Using Groove Philip S. Vavalides Professor - IT/Networking Guilford Technical Community College Jamestown, NC

What is Groove? a collaboration tool that people can use to communicate and share information in a protected environment over a network

Security Groove works through a Groove Relay Server, which acts as a store and forward mechanism. This server is a holding queue. Security each user is assigned a role with specific permissions all data including messages and chat is fully encrypted and uses random encryption keys which are stored in your account

Accounts each user must have an individual account all files stored locally changes are synchronized whenever users are connected

Creating a Groove Account

Account Creation (cont.)

Account Creation (cont.)

Account Creation (cont.)

The Launchbar the main window that you work with in Groove three areas by default the workspace and contact areas are displayed as tabs and the common tasks are displayed in a pane at the bottom

The Launchbar contacts workspaces

Workspaces a workspace is made up of tools that are used to manage different types of content standard workspace – this is the usual workspace and contain a file tool and a discussion tool by default file sharing – special type of workspace used to share a folder with other computers or people

Creating a New Workspace

A Workspace

Invitations users are added to a workspace by invitation there are a number of ways to issue invitations by e-mail to a known Groove contact by providing a copy of the invitation to the invitee invitations can be sent so that the sender has to accept the invitee or they may join the workspace by simply accepting

Invitations

Workspace Members members have one of three roles manager participant guest each role has different permissions associated with it permissions may be changed either for all members with the same role or for individuals

Contacts contacts are people that you communicate with and interact with do not have to be members of your workspace includes anyone who has been in a workspace with you

Identities every groove user is assigned an identity and as a unique digital fingerprint that cannot be changed if two or more contacts have similar names Groove notifies you. When this occurs it is important to identify the contact and assign an alias to one or more of the conflicting contacts

Communication communication is more than just instant messages and chat, it includes: messages chat workspace invitations workspace synchronization

Communications Manager

Messages works like the common instant message clients students are familiar with this type of communication tool to carry on an asynchronous conversation no need for both parties to be online at the same time may attach files to the message messages are kept in a history file

Send a Message

Chat a synchronous tool that requires users to be online good for general class discussions a transcript of the chat is saved audio chat is available within groove

Chat

Tools tools are the building blocks of the groove workspace there can be more than one copy of the same tool in a workspace tools may be renamed tools are designed for multiple pieces of content

Add Tools

Files add files and folders add files and folders just like with Windows Explorer work with files when working with a file be sure to save the changes back to Groove when multiple people work with the same file at the same time each is saved back with a unique name

Files Tool

Calendar create appointments importing and exporting appointments the calendar may be exported from one workspace and then imported to another workspace calendar is not compatible with Outlook

Calendar

Meetings The meetings tool allows you to set up and manage meeting profile is created automatically specify attendees agenda minutes actions

Meetings

Issues issues are an important part of every project. The issue tool may be used as a log enter issue – Groove assigns a unique ID and the rest of the information is added by the user keywords allow easy searching record the current status This allows you to determine how the task is progressing

Issues (cont.) enter response the response is used to keep track of the details of the task. allows entry of notes and other information about the task entering a response creates a new entry in the issue list

Issues

Discussions discussion threads are like other boards that are common in a CMS. consists of topics and responses threaded

Discussions

Questions ?

Materials http://www.pvavalides.com