Guide to Web Conferencing

General tips for web conferencing

Technical Tips

• • • You'll receive a link to the conference -- just click to join!

      • • For class meetings, I have a single link for the entire semester. It will be posted on the Canvas home page for your course.

        • I have a separate link for office hours -- this is on the Office Hours page on Canvas (or for advisees it's on the Google Doc that I shared with you)

    • Keep your microphone muted unless you're speaking,

      • • Even if you think you're muted, it's still safest to avoid doing or saying anything you wouldn't want us all to see or hear. Just in case!! 🤭

    • If you already have headphones with a built in mic, that will probably give a better experience. But I wouldn't buy special equipment unless you're really having trouble with your audio set-up.

    • Sketchy internet?

      • • Calling in from a land line or cell phone is always possible! The phone number will be shared with the conference link.

        • For best performance, ask anyone else sharing your wifi to step away from the internet, if they can. Especially high-bandwidth things like video or gaming.

        • As a last resort, you can toggle your camera on/off to save bandwidth

Etiquette Tips

• • • Beginning Spring 2021, my default expectation is that you'll have your video turned on a majority of the time. When I can see your face, I can do my job much better, and you will feel more engaged and connected with me and your classmates.

      • • I know there are real-world situations that make video difficult, so please reach out if this is a problem for you -- we'll figure it out together.

    • It's completely OK to briefly turn off your video mid-class. If your roommate is walking around naked behind you, please do turn off the video! If need a moment unseen for whatever reason, by all means you can take a moment. We are all humans, we get it.

    • If you need a restroom break, water bottle refill, etc. you are free to step away, just as you would in an in-person class. Please just type "BRB" in the chat so we know you haven't given up, keeled over, or suffered alien abduction. No need to explain yourself, "BRB" will suffice.

    • If possible, it's better to ask questions out loud vs. in the chat. This is partly because I genuinely have trouble monitoring the chat and running the rest of the class at the same time - my brain can only do so much at once. But also, speaking out loud will make you and everyone else feel more connected to each other.

    • Do we want to see your dog on camera? Well, I won't know, is he a good boy? Oh he is? He's a very good boy? Then yes we DO want to see him!

    • Do we want to see your cat on camera? Obviously. Everyone should be so lucky as to see that magnificent cat.

What to do if you find yourself suddenly kicked out of a web conference?

This could be due to internet problems on your end, or on the host's end! Check your internet connectivity, and immediately try to rejoin using the same link that you use to start with. If the host is having problems, be patient and trust that they are trying to restart things.

The main features you'll need are:

• Mute/Unmute and Start/Stop Video (bottom left)
  Toggle to quickly turn your mic or video on / off

• Chat: Ask text questions (especially if you don't have a mic!)
  Minimize the chat window by clicking the arrow at top

• View: some different options here - a grid of everyone in the meeting, a strip showing 4-5 videos, or just the person who is talking.

Use Google Meet

You must sign in with your Siena credentials for this to work!

Here are the most important features of a Google Meet conference:

The main features you'll need are:

• Control bar: click anywhere to show this

• Mute/Unmute and Start/Stop video (in control bar)
  Toggle to quickly turn your mic or video on / off

• Chat: Ask text questions (especially if you don't have a mic!)

• Defaults to showing you whoever is speaking.

  • You can pin someone by click on the "people" icon (next to chat), then clicking their name from the list

  • If you stop seeing the current speaker, you may have accidentally pinned someone! Look for the pushpin icon next to their name and click to unpin them.

More Tips:

• You can easily switch to a phone anytime from the Options menu

• You can start a video meeting with anyone from any Google Hangout or Google Chat.
  Just click the little camera icon where you enter text.