Joining and participating in Zoom Webinars

Prerequisites for attending Zoom Webinars 

• Zoom installed on desktop or Mobile device
• Best browser to use is Chrome or Microsoft Edge, however Zoom is also supported by current (updated) browsers however some features may be limited.
• Stable internet connection

Join a webinar through an invitation link

To join the webinar, click the link that the host provided you or that you received in the confirmation page after you registered. If the host has sent a registration confirmation email, the link can also be found there.

If you have the Zoom application on your device, opening the link will prompt your browser to request opening the app. Allowing permission for this will provide a more stable connection when viewing the Webinar.

Test your Audio settings

Prior to joining the webinar, ensure your audio settings have been configured correctly. This will allow for your voice to be heard if you have questions you would like to ask in the webinar (and you haven’t been muted by the webinar organiser). This can be tested by selecting “Test Computer Audio” or “Test Speaker and Microphone” option in the pre-meeting window.

Manually join a webinar

1. Locate the meeting ID/webinar ID from your registration email. It may appear at the end of the phone dial-in information, or it will be in the join link, just after https://zoom.us/w/
2. Sign in to the Zoom desktop or mobile app.
   Note: You do not need to be signed in to the Zoom. However if you are not, you will need to provide your name and email address to join. If registration is required, you will need to complete registration and use the link to join the webinar. By registering, the webinar host can track your attendance and whether you qualify for a CPD certificate.
3. Click or tap Join.
4. Enter the webinar ID, and click Join or tap Join Meeting.
5. If prompted, enter your name and email address, then click Join Webinar or tap Join.

Note: If joining a live webinar, the webinar will automatically open in a desktop browser. Supported browsers include Chrome, Safari, and Chromium Edge.

Wait for the host to start the webinar

If the host hasn’t started broadcasting the webinar or is preparing using a practice session, you’ll receive one of the following messages depending on your device type: Please wait for the host to start this webinar or Waiting for the host to start this meeting.

If you receive a message showing the date and time of the webinar, check the date and start time of the webinar including the time zone. Make sure to join before the webinar starts as we will start right on the allocated time.

How to use webinar attendee controls

Windows | macOS

Audio Settings (only visible if the host hasn’t granted you permission to talk): Change your audio settings. You can also click the upward arrow (^) next to change your speaker.

Unmute  / Mute : All webinar attendees will be muted. If the host gives you permission, you can unmute and talk during the webinar. All participants will be able to hear you. If the host allows you to talk, you will receive a notification about staying on mute or unmuting.
Note: You can still access the audio settings by click on the ^ arrow next to the Unmute/Mute button.

Chat  : The host will share documents such as CPD questions via the Chat menu.

Opening the webinar chat, allows you to send messages to the host, panelists, and attendees (if permitted).

Raise Hand : Raise your hand in the webinar to indicate that you need something from the host. The host may instruct you on how they plan to use this. Many webinar hosts use this feature to know if an attendee has a question and would like to speak out loud.

Question & Answer : Open the Q&A window, allowing you to ask questions to the host and panelists. They can either reply back to you via text in the Q&A window or answer your question live.

To ask a question:

1. Enter your question into the Q&A box, then click Send.
   Notes:
   • Select Send Anonymously if you do not want your name attached to your question in the Q&A.
   • If you see a prompt that your message has triggered a Chat Etiquette policy, you are either warned or blocked from sending the message based on what your account admin has configured. The Chat Etiquette Tool does not send additional message information, like data, metadata, and event information, to the account admin, to Zoom, or to any 3rd party services, whether the message triggers Chat Etiquette policies or not.
2. If the host replies via the Q&A, you will see a reply in the Q&A window. The host can also answer your question live (out loud). You will see a notification in the Q&A window if the host plans to do this.

As an attendee you can also like or comment on other attendee’s questions. This helps the host or participant identify popular questions, especially in a webinar with many attendees.

1. Click the thumbs up icon to like a comment.
   Tip: The number beside the icon is the total number of likes the question has received so far.
2. Click the red thumbs up icon to unlike the comment.
3. Click Comment to write a reply to an existing question.
4. Enter your comment and click Send.
   Your comment will appear beneath the question.

Leave meeting: Click Leave meeting to leave the webinar at any time. If you leave, you can rejoin if the webinar is still in progress, as long as the host has not locked the webinar.

Polls and Quizzes: Polls and quizzes may be launched by the host or presenters, which will appear on your screen. These are an optional way to interact with the host, presenters, and their presentation.

For users on multiple screens, the location of the window will vary slightly.

• On Windows devices, the polls and quiz windows will appear on the initial screen the webinar was located when the poll was launched. So, if the Zoom Webinar window was on screen 1 when the host launched the poll, then all poll windows will appear on screen 1, unless the attendee moves the poll window to a different location, which becomes the new default location.
• On macOS devices, the poll will appear on the active screen, regardless of the location of the Zoom Webinar window.

 

Webinar trouble shooting Q&As

1. I can’t hear the webinar

Check sound settings are turned on and not muted, and make sure your computer or mobile device has sound. It is worthwhile doing a tech check before the presentation starts. If the problem persists, please let the host know via the “Q&A” tab.

2. I can’t see the slides

If you cannot see any slides and the presenter starts the presentation, please let the host know in the Q&A tab.

3. I don’t know where the CPD questions are

The CPD questions will be in the ‘Chat’ tab. If you still cannot locate them, please email us at info@informedpc.com.au and we will send a copy to you as soon as possible.

4. The webinar presentation is blurry

If you cannot see the content clearly, please let the webinar host know by typing in the Q&A tab. A copy of the presentation slides is usually sent along with the attendance certificate a few days after the webinar. If you still cannot follow the webinar, let us know and we will send you a recording when it becomes available.

5. The webinar keeps freezing

Try turning the webinar off and then logging back on – this can sometimes resolve the problem. The webinar may also be affected by slow WiFi connection if you are in an unstable area, or if your device has not been installing latest updates. If the situation becomes worse, please let us know and we can send you the recording.

6. I have dropped out of the webinar and can’t rejoin

Please email us at info@informedpc.com.au for a copy of the recording.