Student FuseTalk Guide

American Bar AssociationAmerican Bar AssociationDivision for Public EducationDivision for Public Education

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NOYS Terms• Asynchronous

– Asynchronous means “happening at different times.” Classroom discussion is “synchronous” discussion, occurring at the same time.

– With asynchronous discussion, participants contribute to the discussion over periods of hours, days, or weeks, at different times.

• FuseTalk

– FuseTalk is the web conferencing software. – Registered users are able to enter a FuseTalk discussion board only

with assigned login names and passwords. – Users are then able to read messages posted by other registered users

and respond to the messages. • Discussion Board

– Student participants will communicate with one another via an online Student Discussion Board.

Navigating FuseTalk

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1. The Student Discussion Board can be accessed on the ABA NOYS website at http://www.abanet.org/publiced/noys/.

2. Click on Student Login in the Registered Users Login section. The following log-in page will appear.

Accessing FuseTalk and Logging In

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3. Enter your login name (in the “Username” field) and the password (in the “Password” field) assigned to you by your teacher, and click “Log In”.

4. When you log in for the first time you will be presented with a standard discussion board terms of service agreement. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click “I Accept.” You will not be allowed to proceed if you do not accept the terms of service.

5. Note: Your teacher will provide you your login information on March 2!

Accessing FuseTalk and Logging In

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Three Levels of Organization in FuseTalk• Categories

– After you log in, you will see a list of Categories on the left-hand side of your screen. Each activity that takes place on the discussion board will be given a unique Category name. Your teacher will direct you to the correct category for each activity. Categories are at the highest level of the folder structure and can only be created by a discussion board administrator.

• Topics– Topics are discussions created within a category. Multiple topics can

exist within one category. For some activities, you may be asked to create Topics within your cluster group Category by your teacher.

• Messages– A message or many messages are found within a topic and are related

to one subject matter. For some activities you will post your work as Messages within Topics. You will be posting messages, reading messages, and replying to messages.

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Posting Instructions

It is very important to post as instructed by your teacher. Doing so ensures that:

Your message appears as part of the appropriate discussion thread.

Your teacher and other students can find your message and reply to it.

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Replying to a Topic

There are two ways to reply to a Topic.

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Method One: Using the “Reply” Key

• Click on “Reply” at the lower right-hand corner (indicated by green arrow on previous slide)

• Type your reply in the window that appears

• Sign your message according to the following format: first name, first initial of last name, and school name

(e.g., Mark K. Middletown High School).

• Click “Reply to Topic.” (see Figure 3, next slide)

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Figure 3: “Reply to Topic” button indicated by the red arrow

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Method Two: Using the “Quote” Key• Click on “Quote” at the lower right-hand corner (yellow

arrow)

• Type your message and sign it.

• Click on “Reply to Topic”.

• If you use the “quote” key, the original message will appear in a box below your reply (see Figure 4)

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Figure 4: This screen shot shows what happens if you reply to a message using the “Quote” button.

The original message appears at the top, followed by the reply to the original message, which includes a boxed “quote” of the original message.

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“Reply” v. “Quote”• In many of your discussions you will use “Reply” to respond to

others’ postings.

• When replying to some messages it may be more efficient to use “Quote”.

• Your teacher will provide you with posting instructions.

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Replying to Messages • Reply to a message using exactly the same steps used to

reply to a Topic.

• To reply to a message: – Click on the message you want to reply to.

– Click on “Reply” or “Quote” and follow the same steps as outlined above.

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FuseTalk Tip: Use the “Threading” View

• In the “Threading” view:– All messages and replies are grouped together.– A list of all posts, including the name of the person who posted

and the date and time of the posting, is visible.• The messages will be arranged in order of message and

replies.– If someone has replied to your message, you will see their

message under your post. An example is provided on the next slide.

• To change conference view:1.Click on “Profile.”2.Click on “Personal Options.”3.Change the setting from a “linear” view to a “threading” view.

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Threading view of all posts within the topic “Welcome Summit Applicants.” Arrow shows position of “Linear Threading” view function.

Threading View

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Posting New Topics• In some instances, you may need to post “New Topics.”

• Your teacher will provide you with the name of the category in which you will work and post your “New Topic”. Once you click onto the category the screen below will appear. Click on “New Topic” as indicated by the black arrow.

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• After you click on “New Topic,” this screen appears. – Enter the topic name in the “message title” field. Directions will be provided by your teacher.– Type in your message or question. – Sign your message– When you have completed your message, click “Post Message.”– Your Topic will post immediately.

Posting a New Topic cont’d

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Logging Off FuseTalk• When you are finished using FuseTalk, be sure to log off.

• To log off FuseTalk, click “Logout” on the menu bar.

• You will be automatically logged off if you:– Go to another site on the Web, or – Close your browser window.

• A different user will then be able to log on to the same computer using his or her own login name and password.

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Glossary of FuseTalk Icons

Icon DescriptionRepresents a category with no associated topics.

Represents a category with one or more topics associated under it.Represents a locked category. For access contact the board administrator Represents a new topic

Represents a previously viewed topic

Represents the print message function

Represents the trash can.

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Who’s Who on the Board?Three distinct signatures:

TeachersExample: John Smith (T) Brentwood High School

StudentsExample: Mark K. Middletown High School

*Again, for security reasons students are to use only the first initial of their last name when posting a message.

ABA StaffExample: Atticus Finch, ABA staff

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Online Conduct and Responsibilities

The ABA FuseTalk forum site is a private site. ONLY individuals who have been issued login

names and passwords may access it.

The reminders that follow are for your safety!

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Reminders The discussion board is an educational environment.

Participation in this program is a privilege. Do not share your FuseTalk password with anyone other than your teacher.

No personal information is to be exchanged in an online discussion.

Participate in your assigned Categories. Your teacher will know the names of your assigned Category.

Photographs of you or other students are not to be transmitted through the discussion board.

Rules and behavior that apply to your conduct when you are in your classrooms in school also apply to you when you are in a discussion board.