1. Pre-Class Requirements
Before joining a live session, you must complete the verification process.
- Identity Verification: You are required to upload a valid Headshot and Government-issued ID before you can enter the live classroom.
- Hardware: You do not need to turn on your camera or microphone during the class. Note: Live Class may require microphone and camera access on some browsers to connect but instructors will not be able to hear or see you as it has been turned off by default at backend.
- Connectivity: Ensure you have a stable internet connection to avoid being dropped from the session.
Device Settings for Maximum Attendance (Crucial)
IMPORTANT: Prevent "Away" status in LIVE CLASS.
The system tracks your activity to ensure you meet the 80% active time requirement in live class’s active lesson/topic. If your screen turns off, goes to sleep, or locks, the system records this as "Away Time," and you may fail the lesson/topic.
Required Device Settings:
Before starting a class or exam, you must adjust your device settings to prevent it from sleeping:
- Windows: Settings > System > Power & Sleep > Set Screen and Sleep to "Never".
- macOS: System Settings > Lock Screen > Set Turn display off on battery/power adapter to "Never".
- iOS (iPhone/iPad): Settings > Display & Brightness > Auto-Lock > Set to "Never".
- Android: Settings > Display > Screen timeout > Set to the maximum available time (or "Never" if available).
- General: Disable any screensavers.
2. Joining the Class & Punctuality
- The "Closed Door" Policy: The virtual classroom door effectively "closes" once the instructor starts the lesson. Please try to be in the class before the scheduled start time to avoid delays.
- Late Arrival: If you arrive after the lesson has started, you will see a "You are Late" screen.
- From this screen, you may request permission from the instructor to enter.
- Entry is at the instructor's discretion.
- Entry Denied (Scenario): if your late entry is denied by the instructor or instructor didn’t process your request then you have to wait till current topic/lesson ends. Once the current topic/lesson ends you will automatically see the screen that says "Welcome to your class" screen with a Blue Join Class button to resume your next lesson.
3. Joining the Live Class & Waiting Room
Once you have completed your Identity Verification (Headshot & ID), you will be directed to the classroom entrance. What happens next depends on whether the instructor has already started the session.
Scenario A: You Join Before the Instructor (The Waiting Room)
If you arrive early or on time, but the instructor has not yet launched the class, you will enter the Waiting Room.
1. Status: You will see a screen indicating "You are in the waiting room, The Instructor will join shortly." Please keep this tab open and your volume ON.
2. The "Instructor Joined" Alert:
- Audio Cue: As soon as the instructor enters the studio, you will hear a distinct notification sound (a chime or ring).
- Visual Cue: The screen will refresh, and a Blue "Join Now" Button will appear in the center of the screen.
3. Action Required: You are not automatically pulled into class. You must click the Blue "Join Now" button to officially enter the live session and start your attendance timer.
Scenario B: You Join After the Instructor (Direct Entry)
If the class is already live (the instructor is present) when you complete your verification:
1. Immediate Access: You will skip the "Waiting Room" phase entirely. You will automatically see the Blue "Join Now" Button immediately after submitting your ID photo.
2. Action Required: Click the "Join Now" button to enter. Note: If the class has been running for a while, you might see the "You are Late" screen instead. In that case, you will need to request permission to enter (as detailed in the Late Entry Guide)
4. Mandatory 80% Attendance Rule
To receive credit for any specific topic or lesson, strict time and engagement requirements must be met.
- Strict Threshold: You must be actively present for at least 80% of the total lesson duration. This rule is absolute; if you achieve 79.99%, you will not receive credit.
- Calculation Example: If a specific topic/lesson is scheduled for 100 minutes, you must be recorded as "Active" in the system for at leas 80 minutes.
- Co-Requisites: Meeting the time requirement alone is not enough. You must meet the 80% active time threshold AND successfully submit your Lesson Challenges on time to pass.
5. Active Focus & "Away Time"
Your presence is tracked not just by being logged in, but by keeping the classroom window active.
- Focus Tracking: The system records your "Active Time." If you switch tabs, minimize the browser, or move the window to the background, the system marks this as "Away Time."
- Impact on Credit: "Away Time" is deducted from your total attendance. If your "Active Time" drops below the 80% threshold because you were navigating other tabs, you will fail the lesson.
- Alerts: You will see a warning prompt immediately if you minimize the class or switch away.
6. Engagement Challenges
To verify that you are present and paying attention, the system issues random Lesson Challenges.
- How it Works: Similar to a captcha, a prompt will appear requiring you to enter a 4-digit code displayed on the screen or a random general knowledge question.
- Alerts: You will hear a specific sound notification when a challenge appears. If you are in full-screen mode you will still be able to see the challenge but if not, exit immediately to answer the challenge.
- Failure Policy: Failing to respond to two (2) challenges within a single lesson results in that lesson being marked as Incomplete.
7. Connectivity & Rejoining (Drop-offs)
We understand that connection or power issues happen.
- Drop-off Screen: If you are disconnected, you will see a screen stating: "It seems like you dropped off the class."
- Rejoining: You can request to be let back in from this screen. The instructor or Assistant will let you in shortly.
- Time Tracking: The system saves your previous join time and the active duration you accumulated before the drop-off. Once readmitted, you will resume accumulating time from where you left off.
8. Retaking Lessons (Lesson Recovery)
Failing a single lesson does not mean you have failed the entire day or course. You have the opportunity to retake any specific lesson you missed or failed.
- Same Topic, New Day: If you fail a lesson (e.g., "Topic ABC") due to low attendance (under 80%) or missed challenges, you can retake it when it is next scheduled.
- Schedule Example: If you missed "Topic ABC" on Monday from 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM, you may return the following Monday (or the next time that specific topic runs).
- Procedure: You must log in and join the class before the start time on the retake day.
- Requirements: You must participate effectively, pass the challenges, and meet the strict 80% active time threshold during the retake session to recover your credit.
9. Communication & Audio Cues
- Live Chat: You can communicate directly with the instructor via the Live Chat section.
- Audio Notifications: Please keep your audio on (even if your mic is off). You will hear distinct sounds for:
- A new message from the instructor.
- A new Lesson Challenge is appearing.
- The start or end of a lesson.
10. Post-Class & Grading
- Completion: Once the instructor ends the class, you will be automatically redirected to your Student Dashboard.
- Credit Calculation: Your lesson completion status (Credit/No Credit) will update automatically approximately 15 minutes after the class ends.
- Logs: You can review your performance in the Logs section of your dashboard. This includes details on how many challenges you missed and exactly how many seconds/minutes you were marked as "Away."
11. Browser Permissions (Camera, Mic & Notifications)
To join a class and receive alerts, you must grant permissions. These permissions are crucial for challenges, audio and other features of class to work properly.
Recommended Browser by STG for live classes: Google Chrome
Allowing Camera, Microphone & Notifications
- Chrome/Edge: Click the Lock Icon 🔒 or Setting/Sliders(-o) Icon on the left side of the URL/Address bar. Toggle "Camera", "Microphone" & "Notifications" to ON (Toggle button). Reload the page.
- Safari: Go to Settings > Websites. Ensure Camera, Microphone & Notifications are set to Allow for the STG website.
- Firefox: Click the Permissions Icon next to the URL. Remove any "Blocked" restrictions and reload to trigger the permission prompt again.
12. Audio & Video Issues
"I can't hear the instructor."
- Check Browser Tab: Right-click the browser tab at the top of your screen. Ensure it does NOT say "Unmute Site." If it does, click Unmute Site.
- Check Classroom Player: Hover over the video feed. Ensure the volume slider in the video player is turned up.
- Check System Audio: Ensure your computer speakers are not muted.
"The screen share is blurry or frozen."
- Refresh: This is usually a temporary connection dip. A quick refresh syncs the feed.
- Bandwidth: Ensure no one else on your network is streaming 4K video or downloading large files.
- Presentation Mode: If the slide text is too small, use the Full Screen button or the Hide Side Panel (Red Box with -) button to enlarge the view.
13. Navigating the Classroom Interface
Once you enter the live class, your screen is divided into four main sections. Understanding where everything is located is key to managing your attendance and participation.
1. The Main Stage (Center Screen)
This is where the live lesson happens. You will see the instructor's video feed, shared slides, or whiteboard here.
- Presentation Area: Displays the visual content of the lesson i.e Slides and Instructor video.
- Full Screen Button: Located at the Top Left of the video player. Click this to maximize the presentation to your entire monitor.
- Handling Challenges: You can answer challenges while in full-screen mode. The pop-up should appear over the video.
- Troubleshooting: If you hear the Challenge Alert Sound but do not see the pop-up, press the Exit Full Screen button immediately to exit full screen. The challenge box will be waiting for you in the standard view.
- Expand View Button (Red Box): Located at top inside the Right Side Info Panel. This is a small red box with a minus (-) sign.
- Function: Clicking this hides the Right-Side Panel. This allows the presentation screen to become wider and larger without going into Full Screen mode.
2. The Left Navigation Rail (Your Control Center)
On the far left side of the screen, you will see a vertical strip of icons. Clicking these icons changes what is displayed in the Right-Side Panel.
- Lessons & Stats:
- View today's lesson schedule, durations, and current status.
- Grey Card (Pending): The instructor has not started this lesson yet.
- Blue Card (In Progress): This is the active lesson happening right now.
- Green Card (Completed): The lesson has finished.
- Note: "Completed" status means the class is done with that topic. Your personal credit (Pass/Fail) is calculated AFTER the class ends during "Post-Class Grading."
- Class Chat:
- Private & Public: You can type messages to the instructor. You will see your messages and the instructor's replies. The instructor can also send you a Private Message that only you can see.
- Chat Controls: The instructor may disable the chat at certain times.
- Alerts: You will hear a sound and see a pop-up notification whenever the instructor Enables or Disables the chat.
- Status: Check the bottom of the chat window to see if "Chat is Disabled by Instructor."
- Instructor Info: View the bio, profile, and contact hours of the instructor currently teaching your session.
- Verification Details: Displays the Headshot and ID photo you submitted before joining.This allows you to verify that the correct data is on file for your attendance record.
- Session Logs:
- Every time you switch tabs.
- Total seconds/minutes you are marked "Away."
- How many Challenges appeared vs. how many you completed or missed.
- Profile: Quick access to your basic account details.
- To Re-Open the Info Panel: If you hide the panel using the Red Box, simply click any of these icons to bring it back.
3. The Right-Side Information Panel
This is the dynamic panel on the right side of your screen. It displays the detailed information corresponding to the icon you selected on the Left Rail i.e Lesson stats, .
- Toggle/Hide: You can hide this entire panel to make the video larger by clicking the Red Box (-) mentioned above.
- Re-Open: To bring the panel back, simply click any icon on theLeft Navigation Rail:
4. The Top Menu Bar (Utility Belt)
Located at the very top right of the screen, these buttons provide general support and course information.
- Course Overview: Click this to see the "Big Picture" of the course. It shows the current lesson topic, total course progress, and course schedule and curriculum.
- Guide & Engagement Reminder: A quick summary of the Attendance rules, Active Time, Challenges, Class Navigations, Post Class Grading and more to refresh your memory.
- Troubleshooting: Opens a guide for common technical issues (e.g., "I can't hear audio," "Video is frozen") and other connectivity issues.
- Support: Provides contact information for the support team if you cannot resolve an issue yourself.
- Documents: Access to downloadable course materials or handouts related to the current lesson.
