---
title: "Participating in a Kaltura Virtual Classroom"
canonical: "https://helpcentre.macewan.ca/space/ETS/1819738148/Participating%20in%20a%20Kaltura%20Virtual%20Classroom"
format: markdown
---
### Test your browser’s compatibility, webcam, microphone, speaker, and internet connectivity.
Kaltura Virtual Classroom is a video conferencing platform similar to Microsoft Teams and Zoom. Instructors and students can meet in a Kaltura Virtual Classroom equipped with interactive tools such as breakout rooms, digital whiteboard, screen sharing, and more. You can teach a class, have office hours, or facilitate small group work via Kaltura Virtual Classroom.
Prior to facilitating or participating in Kaltura virtual class, instructors, students, and guests are encouraged:
- to perform a [Quick Tech Check](https://smart.newrow.com/kme-test) to ensure they can successfully connect to Kaltura virtual classroom
- to ensure their environment meets Kaltura’s [recommended system requirements](https://knowledge.kaltura.com/help/kaltura-meeting-recommended-system-requirements-nr2)
- to check if their [operating system](https://knowledge.kaltura.com/help/is-your-webcam-or-microphone-blocked-in-the-kaltura-live-room-by-an-operating-system) is blocking Kaltura access to your webcam and/or microphone
- to check if their [internet browser](https://knowledge.kaltura.com/help/is-your-webcam-or-microphone-blocked-by-browser) is blocking Kaltura access to your webcam and/or microphone
### Joining a Kaltura Virtual Class
**via a mêskanâs course**
1. Log in to your mêskanâs and navigate to a course.
2. Within that course, on the right-hand side, click to expand the Block section.
3. Scroll down to locate Kaltura Media Gallery block and click on Media Gallery.
4. Click on Join Class.
---
**via a Guest Link**
You can join the session by either clicking on the shared URL or manually entering the URL in your browser’s address bar. Once you have accessed the session, provide your name and email address as requested, and click on the **Join The Session** button to participate.
Depending on your instructor’s or moderator’s preference, you may not be able to enter the class right away. In such cases, when the door is locked, you will be directed to a room lobby and see a banner welcoming you, asking you to wait until you are admitted into the classroom.
### Activate your webcam and microphone
The first time you join a Kaltura Meetings live session, you are prompted to activate your webcam and microphone. If you are not sure how to do this, click the link below to view the article on how to activate your webcam and microphone:
[https://macewan.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/ETS/pages/1809711114](https://macewan.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/ETS/pages/1809711114)
### Enabling closed captioning
Automated closed captioning, in English, for Kaltura Virtual Classroom is available via the Google Chrome Browser:
1. On your computer, open **Chrome**.
2. At the top right, click **More** and then Settings.
3. At the bottom of the Settings page, click **Accessibility**.
4. Turn on **Live Caption**.
You can also customize your captions to make them easier to read:
- Collapse and expand captions with the arrow on the caption box.
- Select the captions to move them to your preferred place on your browser.
- Change your caption font, size, colour, and opacity.
- Change the background colour and opacity.
Please visit [Use Live Caption in Chrome](https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/10538231?hl=en) to learn more.
> Macro (iframe)
### Raising your hand to catch the instructor’s/moderator’s attention
**Raise Hand**
1. In the live session, click the **Raise Hand** icon.
2. After your hand is raised, you will see the icon in a selected state.
**Lower Hand**
After your question has been addressed by the instructor or moderator, they have the ability to lower your hand. However, if you no longer require their attention, you can manually lower your hand by clicking the “Raise Hand” icon once again.
### Sending chat messages
There are three types of chat rooms available in Kaltura Virtual Class: Public Room chat, Private Questions, and Answer chat, and 1-on-1 chat. However, it’s important to note that instructors or moderators have the option to restrict access to only the type of chat that is available to students or participants.
#### **Display/Hide Chat**
When you first enter a classroom, the chat is displayed by default. In case the chat was dismissed, you can bring it back by clicking on **Chat** in the top row. To hide the chat, you can click on the **x** in the top-right corner of the chat window or click on **Chat** in the top row once again.
#### **Classroom Chat**
Both instructors/moderators and students/participants can communicate with each other through the classroom chat feature. It’s important to note that any messages sent through the chat will be visible to all users present in the session.
1. In the Chat window, click the **Classroom Chat **button.
2. Enter in your message in the text entry field located at the bottom of the chat window.
3. Press the **enter** or the **return** key on your keyboard.
4. Click the **reply button** to reply to an individual person. The exchange will be visible to everyone.
#### **Questions & Answers Chat**
Students or participants in class can direct questions to instructors or moderators privately.
1. Click the **Questions & Answers Chat **button.
2. Enter in your message in the text entry field located at the bottom of the chat window.
3. Press the **enter** or the **return** key on your keyboard.
#### **Zoom In on Shared Content **
If the content that is shared during the Kaltura Virtual Class session appears too small to view, such as presentations, PDFs, or a shared screen, you can zoom in to get a closer look. Once you have zoomed in, you can use the cursor as a hand grabber to navigate throughout the screen.
You cannot zoom in on uploaded videos, YouTube videos, and Audio files.
**Zoom In/Out**
To access the Zoom buttons, hover your cursor over the shared content. You will see a **Plus **and** Minus** button.
- Click the **Plus** button to zoom in.
- Click the **Minus** button to zoom out.
**Navigate Zoomed-In Content**
After you have zoomed in on the shared content, you can use your cursor to move around the content to get a closer look at different parts of the shared content.
- When your cursor is over the shared content, you will see it appear as a **Hand**.
- Click and drag to move around the shared content.
### Using a Breakout Room
Sometimes, it is necessary to split the participants apart into private rooms. Click the resources below to learn how to set up a breakout room.
> ℹ️ **Kaltura Resource:**
> ℹ️
> ℹ️ [https://knowledge.kaltura.com/help/kme-breakout-rooms](https://knowledge.kaltura.com/help/kme-breakout-rooms)
### Ending or leaving a Kaltura virtual classroom
Students/participants can leave a Kaltura virtual classroom by closing the browser window or navigating to another browser window. Participants can also click the Leave Session button to leave the session.
1. On the top row, click the three dots menu.
2. Select **Leave Session**.
3. Click **Yes** to confirm you want to leave the session.
You are redirected to a screen that confirms you have left the session. You can easily rejoin the session by clicking the text “***Rejoin the session?***” via your mêskanâs course or via the guest invitation link.
