comment or question.

How to Use the Blog

To read and/or comment on a blog entry:› Click on the Blogs

tab› Select what blogs

you want to look at› Click on the title

link

How to Use the Blog (cont.)

› Read the blog and follow the links.

› Add a comment if you wish.

› Or, share the blog.

How to Use the Blog (cont.)

To create a blog entry, click on the Blogs tab, and then click on Add a Blog Post.

When you have completed the blog post, scroll down to the bottom of the page and click Preview or Publish. If you click Preview, make sure and click publish at the end to publish your post on the web site. If you find errors after publishing, you can still edit the blog with the Edit link.

How to Use the Blog (cont.) Click on Add a Blog Post link. Add a title Add content.

› Text can be type or pasted in from another document

› Use format controls for text B – bold I – italics U – underline S – strike through ∞ - hyper link To use format controls highlight text

and then click on the format you want.

› Pictures or graphics can be added using the camera icon. Place the cursor at the place in the text you wish to place an image, and then on the camera icon.

How to Use the Blog (cont.)

From this command you can add a photo or other image from your computer, or from the web.

To find the address of an image on the web, place your cursor on the image, right mouse click, and select Copy Image Location. Then past that into the form.

How to Use the Blog (cont.) To add a file to the blog post,

place your cursor where you want a link to the document placed, click on the last format control icon, a faint page.

From here, you can Upload a File or link to an existing file

Note that the name of the file will be the link to the file. Therefore the name should be descriptive enough for a user to understand what the file is. It is useful to provide some descriptive information in text above the link, and the size and type of the file in parenthesis next to the file.

How to use the Blog (cont.)

To add video to the blog, obtain the embed code from the source of the video. Many video sites, like YouTube provides the embed code, and all Ning sites do as well. If you have the video, use the Videos tab and then add a video on this site first. Get the embed code from the result of this process and paste it into the blog.

How to Use the Blog (cont.)

To embed a PowerPoint presentation in a blog post, you can join SlideShare (no charge). SlideShare provides a tool that converts your presentation into code that can be embedded in a web site.

http://www.slideshare.net

How to Use Members

Click on the Members tab.

Featured members are members of the board.

From this page you can:› Add a comment› Send a gift( credits

and a message)

How to Use Members (cont.)

Click on the link on a person’s name to see their My Page.

From here, you can:› Send a message› Comment› Review profile and

activities

How to Use Events

To use Events, click on the Events tab.

From here you can:› Visit an event

description› Create an event› View calendar of

events

How to Use Events (cont.)

To read a description of an event, click on link on the title of the event

From here you can:› Obtain information

about the event› Obtain information

about registering for the event

› Or, in some cases register for the event.

› Comment on the event.

How to Use Videos

Click on the Videos tab.

From here you can:› Select what videos

you want displayed.

› Search for a video.› Choose a video to

watch.› Add a video

How to Use Videos (cont.)

To view a video, click on the link in the title of the video.

From here you can:› View the video.› Read a description of

the video.› At the bottom of the

page you can Share, Favorite, Comment, and Get Embed Code.

How to Use Videos (cont.)

To add a video, click on the Videos tab, and then click on Add Video

From here, you can:› Add a video from your

computer. Note limitations on size

and type of file.

› Add a video from other web sites.

› Add video by phone or e-mail.

How to Use Videos (cont.)

To add video on your computer, click on the icon and follow directions.

To add video from another site, click on the icon.

Get the embed code from that site.

Copy and paste that embed code into the form.

Click on Add Video

How to Use Videos (cont.)

Provide Title, Description and Keywords. Most times these are available at the site with the video and you can merely, highlight, copy and paste.

Then click Save.

How to Use Photos

Click on the Photos tab.

From here you can select photos or albums

View photos View slide show Add photos

How to Use Photos (cont.)

To add photos, click on Add Photos.

From here you can:› Add photos from

your computer› Add photos from

Flickr› Add photos by

phone or e-mail.

How to Use Music

To use Music, click on the Add Music link in the Music section on the front page, center column. .› Note, the “Songs”

feature can be used for any audio files.

How to Use Chat

The chat box appears on the front page at the bottom of the center column.

Anyone on the web site will appear there.

You can try to start a chat with the people online, but they likely will not see the chat box. It is better to arrange for a meeting in the chat room ahead of time.

How to Use Groups

To use Groups, click on the Groups tab.

From there you can:› Create a group› Join a group