Virtual Classroom Q&A

Elert & Associates' virtual classroom makes it possible to attend a live, instructor-led class anywhere you have access to the Internet and a telephone. You'll use your Web browser to join the class and view the instructor's screen as he or she demonstrates each skill. Then switch back to your own copy of the application on your computer to practice the skill you just learned. Throughout the class, you'll hear and interact with the instructor and other students via a conference call.

What classes are available?

Our public schedule currently includes classes on both the 2003 and 2007 versions of Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Access, and Outlook, as well as Microsoft Visio 2003 and Windows Vista. All classes are 90 Minute Workouts®—short, topic-specific sessions that allow you to pick and choose the skills you need to learn in each application. On occasion, we also schedule our 3.5-hour Microsoft Project courses as public classes.

If you don't see a class you're looking for on the public schedule, sign up for a 1-on-1 Application Support session on the topic or contact us to discuss scheduling a private class for a group of people in your organization.

Pricing & Payment

How much does each class cost?

The standard price of each 90 Minute Workout® on our public schedule is $70 per student. Our 45-minute 1-on-1 Application Support sessions in the virtual classroom are also $70 per student per session. Occasionally we also schedule 3.5-hour Microsoft Project classes in our public classroom. When available, those classes are $140 per student.

In addition to this standard per-student price, we offer volume pricing discounts for organizations who purchase several "seats" at once. We can also schedule private classes for groups of people from one organization. The rate for private classes is $480 per 90 Minute Workout® (for up to ten students).

What are my payment options?

You can pay by credit card or by a company coupon code (similar to a purchase order). To pay by coupon code, you must first contact us to set up the code.

If your organization has established a volume pricing agreement with Elert & Associates, we can work with you to set up either a pre-pay voucher system or we can invoice you on a monthly basis as students register for classes.

Can I schedule a private class for my team?

Of course! Up to ten people from your organization can attend a single class. You can choose any of the standard titles in our course catalog or we can work with you to design a custom class to meet your learners' needs. Contact us to get started.

Registration & Scheduling

How do I decide which classes to register for?

First, go to our course catalog and find the application and version you're interested in learning (for example, Excel 2007 or Word 2003). Click that link to view a list of the individual courses within the curriculum and find course descriptions for each one. The course descriptions list any recommended prerequisite skills, so that you can decide whether you have the foundation of knowledge required to best understand the material in the class.

If you're brand new to an application, you'll most likely want to begin with the "Getting Started" class (e.g., Excel 2007 Getting Started or Word 2003 Getting Started). From there, our suggested training path diagrams can help you choose which classes to consider next.

How do I register for a class?

We've provided links to register in several places within our site. If you already know which classes you want to register for, go directly to the Registration page to find the available class dates for each curriculum.

If you're browsing the course titles and individual course descriptions in our catalog, look for the links to register either on the right side of the screen or at the end of the course description.

You can also search and register for classes directly on our WebEx site (the site you use to join a class). Click in the search box below the "Live Sessions" heading and type the class name (or a portion of the class name); then click "Search." From the list of search results, find the class you want to register for; then click the "Register" link in the right column.

What if I'm interested in a class that's not on the schedule?

If a class you're interested in isn't listed on the public schedule, you have two options:

Sign up for a 45-minute 1-on-1 Application Support session. When you register, you'll be asked what topic you want to work on during the session. You can either provide the title of a class in our catalog that's not currently scheduled or just let us know the types of skills you want to work on in the session. We'll follow up with you if we need more information or are unable to meet your needs.
Contact us to schedule a private class for a group of people within your organization who are also interested in that same topic. We can accommodate up to ten students in each session, and we can customize the session as necessary to ensure it meets your needs.

I'm supposed to register using a coupon code. What is that?

If your organization has arranged to pre-pay for classes or has secured a volume pricing agreement, we use coupon codes to apply your class fee to the appropriate purchase order when you register.

The training contact within your organization can provide you with the appropriate coupon code to use. If you're not sure who your training contact is, call or e-mail us and we can help.

How do I cancel or reschedule to a different class?

The confirmation message you receive when you register contains instructions and a link to cancel. You can cancel your registration without charge any time up to 24 hours prior to the class start time. (If the cancellation link does not display in your confirmation message, the deadline for canceling has already passed.)

If you need to cancel simply because of a time conflict with the original class date or time, we encourage you to sign up for a future session instead. See the steps to reschedule here.

I added the class to my calendar. Do I have to move it to the correct time zone?

The confirmation message and reminder messages you receive list the class start time in Central Time. If you use the link in the message to add the class to your calendar, however, your calendar program should convert the time to your time zone as necessary. When you save the new calendar entry, however, it's a good idea to verify that it is set for the correct time.

Preparing for a Class

Where do I get the course materials?

Once you've registered for a class, you'll receive a confirmation message with instructions to help you prepare for and join the class. In that message is a link to a Web page where you can download the courseware, as well as any practice files that the instructor will use during class.

Prior to the class, be sure to print the courseware (the .pdf file) for in-class reference. Also save any practice files to your desktop or another location you can easily access during class.

What if I have problems downloading the courseware?

To access the courseware for a class, you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer. You can learn more about this software and download it for free here.

If you have Reader installed and are still unable to access the courseware from the link in your confirmation message, contact us.

I lost my confirmation message. How can I get it resent?

You will receive an automatic reminder seven days before the class date and again an hour before the class. The reminder messages contain the same details as the original confirmation message, so you can use these reminders to access the course materials and join the class.

If you would prefer not to wait to receive the reminder, follow these steps to have the confirmation message resent:

Go to http://elert.webex.com
In the search box below the "Live Sessions" heading, type the class name (or a portion of the class name) and click "Search."
From the list of search results, click the title of the class you're registered for (the class for which you want the confirmation message resent).
In the gray shaded area on the right side of the screen, click the "Click here" link.
In the box that displays, enter your e-mail address and click "OK." Note that you must use the same e-mail address you entered when you first registered for the class.

If you need help with this process, contact us.

Joining & Participating in a Class

How do I join a class?

After registering for a class, you'll receive an e-mail message confirming your registration and providing instructions to join the class. This message also contains a link to add the class to your electronic calendar (e.g., Outlook).

Ten minutes before the class start time, open the confirmation message (or the calendar entry you created from the confirmation message) and click the link in the section titled "To Join the Training Session." Then follow the instructions on your screen to continue the process.

Important! If a security dialog box displays when you try to join the class, asking if you want to install and run the WebEx software, click "Yes" (or "Allow" or "Install," depending on the wording of the message). The process that follows typically takes less than a minute or two.

What phone number do I call to join the teleconference?

Follow the instructions in the confirmation message you received to join the class through your web browser. Once you're connected to the class, you'll see a prompt on your screen to join the teleconference. Dial the number in this box to join.

What if I have problems getting connected?

If you have any problems joining a class, please call us at 651-705-1289.

If you feel your problem may be more technical in nature or may involve your organization's firewall, please contact WebEx Technical support at 866-863-3904. Let them know you are trying to join a session on elert.webex.com. They will assist you in troubleshooting the problem.

How do I communicate with the instructor during class?

You'll be able to hear and speak to the instructor during class through a conference call on your telephone. If you don't feel comfortable speaking up in class or don't want to interrupt the instructor while he or she is speaking, you can also type questions or comments in the chat box on the WebEx screen or use the "raise hand" feature in the panel where your name (and the names of other students in the class) displays.

See our virtual classroom quick reference guide for more information about these features.

Can the instructor and other students see my screen?

Not unless you grant them permission to do so. At some point in the class, you may want to share what is on your screen with the instructor so that he or she can walk you through any difficulties you may encounter. The instructor and other students see only what is on your screen, however, and only when you choose to provide access. Furthermore, the data you are sharing only passes through the WebEx server; no information is ever retained on the server.