Hosting a live class

Before your first class

Do a quick dry run at least 24 hours before your first class to rule out hardware and permission issues. Check:

• Your class is scheduled in the batch management page and shows status SCHEDULED. If you don't see a Start class button 15 minutes before class time, the class is either not yet scheduled or you're not assigned as a teacher for that batch.
• Your browser has camera and microphone permissions. Chrome and Edge work best. Safari on macOS 13+ also works well.
• You're on a stable internet connection — wired Ethernet is ideal, or 5 GHz Wi-Fi. Avoid hosting from a mobile hotspot if possible.
• Your background is clean or you've enabled a virtual background (available in the video room settings).
• You have the materials for today's class open and ready: PDF notes, browser tabs, or presentation file.

Technical requirements

• Browser: Chrome 90+, Edge 90+, Firefox 88+, or Safari 14.1+. Mobile browsers (Chrome on Android, Safari on iOS) work for joining but are not recommended for hosting — screen share is limited on mobile.
• Camera: Any 720p webcam. 1080p is ideal for whiteboard-style teaching.
• Microphone: A USB headset or clip-on lapel mic gives significantly better audio than the built-in laptop mic. Echo and background noise are the top student complaint — invest in a basic headset.
• Internet: Minimum 5 Mbps upload for 720p video. 10 Mbps is comfortable with screen sharing active. Run a speed test at fast.com before class if unsure.
• Display: A second monitor lets you keep your notes or presentation on one screen and the class room on the other without alt-tabbing.

Step 1 — Start the class

1. Go to your course management page. The Start class button appears next to a scheduled session 15 minutes before class time.
2. Click Start class. A new tab opens with the class room loading screen.
3. Allow camera and microphone access when the browser prompt appears.
4. You enter the room as Host. Students who are already waiting in the lobby will be admitted automatically once you start the session.
5. Announce yourself and do a quick audio check: "Can everyone hear me clearly?" before starting the lesson.

Step 2 — Camera & microphone

Your camera and microphone are turned on by default when you enter as host. The bottom toolbar has toggle buttons:

• Microphone icon — mute/unmute yourself. Mute when not speaking if there's background noise in your environment.
• Camera icon — turn your video on/off. Keeping video on builds student engagement significantly — don't turn it off unless bandwidth is constrained.
• Settings icon — switch between audio/video devices if you have multiple microphones or cameras. Also lets you set a virtual background.

Step 3 — Screen sharing

Use screen sharing to show presentations, browser tabs, or any application running on your computer.

1. Click the Share screen button (monitor icon) in the toolbar.
2. Your browser will show a picker. Choose one of:
   • Your entire screen — shares everything, including notifications. Turn on Do Not Disturb first.
   • A specific window — only that application window is shared. Recommended for PDFs and presentations.
   • A browser tab — shares just that tab, with built-in audio if the tab plays video. Best for YouTube or recorded lesson clips.
3. While sharing, a green border appears around the shared area. Students see your screen in the main video layout.
4. To stop sharing, click the Stop sharing button in your browser bar or in the class toolbar.

Step 4 — Interactive whiteboard

The built-in whiteboard is ideal for solving problems step-by-step, drawing diagrams, or explaining concepts visually.

1. Click the Whiteboard button (pencil icon) in the toolbar to open the board.
2. Use the left panel to switch between tools: pen, highlighter, eraser, shapes, and text.
3. Change stroke colour and thickness from the toolbar at the top of the whiteboard panel.
4. Add multiple pages using the + Page button — useful for separating topics or problem sets.
5. At the end of class, download the board as a PDF using the export button — share it with students as class notes.

Step 5 — In-class chat

The chat panel lets students ask questions without interrupting the audio stream.

• Click the Chat icon to open the side panel. Messages are visible to all participants.
• Establish a chat etiquette at the start: e.g., "Type your questions in chat, I'll address them every 10 minutes."
• Pinned messages — pin key announcements (like the homework assignment link) so they're visible even as chat scrolls.
• Chat history is saved with the session recording, so students can refer back to links and answers shared during class.

Step 6 — Managing participants

• View participants — click the Participants icon to see who's in the room, their audio/video status, and raised hands.
• Mute all — use "Mute all" at the start of class to silence background noise from students joining late.
• Remove a participant — if a student is disruptive, you can remove them from the session. They cannot re-join without your permission.
• Raise hand queue — students raise hands via the UI. You'll see a raised-hand indicator on their tile and in the participant list. Unmute them to let them speak.

Step 7 — Recordings

Classes are recorded automatically from the moment you click Start class to when you click End class.

• Recording includes: your camera feed, screen share (if active), whiteboard content, and audio from all participants.
• Processing takes 5–15 minutes after the class ends. Once ready, the recording appears in every enrolled student's recordings page.
• You can view and download recordings from your course management page under the relevant batch.
• Recordings are stored for the lifetime of the course. Students lose access if they un-enroll or receive a refund.

Step 8 — End the class

1. Wrap up the lesson content, answer any final chat questions, and announce the next class date.
2. Click the red End class button (not "Leave" — "Leave" exits you but keeps the room open; "End class" closes the room for everyone).
3. Confirm the end-class dialog. The recording will start processing immediately.
4. Post any follow-up notes, homework links, or assignment details in the batch assignments section — students receive a notification.

Bandwidth & connectivity tips

• Use wired Ethernet over Wi-Fi when possible. Even a 20 Mbps Wi-Fi connection can drop frames during congested periods. A ₹200 Ethernet cable is the highest-ROI upgrade.
• Turn off screen sharing when not needed. Screen sharing doubles your outbound bandwidth usage. Only share when actively presenting.
• Lower your video resolution in room settings if students report choppy video. 480p is perfectly clear for teaching and halves the bandwidth requirement versus 720p.
• Pause streaming services and downloads on your home network before class. A single 4K Netflix stream can saturate a 25 Mbps connection.
• If connectivity fails mid-class — rejoin immediately using the same Start class link. Students can remain in the room; they'll see a "Host reconnecting" message.

FAQ

What happens if I accidentally click "Leave" instead of "End class"?

If you click Leave, the room stays open and students remain in it. Rejoin immediately, then click End class. If you were disconnected and can't rejoin within 10 minutes, the room auto-closes and students receive an automatic notification.

Can I add a co-host for large classes?

Add a second teacher to the batch from the batch management page. Any teacher assigned to a batch can start and host that batch's classes, effectively acting as co-host. Both teachers can share screen simultaneously.

Can students record the class themselves?

The platform does not provide a student-side recording button. Browser-level screen recording by individual students is outside the platform's control. If you have IP concerns about your content, mention it in your course terms.

How long are recordings kept?

Recordings are retained as long as the course is active. If you delete a batch or a course, write to [email protected] first — we can archive the recordings before deletion.

A student says they can see/hear me but I can't see/hear them

Ask the student to: (1) click the mic/camera icons to toggle them off and on again, (2) check browser permissions for the site (lock icon in address bar), (3) try a different browser. If the issue persists across browsers, the student's firewall may be blocking WebRTC — advise them to try from a mobile data connection to confirm.