1. How to Do a Text-Based Online Conference through America Online Instant Messenger (AIM)
Ed McCorduck
CPN 100/101: Writing Studies I/II on Computer
SUNY Cortland

2. slide 2: be logged into AIM and wait for an IM from me
Log into AIM before the starting time for your online conference, and then at the start time you will get an instant message from me that will look like the one on the following screen.
CPN 100/101: Writing Studies I/II on Computer

3. slide 3: what my first contact IM to you will look like
CPN 100/101: Writing Studies I/II on Computer

4. slide 4: click on the Show the IM button
In that first IM from me, click on the button. You’ll then see a message window like the one on the following slide:
CPN 100/101: Writing Studies I/II on Computer

5. slide 5: click on the “here” link in the IM
Click on the here link in the message.
CPN 100/101: Writing Studies I/II on Computer

6. slide 6: desktop sharing will start, unless you’re on a Mac
If you are using AIM on a computer running Windows, you’ll see the following on your screen:
If you’re using a Mac computer, you will NOT see this, nor will you be able to view my desktop during our conference. It’s O.K., though, you can still continue to do your conference on your Mac, but it will be just through text only.
CPN 100/101: Writing Studies I/II on Computer

7. slide 7: confirm that you want to run the Java-based desktop sharing application
You will next see a dialog box prompting you to run an application; just click on the Run button (or hit your Enter key), and if you’d like you can keep the box labeled “Always trust content from this publisher” checked.
CPN 100/101: Writing Studies I/II on Computer

8. slide 8: message that the desktop sharing client is loading
Then a window will pop up briefly letting you know that the desktop sharing client application is loading on your computer.
CPN 100/101: Writing Studies I/II on Computer

9. slide 9: confirmation message that the desktop sharing client is ready
And if all goes well, you’ll get a confirmation message that the desktop sharing client has successfully loaded on your computer and desktop sharing is about to begin.
CPN 100/101: Writing Studies I/II on Computer

10. slide 10: how our conference will proceed
Then a window like the one on the next slide will open showing my rather freaky-looking desktop with your essay file open on it. We can now begin your conference, which will still be conducted mainly through AIM chat but if necessary I’ll be able to show you things in your essay on my desktop through this window (and if you want to see the desktop in greater clarity, you can click on the “VIEW FULL SCREEN” button in the top right of the window, but be aware that doing so will temporarily cover your chat window).
CPN 100/101: Writing Studies I/II on Computer

11. slide 11: example of the window that will open showing your essay on my weird desktop setup
CPN 100/101: Writing Studies I/II on Computer

12. slide 12: how to stop desktop sharing at the end of our conference
When I’ve indicated that we’ve come to the end of your conference or if you need to leave the conference early for any reason, just click on the “X” in the top right corner of the sharing window as illustrated in the previous slide. You’ll get a dialog box like the one below asking you to confirm that you want to end the session, and if indeed you do just click on the “Yes” button:
CPN 100/101: Writing Studies I/II on Computer