You don’t need to install software on your computer in order to use BigBlueButton. All you need is a browser. The embedded video conference will be shown once you click on your workshop tent on the map.
You should be using the latest browser version available for your system, which should be installed if automatic updates are enabled.
As you join the BigBlueButton conference, you are asked first if you want to join with or without microphone. Your browser will ask you to grant permission to access the microphone, if you chose so. Following there will be an echo test, where you can check our audio setup. If you can hear yourself clearly, you can confirm with the green thumbs up. All those settings can be changed later on.
You made it to the main conference room.
In the main menu (lower right), you can (un-)mute yourself and (de-)activate your webcam. (Again, your browser will ask you to grant permission.)
On the left side bar is the interaction menu. There you will find the user list with their respective role (moderators, presenters, etc.) and how they joined the conference (microphone on/off, webcam etc.). Above the user list, there will be (depending on your workshop) different other features (public chat, breakout groups etc.), by clicking they will show up respectively.
Above the presentation view, there are the usernames of the currently speaking persons and the videos of the users with activated webcams.
Usage of the Webcam
Especially at the beginning it is nice to see the other people present in the same room. As video streaming demand high bandwidths (might lead to connection problems), video should be switched off later on, if it is not necessary in the ongoing workshop. Besides that you can reduce the quality in the settings to save both network as well as computing resources.
Thanks to https://ras2020.raumstation.org/ for their text.
