Technical Requirements
Welcome to Arabic 1AW or "Arabic Without Walls," first-year Arabic instruction in a distance-learning format taught through UC Berkeley. This course relies heavily on technology since we will never "meet" in person but we will chat in real and deferred time using both text and sound (see Communication Tools below). In order to make all of the software work properly, please read carefully the following technical requirements. After doing this and downloading the necessary plug-ins (most of the plug-ins you already will have installed on your computer), you will receive instructions on how to logon to Moodle, which will serve as the course management system to the Arabic 1AW course. If you have any problems, contact us at uccllt@ucdavis.edu.
System Requirements:
- microphone (either internal or external)
- earphones (these reduce feedback loops; ipod-style earphones will do just fine)
- Windows 2000, XP, Vista
- Mac 10.4+ (only, OS 10.3 or less cannot handle Arabic)
Required plug-ins or add-ons:
- movie player that can play QuickTime: download QuickTime here
- Java: download here
- Flash 10 plugin to view multimedia files (earlier versions cannot handle Arabic): download here
Suggested Browsers:
- For PC: IE 7 or FireFox 3.0
- For MAC: Safari (latest version) or FireFox 3.0
How to type in Arabic:
In order to type in Arabic and then toggle back and forth between English and Arabic, you need to add Arabic as an input method:
- For PC: Go to Start > Control Panel > Regional and Language Options > then add Arabic (Egypt) and/or Arabic QWERTY to the list in the pull-down menu. Now the letters
should be visible on the menu bar. Click there to find and choose it to type in Arabic. Click in the same place to restore the keyboard. - For MAC: Go to System Preferences (under the apple icon) > International > input menu > then add Arabic or Arabic QWERTY. Now the "flag" icon will appear at the upper right. Choose Arabic or Arabic QWERTY to type.
How to logon to MOODLE, the course management system (CMS):
All communications and instructions will be handled through Moodle:
- Click Arabic, then look for the course Arabic 1AW.
- When you try to enter the course, Moodle will ask you for an ID and password. You are not registered as yet, so click the button that says "new account" and submit your bio information and email address (use a simple ID, like your first initial and last name; us a password you can remember).
- Moodle will then send you a confirmation to the email you listed.
- Read your mail and confirm the message that Moodle sends to you.
- Now try to enroll in Moodle again and the Arabic course. This time, Moodle will ask you for the course code name, which you will only have to enter once. You can get this code from your instructor.
- Try out Aktub, a program designed to help you learn to type in Arabic and learn the sound system.
Communication Tools:
There are several ways in which you will communicate in real (CHAT) or deferred time (FORUM) with both your instructor and classmates:
- email: go to Moodle's list of class participants and send an email to one or more students/instructor
- Moodle forums: class announcements and general questions and answers can be posted here (copies get sent to everyone's email address, too) <<<<<<< .mine
- Wimba CHAT with sound: Click on Wimba CHAT, WAIT (really WAIT!!!) until the applet is installed (click TRUST the certificate), enter a screen name (your first name), then begin typing or sending sound in real time
- Wimba FORUM or Voice Board: Click on Wimba FORUM, WAIT (really WAIT!!!) until the applet is installed (click TRUST the certificate), enter a screen name (your first name), then post a new text/sound message or respond to someone's message =======
- Wimba CHAT with sound: Click on Wimba CHAT, WAIT (really WAIT!!!) until the applet is installed (click TRUST the certificate), enter a screen name (your first name), then begin typing or sending sound in real time
- Wimba FORUM or Voice Board: Click on Wimba FORUM, WAIT (really WAIT!!!) until the applet is installed (click TRUST the certificate), enter a screen name (your first name), then post a new text/sound message or respond to someone's message >>>>>>> .r5318
- ArabicWiki: this tool allows students to write collaboratively, correct each other, and add multimedia links and objects. BE SURE TO SAVE CHANGES or else your writing will not appear on the wiki.
Technical Help
Send a description of the problem to uccllt@ucdavis.edu with details and preferably your phone number.