General Chat and Direct Messaging

Chat with All Learners: Use the message icon in the top-right corner to open the general chat and message everyone in the classroom.

Q&A Feature (Active Session Required)

The Q&A feature allows learners to submit formal questions, keeping the main chat focused.

1. Click the chat bubble with a question mark icon on the bottom panel.
2. Click “Start Session” to enable the feature for learners.
3. Learners can submit questions for you to answer live or via a typed response in the Q&A chat.

Managing Questions:

• Once you answer a question, it moves from the “Active” column to the “Answered” column.
• You can also save questions for later review.
• To conclude this feature, click “End Session”.

Poll Questions

Polls are an excellent way to check understanding or spark discussion.

1. Click “Add poll question”.
2. Type out your poll question and provide the response options for learners to select.
3. Click Save.
4. When you are ready for learners to participate, click “Activate poll”.
5. You can view live results as learners respond.
6. Click Close poll when finished. The poll will then move to the “Closed” tab.

Assigned Questions (Private)

Use this feature to send private, targeted questions—often for thought-provoking reflection—to specific learners.

You can choose to send the private question to all learners or to specific learners in the classroom.

Additional Instructor Functionality

Clicking the three dots (...) icon in the virtual classroom gives you access to essential management tools to run your session effectively.

• Manage Device Settings: This is where you can configure your audio and video inputs. It's a key step to perform during your pre-session setup to ensure your microphone and camera are working correctly and are using the right devices.
• View Attendees: See a list of all learners who have joined the session. This is helpful for keeping track of who is present and for marking attendance after the session.
• View and Manage Support Materials: This feature allows you to manage and display supplementary content for your learners. This can include:
  • Documents: Share and track documents like handbooks, checklists, or PDFs.
  • Videos and Presentations: Upload recorded videos or presentations for on-demand viewing.
• View and Manage Relevant External Links: Share links to external resources with your learners. These links can be added within the course description before the session and can direct learners to platforms like Teams, Webex, or Zoom, or to other relevant websites.
• Start the Session Recording: You have the ability to record the virtual classroom session. It is a best practice to start this at the beginning of your session. After the session, the recording can be converted into an on-demand video lesson to be added to your custom content library, making the training accessible to those who were unable to attend.
• Screen sharing: Instructors have the ability to share their screens with participants.

Ending the Session and Taking Attendance

Leaving the Classroom

1. Press “Leave” at the bottom of the screen.
2. Confirm that you want to leave the session.
3. Note: You can rejoin the session at any time as long as you are still within the scheduled classroom timeframe.

Marking Attendance

Once the classroom session has officially ended, you must manually mark attendance:

1. Select learners who joined the session.
2. Go to the dropdown menu in the top-right corner.
3. Select a status (e.g., Attended, Absent, etc.) for the selected learners.

Best Practice Recommendations

• Prepare Your Polls Early: A great tip is to join the session early and have your poll questions prepared to quickly copy and paste into the "Add poll question" tool.
• Use the Q&A Strategically: Encourage learners to use the formal Q&A feature for content-specific questions, reserving the General Chat for logistical issues (e.g., "Can you hear me?").
• Record Your Session: Always start the session recording via the three dots menu at the beginning of your session to ensure learners who missed the live event can catch up.
• Manage Your Time: Joining 10–15 minutes early is crucial for checking your camera, microphone, and internet connection, ensuring a smooth start for your participants.