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INSTRUCTIONS FOR PARTICIPANTS

Introduction

WebEx is a virtual meeting application that allows you to see, speak to, and hear from remote

participants simultaneously. Your instructor can share documents and interactive media, invite students

and guest lecturers to share content, and solicit feedback and real-time participation all from a single

screen.

Table of Contents: (click on any of the section titles below to jump to that section)

Accessing a Session Confirming Audio Settings Basic Layout Working with Panels Sharing Your Webcam Using Your Microphone Participant Icons Desktop/Application Share

Accessing Your Session It is best to access your WebEx session 10-15 minutes before it begins to make sure your audio and video settings are working properly. Your instructor will provide you a link to your session in an email and/or on your course’s Blackboard site. Once you locate the link, do the following.

1. Open the link in your web browser. 2. Enter your name and email in the

session welcome page. 3. Click Join Now.

At this point your system may ask you to install a Java plugin or a plugin called “ActiveX Control.” Follow the prompts to install the plugin (otherwise you won’t be able to access your WebEx session).

Page 2 | WebEx Instructions for Participants

Confirming Audio Settings Once you enter the session, you will be asked to confirm your audio settings. Do the following to access and contribute to the meeting’s audio via telephone:

4. Click Use Phone.

5. Call into the meeting using the phone number and access code displayed. NOTE: It is

recommended that you use a landline (not a mobile phone) for the best audio quality.

Video: Join the Audio Conference with a Phone

Page 3 | WebEx Instructions for Participants

Do the following to access and contribute to the meeting’s audio with a microphone and headphones (or combined headset, which is recommended):

6. Click Call Using Computer.

7. WebEx will perform a test making sure your audio is set up correctly.

Video: Join the Audio Conference with a Computer

Using Your Microphone You can turn your microphone on and off by clicking the microphone icon

next to your name in the Participants panel.

A. The button will appear as grey when your microphone is on.

B. Click the button and it will change to red when the microphone is

muted.

It is always a good idea to mute yourself unless you are speaking. This will ensure that no background

noise is interfering with the session.

Page 4 | WebEx Instructions for Participants

Basic Layout

1. Menu Bar – Provides access to WebEx’s features and settings 2. Content Viewer - This is where the presenter will display instructional media 3. Panel Buttons – Allow you show and hide various panels (see below) 4. Open Panels – Can include chat, video control, and participant information (see below)

Page 5 | WebEx Instructions for Participants

Working with Panels You can show or hide a panel on the right side of the screen by clicking on its corresponding icon.

Following is an explanation of each panel’s icon and function.

5. Participants - Indicates who is in attendance at the training session.

6. Chat – Allows you to send and receive messages with the presenter and other students.

7. Q&A - Manages the question and answer feature [only available in the Training Center]

8. Notes – A tool that allows you to take notes you can save to your computer. [only available in

the Training Center]

9. Polling – Your instructor can create questionnaires and share your group’s answers in real time.

[Only Available in the Training Center]

10. Panel Settings – Here you adjust which icons are visible or hide all panels.

Once a panel has been opened, you may minimize or restore it.

11. Beside each panel’s title bar, there is a down-pointing arrow. Click on this arrow to minimize the panel

12. The panel will minimize itself at the bottom right of the session window and the title bar will only be in view.

13. The arrow will be pointing to the right. Click on this right over arrow to restore the panel.

Page 6 | WebEx Instructions for Participants

14. Place your mouse on the edge of the panel’s title bar. Your mouse will turn into a dual headed arrow. Hold your mouse button down and drag the panel up or down to make it larger or smaller.

Sharing your Webcam You may make your webcam visible to the class from the Participants panel.

15. Click the camera icon to turn your webcam on (or off).

16. Your webcam feed will be shown in the panel.

WebEx automatically displays the webcam of the person that is speaking.

If you are having any issue with your webcam, close any application that might be using it (like Skype).

Sometimes WebEx will recognize this and give you an error message.

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If you are still having issues with your camera, click on the settings icon at the top of the participant

window. This will allow you to select your camera device. This is particularly helpful when you have

more than one camera connected to your computer.

Using Your Microphone You can turn your microphone on and off by clicking the microphone

icon next to your name in the Participants panel.

17. The button will appear as grey when your microphone is on.

18. Click the button and it will change to red when the microphone

is muted.

It is always a good idea to mute yourself unless you are speaking. This will ensure that no background

noise is interfering with the session.

Participant Icons The Participants panel window features a number of icons that can help you quickly communicate with

your instructor and the rest of the class. Most are only available in the training center.

19. Raise hand – Display this icon is when you have a question or comment.

20. Check Mark – Use this icon to answer “yes” to a question from your instructor.

21. X Mark –Use this icon to answer “no” to a question.

22. Go Slower – If you feel like the instruction is going too quickly, you can click this arrow to ask

your presenter to slow down.

23. Go Faster – If you feel like the presenter is

moving too slowly, you can encourage him or

her to speed up with this icon.

24. Emoticons –Click on the down arrow to choose

from an array of emoticons. These are helpful

for giving nonverbal feedback .

Video: Sharing non-verbal feedback

Page 8 | WebEx Instructions for Participants

Desktop/Application Share

The presenter/host may choose to share their desktop, as you can see below. When this happens, you

will still see the video window in the top right, but you’ll notice that the participant window and chat

have disappeared. Hovering over the green tab at the top of your screen allows you to bring them back.

NOTE: you will still be able to see the video feed from your group on top of the screen share.

When you hover over the green tab, you will see the following options. If you click Return, you will go

back to the main WebEx interface. You will also return to the main interface if the host or presenter

closes the screen share.