Accessing Avenue Courses
Margarita Berezyanskaya
Last Update 13 days ago
This document provides first-time users with the basic steps to access courses and BigBlueButton virtual classrooms on Avenue.
The four elements of the Avenue project that you will access are:
- the Log In screen
- the My Courses page
- an Online classroom
- a synchronous virtual classroom, known as BigBlueButton.
Signing In and Launching a Course
1. Go to www.avenue.ca.
2. Click either on the Login link at the top of the screen or the LOG IN TO AVENUE button.
3. On the next screen, enter your email address and the password provided in your Welcome to Avenue email.
4. Click on the Log In button.
You are now on the Welcome to Avenue page.
5. Click on My Courses.
6. Locate your course card on the My Courses page.
7. Click on the Go to course icon at the bottom of the course card.
The course page appears.
When you access your course for the first time, a guided tour introduces the basic features of the course.
8. Click Next to view more tips, End tour when you are finished, or Skip tour to close the pop-up.
9. If you want to repeat the Tour, turn Edit mode on in the course, then scroll to the bottom of the page and click on the Reset user tour on this page link.
10. At the end of the tour, it is best to consult with the course instructor to understand what is visible and what is hidden. Most of the course content will be hidden from learners. It is revealed as required.
Course Main Page
A course main page consists of several sections.
On the left is the Course Index. This menu allows you to quickly access course resources organized by topic section and activity or resource name. The Course Index can be collapsed or expanded as needed.
Across the top of the Avenue banner are the Notifications and Messaging icons. These icons indicate unread notifications and messages and provide quick access to them.
Below the course name in the centre column is the Course Navigation Menu. These links provide access to Course Settings, Participants, Grades, Reports, and More.
The centre column lists the course Topic Sections and learning Activities and Resources.
On the right side of the page is the course Block Drawer. These blocks provide a flexible way for instructors to add resources to the course.
In the bottom-right corner is the Avenue Support tab, where you can find Help Centre articles and Live Help.
Joining the Virtual Classroom (BigBlueButton)
1. On the course page, click on the BigBlueButton link.
2. The entry screen appears. If the conference room is ready, click on the Join session button.
3. Before joining the session, choose whether you want to Listen only or use Microphone to listen and speak during the session.
If you choose Microphone, two pop-ups appear.
One is a prompt asking whether you want to allow the browser to use your microphone.
4. Click Allow.
The other pop-up is a private echo test that lets you check your microphone.
5. Speak a few words and follow the instructions. When you are ready, click the Join audio button.
The BigBlueButton session appears.
When you join the session, the instructor and students are listed in the left panel.
The interface includes five main areas:
- Participants in the Users area
- Chat messages in the Public chat panel
- The instructor's live video
- Media and tools in the presentation area
- Presentation tools, including audio and video sharing icons below the presentation area
6. To leave a virtual classroom or end the session, click on the Leave button in the top-right corner.
7. Click on the Leave session link or the End session for all link.
Resources