For tips and instructions on all features of Adobe Connect, go to the Help pages created by Adobe Connect.

Before your Adobe Connect Meeting, it is sensible to complete some steps to ensure that everything goes smoothly for you and the participants. Be sure to perform the procedures on the computer you intend to use for the meeting.

Days Before the Meeting

1. If you have not already done so, create your meeting space. See the Adobe Connect 'Create meetings' page.

Set up your equipment and settings; see Preparing for a Meeting for instructions.

2. Prepare your equipment and settings:


• test your connection


• test your webcam


• live test your video and audio


• set room bandwith and connection speed


3. Log into your room and prepare the space by adding and deleting pods.


4. Send participants a reminder of the meeting time and URL. If you wish, send a participant's guide with your email.
   
   
5. Decide on audience participation or interaction. Participants can interact in one or all of three ways:
   
   
• Use the Chat Pod to type in questions or comments


• Use the Emoticons available in the Attendee List Pod


• Use audio through Adobe Connect. If you want participants to talk through Adobe Connect, make sure they have a microphone. A headset is better than an internal microphone on the computer.
  
  
6. If you are giving a presentation, plan and prepare any materials you will need (handouts, powerpoint presentations, graphics, weblinks etc).

On the Day of the Meeting

1. Log into the meeting room well in advance of the time for your meeting. This will help you get focused before beginning your presentation.
   
   
2. Turn off the screen saver on your computer.


3. Set the screen to a small resolution (such as 800 x 600).
   
   
4. Clear and organize your computer's desktop. Shut down non-essential applications (including IM, MSN, and so forth).
   
   
5. Turn off your telephone, close your door and hang a "Do not disturb" sign on the outside.
   
   
6. Start the applications that you will share.
   
   
7. Test your audio, check the speaker volume, check for audio feedback. See Preparing for a Meeting for detailed instructions.
   
   
8. Turn on your camera, start sharing, then pause the video on an image you like. Too much movement is distracting to your audience and takes up bandwidth which can then detract from the sound quality.


9. To ensure that sound and images are adequately displayed, you may wish to open a browser on another computer and link to the URL for the meeting. Sign in as a guest. You can view the webcam images and slides and you can test that your voice is being transmitted.
   
   
10. Set connection speeds for the presentation. See Preparing for a Meeting for detailed instructions.
    
    
11. In a notes pod, type housekeeping information to remind participants to
    
    
    • turn on their camera, start sharing, and then pause it when they are satisfied with the headshot to lessen the amount of bandwidth used
      
      
    • mute your microphone
    
    
    • turn off email and other Internet applications to conserve bandwidth
      
      
12. Consider posting a note telling participants whether you will take questions throughout or set aside a particular question period.
    
    
13. If you have an agenda, you can put that in a note pod as well.
    
    
14. Upload your materials to your meeting space.
    
    
If you plan to use documents in your presentation, prepare them for use in Adobe Connect. For more instructions, see A Quick Guide to Preparing Documents for Adobe Connect.