Instructor's Guide

Use Video Conferencing
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CloudShare's live video conferencing can dramatically improve engagement and retention for a class.

Live video conferencing features are available to you in any class, at any time, via our built-in video/audio component. There’s no need to configure or use any other external applications.

Note

Built-in video conferencing features are available only when using CloudShare's new class Viewer.

  1. Open the Instructor Console for the class. The live video component appears in the lower right corner:

    VideoChooseBroadcastType-Button_070421.png

    If you are not using video conferencing in a class, you can hide its window by clicking Minimize in the upper right corner of the video component.

  2. Choose a broadcast meeting type:

    • Click Broadcast with conference mode to create an interactive video conference that enables participants to speak and broadcast to the class.

    • Click Broadcast with webinar mode to create lecture-style video conference that enables only the Instructor to speak and broadcast to the class.

    Tip

    As an Instructor, you can change the meeting type for the video broadcast, even after the broadcast begins.

    After you select your option, the Audio and Video Settings popup will be displayed:

    VideoSourceSettingsDialog_070421.png

  3. From the dropdown menus that appear, select the Microphone, Speakers and Camera devices that will be used for the broadcast. (If no choices are available for one or more of the options, check to ensure that all the hardware is connected and working properly.)

    Note

    On first use, you'll need to consent to allowing CloudShare's video conferencing function to access the camera and microphone on your browser.

    Test your microphone volume by speaking out loud while the popup is open. The volume bars underneath the Microphone setting will light up while you speak to help you determine the best volume level.

    Test your speaker volume by clicking Test next to the Speakers setting. A test audio clip will be played to help you determine the best audio volume level.

  4. When you have finished with all the settings, click Join. A Broadcast is Loading message and icon will be displayed while your live video broadcast is being initialized.

    In a short time (typically a few seconds), an image from your selected camera will appear in the live video component.

    Class participants can now see your active video, and you can begin the conference or webinar session.

Working with the Video Component

The CloudShare live video component works like any other window. It can be resized and moved anywhere on screen at any time. It can also be 'popped out' of the Instructor Console window and even moved to a second monitor, when needed.

VideoPlayerInstructor-annotated

Player Sizing and Location Options

You can drag the player to the location you want in the Instructor Console.

In addition, use the buttons located in the upper right corner to resize and relocate the player:

VideoPlayerSizeButtons-annotated_020621.png

  • Click the Minimize icon to hide the player. Only a menu bar for the player will be displayed:

    VideoPlayerMinimized_070421.png

  • Click the Maximize icon to return to the player to its default size.

  • Click the Full Screen icon to enlarge the player to the full size of the currently active window. Using Full Screen mode also displays all current participants. The player uses your monitor resolution settings to determine the best fit.

    To return the player to its default size, click the Small Screen VideoSmallScreen_icon.png icon that is displayed at the upper right corner of the Full Screen.

  • Click the Popout VideoPopOutPlayer_icon.png icon to relocate the video player to a separate window outside of the Instructor Console. This feature enables you to view the video session without hiding or interfering with any other component of the Viewer. You can drag a popped-out window to any other screen location -- including to a second display monitor in your configuration.

    To return the player to its default location inside the Instructor Console window, click the Popback VideoPopInPlayer_icon.png icon that is displayed at the upper right of the popped-out window, or simply close the popped-out window.

Number of Participants

Participant List (Full Screen Only)

  • The current number of people attending the conference or webinar is displayed next to the eye icon, located in the upper right of the mini-player.

  • In Full Screen mode, you can see a complete list of participants by name by clicking the Participants button at the bottom of the player.

    VideoParticipantsList_160621.png

    The list also displays icons for the current status of each participant's microphone and camera, and whether they have raised their hand.

Change Viewing Modes

(Full Screen Only)

Whenever you use the player in Full Screen mode, the view toggle button is displayed at the top right:

VideoViewModeButtons_280721.png

  • Speaker View displays thumbnail images of all participants in a single row across the top of the player.

  • Gallery View arranges thumbnail images of all participants in a matrix:

    VideoGalleryViewMockup_280721.png

    The actual size and arrangement of the thumbnails will depend on the number of participants.

    To scroll through a large group of thumbnails, click the arrow icons located at the left and right of the Gallery View page.

    You can maximize the display area for thumbnails in the player by clicking the Participants button at the bottom of the player. Clicking the button again will re-display the list.

Hand Raises

Participants can use the Raise Hand feature to indicate that they wish to speak during the video session. When a participant clicks the Raise Hand button, a blue hand icon will be displayed next to their thumbnail image.

To turn off a participant's hand raising request, an Instructor can click on the blue hand icon next to their thumbnail image.

The number of participants who currently have raised their hands is displayed at the top right of the mini-player. In Full Screen mode, a hand icon will be displayed to the right of any participant who has clicked Raise Hand button.

An Instructor can manually disable the hand raising feature for the video session at any time. In Full Screen mode, click on the Disable Hand Raising button located at the bottom of the Participants List. To re-enable hand raising, click on the button once again.

When an Instructor disables hand raising, all blue hand icons will disappear from participant thumbnails. Prior hand raises are not remembered if the feature is enabled later on.

Stop Video

Turns off your camera and stops the video signal from being broadcast.

Mute Audio

Turns off your microphone and stops the audio signal from being broadcast.

To mute other participants:

  • Mute All. Clicking on the small up arrow next to the Mute icon displays the Mute All option. Click Mute All to instantly turn off the microphones of all other participants:

    VideoMuteAllOption_160621.png

    After Mute All is activated, each participant can manually turn on their own microphone at any time.

  • Mute a Single Participant. In Full Screen mode, hovering over a participant in the Participants List displays the Mute option. Click Mute to instantly turn off the microphone for that participant:

    MuteSingleParticipant_120921.png

    When Mute is active, the microphone icon shows as disabled.

    Hovering over a muted participant displays the Unmute option. Click Unmute to send an unmute request to that participant. The participant can then choose to accept or reject turning on their microphone.

Share Screen

Turns on the sharing feature, enabling an Instructor to choose from any of the following elements for broadcast to the class:

  • your entire desktop screen

  • a selected application window from the desktop

  • a selected tab from the browser

An Instructor can activate screen sharing together with the video broadcast.

Note

Participants using the mini-player will not see Instructor's video while screen sharing is active.

Change Mode

Enables the Instructor to switch between Conference and Webinar modes during the current broadcast.

Stop Broadcast

Ends the current broadcast, exiting the live video activity.

Settings Menu

Opens the Audio and Video Settings popup, enabling you to view and change device characteristics.

Minimum Requirements for Video Conferencing

In order to use CloudShare video conferencing features, the following requirements must be met:

  • CloudShare's new class Viewer must be used.

  • CloudShare's video conferencing function must be allowed to access the camera and microphone on the participant's browser.

  • A compatible modern browser must be used (e.g., Google Chrome, Apple Safari, Mozilla Firefox, Opera and Microsoft Edge).

  • Video conference participants must be logged in to the CloudShare platform.

  • CloudShare uses Amazon Chime as the provider for video conferencing, which requires that port TCP/443 be accessible from the participant's browser to run the audio/video component. More specific information from Amazon Chime can be found here.

  • Minimum recommended bandwidth for highest quality performance:

    • Instructor: 1.2 Mbps upstream/downstream

    • Up to 4 Participants: 450 Kbps upstream, 400 Kbps for each participant downstream

    • From 5 to 16 Participants: 184 Kbps upstream, 134 Kbps for each participant downstream

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