Adobe Connect - My reflections

Recently, I worked with a team on the PROSPER NWG to develop and present a webinar for extension personnel interested in the project. As we utilized our previous AC training and started experiencing it first hand, there is a list of "how-to's" I would like to share so you can avoid some of the same learning opportunities that we did.


Things I learned about Adobe Connect Meetings:

When setting up the room, you can “auto-promote” folks that enter to PRESENTER status. This is okay for small meetings with a few people. If you are doing a presentation with lots of folks though, consider assigning PRESENTER status on an "as needed" basis.

Have all of the co presenters enter the room well in advance (1/2 hour was sufficient) and complete the Audio Wizard to make sure that everything is functioning {See the next blog entry on how to complete the audio wizard}

Outline expectations with participants just like you would during a face to face. You obviously do not need to tell them where the bathrooms are, but sharing what your expected procedure is for asking questions..i.e.: typing the questions in the chat box or raising your hand to speak.

There are three status levels:

Administrator – can make changes to the layout and control pods, and most importantly, assign status levels of others. Room monitor should have this status.

Presenters – these folks can control the flow of the information and can talk using the mic button

Participant – they can listen and type in the chat boxes

When conducting your meeting, assign a co presenter the task of tracking questions to come back and answer. If your expectation is to type them into the text box, the question can be cut and pasted into the NOTES pod

Another option depending upon how you are running your meeting, you can ask participants to raise their hand to indicate they would like to speak. If that happens, the Administrator can click on the person’s name in the attendance box, and give the Presenter status. It would be smart to remove that status when they are done.

Make sure to go review room expectations with my co-presenters before you start (you should have a practice run or two before you complete a webinar)

Once the leader has the room set up to share the way s/he needs it, make sure the others do not change the settings

Remind the team that whoever is in charge of operating the advance buttons on the PPT (if you use it) is the only one doing it

Do not press anything in the big gray presentation box including anything regarding Sharing

If someone is going to present/speak, encourage them to use a headset and not the built in mic on their computer…sound cuts out quite a bit

One recommendation that we received is to do the set up wizard each time to make sure things are functional…you don’t want to look like a knucklehead if your stuff doesn’t work…attached is a cheat sheet I made for some of my peers that had difficulty doing just that

Have all of your documents loaded and ready to go

If you have other presenters and you press “Share my Desktop” it means just that...you will share your desktop and they can play with your stuff

Good luck. Don't hesitate to contact me if you would like, I will be glad to share my experience with you.