When completing a Reading Practice activity or any activity that requires you to select items for the student to record on their end, you click a blue Start Reading button to allow the student to start recording their response(s).
Sometimes this button appears disabled (or grayed out), indicating it cannot be clicked.
Don't be alarmed! This is a common misunderstanding and can generally be solved by ensuring you are on the correct screen.
The Start Reading button will only become blue and enabled when you have selected items on the student screen.
If you select items on your screen (previewing/presenting), the Start Reading button will remain disabled because you are not actually assigning those items to anybody.
How do I ensure I am on the student's screen?
When you assign an activity with only one student in a session, their screen should popup immediately in place of yours. You can always verify this by looking at the student's name in large letters in the top left hand corner of the window.
Take the following screenshot for example. We can see that we are viewing our student Pat Johnson's screen, which has allowed us to select the items we want Pat to read, and we see that the Start Reading button is blue and enabled.
If you have multiple students in your session, you can view the specific student's screen by clicking on their name in the Active Students list to the right of the classroom window.
Example of disabled Start Reading button
Here is an example of what it looks like when you are trying to use the Start Reading button from your screen after selecting items.
As you can see, there is a yellow Preview - only you can see this bubble indicating you are on your screen in preview mode. Notice how there is no student name in the top left hand corner of the window.
I am on my student's screen and the Start Reading button is still disabled!
In the off chance that you are viewing the student's screen and have selected the items you want them to record, but the blue Start Reading button is still disabled, please have the student do the following:
- Click the Amplio logo in the top left hand corner of their browser window to go back to their Welcome Screen
- Reenter the scheduled session
Having either the student or yourself (the educator) reenter the session should allow for the Start Reading button to enable.