Live Webcasting for Students

How do I join a live event?

How you join the live event depends on how you were notified of the event. One of the methods identified below should apply.

Joining through EchoCenter:

1. Click the Join Live Event Now button located at the top of the EchoCenter page and identified in the below figure.
   
   
   
2. Click the Play button for the Live Echo, shown in the below figure
   

Logging In through an LMS:

1. Log into the LMS
2. Go to the section for the course
3. Click the link for the course material. This should take you to the EchoCenter.
4. Click the Join Live Event Now button located at the top of the EchoCenter page, and identified in the above figure.
5. Click the Play button for the Live Echo.

Through a Direct Link to the Event:

In some cases, a direct link to the Live Webcast may be sent out via email or posted on a website for general access. Typically these are used for special events or other presentations not associated with a regularly scheduled course or section.

1. Open the link to the webcast.
2. Click the Play button for the Live Echo, as shown in the figure above.

Can I view the live event on my mobile device?

Echo360 supports the viewing of live events on iOS devices (iOS 5 and later). Android is not supported for live viewing at this time. If your institution has configured the system to allow for live viewing on iOS devices, you should be able to view the live event on your mobile device. Keep in mind, however, that mobile viewing is subject to the following limitations:

• You will only see the Primary Display (e.g., what is featured on a computer screen during the presentation) OR the Video for the event. You will not see both.
• You may require a broadband (WiFi) connection for the event to stream smoothly.

What will I see during the live event?

You can access the live webcast as early as 15 minutes prior to the start of the event. If you join the event before it starts, the screen displays a message indicating that the event will begin shortly as shown in the figure below.

If chat is enabled for the event, you can enter chat text prior to the start of the event. You can also use the Pre-Event Chat Window link to show or hide the chat window. These are also identified in the above figure. You will not see these if chat is not available for the event.

During the live webcast, the screen is split into several sections:

• The pane numbered 1 shows the display, often a PowerPoint presentation or other item being shown on the classroom computer.
• The pane numbered 2 shows the video, often a headshot of the instructor or the classroom.
• The right side of the screen contains a pane labeled Apps, which allows additional functionality.
• If the chat feature is enabled for the event, the bottom of the screen contains a chat pane with a Submit button. You will also see questions or comments entered by other students or the instructor. If you do not see the chat pane, chat is not enabled for the event.

The figure below shows a sample live event window. 

The Apps buttons may include some or all of the following:

• Presence. Appears only if a login is required for the webcast. Allows you to see who else is logged into the webcast. 
• Info, Help. Appear for both Echoes and live webcasts. Provides additional information about the section and, where available, help using the interface.
• Share, Feedback. May appear for both Echoes and live webcasts. System Administrators can show or hide these buttons.

A toolbar at the bottom of the screen has several buttons:

• Hover over the microphone to show and hide the sound slider, then adjust the volume to your liking.

• Click the microphone to mute or unmute the sound.

• The timer shows how long you have been logged into the webcast, including the time before and after the event.
• Click the 1 button to show or hide the display pane.
• Click the 2 button to show or hide the video pane.
• Click the Conversation button to show or hide the chat pane.
• Click the Apps button to show or hide the application buttons.
• If you have changed the size or position or closed off any of the panes, click the Reset button to return to the default window arrangement.
• If closed captioning is enabled for the event a Closed Caption button will appear which will open an additional window with the captioning.

The figure below shows a sample closed caption window. 

How do I ask questions during the live event?

The chat feature is only available if the webcast required you to log into the event. If you accessed the live event via a direct link, you would have been asked for a login. You may also have logged in through the LMS or the EchoCenter for the section.

Not all live webcasts will have chat available.

If chat is available, the bottom of the webcast screen contains a chat text box along with a Submit button. You may also see chat questions or comments entered by other students or the instructor. If you do not see a chat section in the event window, chat may not be available for this event.

1. Enter your question or comment into the text box.
2. Click Submit.
   
   • Your text appears next to your username in the chat log shown on the screen.
   • It is visible to all other users (students, Teaching Assistants) and the Instructor.

A live webcast event window is shown below, including an arrow that identifies the chat section of the window.

What happens to the event after it finishes?

After the live event, you can view the presentation as an Echo, the same way you view most lectures. Go to the EchoCenter page and find the Echo. Look for the date and time of the original lecture/webcast.

In the same way that remote students used chat feature during the webcast to ask questions, you can use the discussions feature to post questions about the Echo. These two features work similarly, except that the chat runs in real time, whereas the discussions provide for a more delayed response.

What happens to the chat after the event?  

 Any chat entries are attached to the Echo as a chat log, and can be viewed, saved, and printed from the Echo.

The log includes the username of the person who entered the text and a timestamp for the chat entry. The timestamp may provide context for the question or comment, linking it to the information being presented at the time.

To view the live chat log from an Echo of the webcast:

1. Find the date and time of the original webcast and click the Launch Echo link as you normally would. 
2. In the EchoPlayer, click Info from the Apps list, shown in the figure below.
   

   

3. In the Info app, click the Live Chat Log link, identified in the figure below.
   

   

   
   The chat log opens in a new tab, allowing you to review the chat entries, including the user name and timestamp for each entry. A sample chat log is shown below.  

   

4. When finished, close the tab to return to the Echo. You can use the browser's Print and Save commands to print or save the chat log if needed.