Answers to your most common questions regarding our CDs, on-demand programs, Advisors Online Conference, and online seminars. If your question is not answered below, you can contact NCSL's Customer Service Department at 800-206-4805 ext. 1or by email at support@magnapubs.com.

For answers to your questions regarding any of the Certified Student Leader^® online training products, click here.

Technical Questions

What technology do I need to view an NCSL online program, seminar, or CD?

Broadband Internet connection, at least 256 Kbps.
Sound card with speakers.
Cookies enabled in your web browser.
Projector if you will be viewing the program as a group.

Specific Requirements:

Operating System	Browser	Media Player
Windows XP+	Internet Explorer 6.0+	Windows Media Player 9+
Windows XP+	Mozilla Firefox 2.0+	Silverlight 1.0
Mac OSX 10.4.8+	Safari 2.0.4+ Firefox 2.0+	Silverlight 1.0 (viewers will be prompted when viewing)

When viewing the CD, the computer requirements are the same, except you do not need an internet connection.

How do I advance the slides?

The slides are presented one at a time as the presenter goes through them. They will advance automatically whenever the presenter moves onto the next slide. When viewing the program on CD or on-demand, you have the ability to skip ahead in the program, or go back to previously covered material, and the appropriate slides will be in sync with the video being shown. Copies of the slides are also included in the printable handouts that are offered with each NCSL online program.

I am having audio and/or video playback issues. What can I do to resolve this?

Please check that you meet the minimum requirements, including having bandwidth speed of at least 256 Kbps.
If you can't hear the audio, make sure your computer's speakers are properly connected, turned on, and not muted. Also verify that your computer’s volume control is turned up (on a PC, this is typically found in the system tray in the bottom right corner of the Windows task bar or under Control Panel > Sound).

If you are still having playback issues, you can also try adjusting the streaming protocol settings in Windows Media Player:
1. Open Windows Media Player and click Tools/Options.
2. Go to the Player tab and be sure "Connect to Internet" is marked with a check.
3. Go to Network tab, and under the heading "Streaming Protocols", be sure all of the boxes except the box that says UDP are marked with a check.
4. Close out of Media Player and re-connect to the presentation link (you may have to exit your browser first before the changes take effect).

Please note: If you are uncomfortable making these changes, or are not authorized or able to do so, please consult with your IT staff before attempting to change these settings.

For IT staff: Please ensure the following ports are open for the Windows Media stream:
UDP: 554, 5005
TCP: 554
HTTP: 80

I am using a Mac, and I meet the requirements for playing a NCSL online program, but it still does not work. What else can I do?

It is likely that your computer has the Flip4Mac Windows Media component for QuickTime installed. This interferes with the Media Player plug-in that is required to play NCSL online training programs. To disable the Flip4Mac plug-in:

Click your desktop, and select Apple > System Preferences to open the Mac System Preferences.
Under Other, click Flip4Mac WMV.
On the Plug-in tab, clear the "Use Flip4Mac WMV Internet Plug-in" checkbox.
Exit the dialog to save your changes.
Try to play a presentation. You may have to re-launch your browser for the change to take effect.

How do I play the NCSL online training CD?

After you have loaded the CD into your drive, the program should automatically start. If for any reason the program fails to launch, navigate to the drive the CD is located in, select the file start-presentation.html, and open the file by double clicking it. This will launch a Start page in your browser that contains a link to the presentation itself.

Customer Service and Copyright Questions

When will I receive the connection instructions for my on-demand program?

You can access your on-demand programs at your convenience. Just visit www.ncslcollege.com/account to log-in and visit My Purchases to view a list of your purchased programs. You will be able to view your purchased program(s) as many times as you would like for seven days after you activate access the first time.

If you purchased your on-demand program(s) by fax, mail, or email, you will receive connection instructions via email from our NCSL Customer Service Department within one business day of receipt of your request.

When will I receive the link to handouts for my on-demand program?

Handouts can be viewed while accessing the program by clicking the presentation links icon above the video portion of the program.
Handouts Link

When will I receive the connection instructions/link to handouts for my live online seminar or conference?

Three days prior to the online seminar or conference you will receive an email from Magna Publications (NCSL's parent company) with the link to the online seminar and a link to the presentation handouts. You will also receive an email reminder the morning of the event with the same information. Please be sure to enable emails coming in from Magna Publications Customer Service and whitelist the domain @magnapubs.com.

How many people from my institution can participate?

You can have as many people from your institution view the CD or on-demand program as you like. Many users purchase a program and view it in a conference room or media center using a video projector and speakers.

I will have a group of people viewing the training - can I make copies of the handouts for the participants?

For all of our online training products, you are allowed to make as many copies of program handouts as you need for participants.

Does NCSL offer a satisfaction guarantee for its online training products?

If you are not completely satisfied with your online program, CD, or online seminar, you may return it for a full refund. All requests must be received within 30 days of receiving product.

What if I need to submit my order in hard copy (to accompany a purchase order, for example)?

We accept bill-me orders for NCSL online training CD orders, as well as institutional purchase orders for both CD or on-demand purchases of NCSL online programs. We do require pre-payment prior to granting access to the NCSL online programs on-demand. For a hard copy order form, you can print our downloadable PDF order form. Check the titles of the online programs you wish to purchase, complete the registration and payment information, and fax or email it back to us as directed on the form.

Do you offer Continuing Education Credits for NCSL online training products?

We do not offer continuing education credits for any of our programs.

Can I make copies of an NCSL online training CD?

Copyright laws prohibit the creating and distribution of copies of CDs. This includes internal use. Violations may be prosecuted. If you need additional copies of a specific title, or would like to purchase a Campus Access License which allows you to place the presentation on your intranet, contact support@magnapubs.com.

Can I place the NCSL online training CD on reserve in our library or media center?

Yes, it would be within copyright guidelines to have the CD on reserve in your library. The CD can be routed or placed in a central location for others to use. Duplication is not permitted. As the purchaser of the CD, you may want to add a note to the jacket to make it known that others cannot duplicate it.

Do you offer transcripts of NCSL Online Programs, online seminars, and/or Advisors Online Conference?

At this time, we do not offer transcripts for our NCSL online programs. We do offer transcripts for our other online training products such as the Advisors Online Conference, the Prepare to Lead online seminar series, and our other online seminars.

General Questions

What is an online program?

An NCSL online program is a 30-minute recorded video presentation.

If you purchase the program as “on-demand,” you simply access the program through a link in your NCSL account and access the program online through your computer. The program can be viewed on a single computer screen or be projected onto a large screen for a group setting. The entire program is viewed via the internet – you do not need a phone line or connection to view or listen to the program.

Click here for a demonstration of how an online program works.

If you purchase the program on CD, you simply access the program by inserting the CD into your computer’s CD drive.

What is an online seminar?

An online seminar is a live event that participants can view from the convenience of their own computer. You are able to ask questions to the speaker throughout the live presentation. They typically last 75-90 minutes. All online seminars are recorded and available for purchase as a CD, transcript, or CD/transcript binder package.

What is the Advisors Online Conference?

The 2009 NCSL Advisors Online Conference was held on July 12, 2009. It is now available as a 4-part training series delivered on CD and transcript. Click here for more information about the topics covered in the Advisors Online Conference.

Online Training FAQ