Starting a Meeting

A moderator can activate a Discussions meeting – allowing participants to join – before or at the official start time. A list of any upcoming sessions for the current day that a user has been assigned as a Moderator or Observer, is displayed at the top of the Discussions screen for the Hub in which the Discussions project resides.

Start a Discussions Session

1. Click the Join Now or Join Early buttons, depending on whether you are starting the meeting now or prior to the start time.

   

2. A new browser tab opens with the Waiting Room. If the meeting you are starting isn't scheduled to start within the next 15 minutes from now, you are shown a countdown timer before you are able to start the session.

   Note: An Observer cannot start a session, but only join one that has already been started by a Moderator.

   
   

   1. While in the Discussions Waiting Room, you will see a prompt requesting permission to use your microphone and camera. Select Allow to grant the necessary permissions.

   2. The Waiting Room has a welcome message, instructions to allow access to your microphone and camera, and a countdown timer indicating when the session is scheduled to start.

   3. Configure your audio and video settings directly from the waiting room. You can test your microphone and speakers to ensure they are working correctly before joining the session.

   4. If you prefer to join the session on your mobile device, scan the QR code with your phone. The QR code will direct you to install the Forsta Discussions app on iOS or Android and join the session seamlessly.

3. Click Start Session to join the meeting.

   
   

The meeting is now live and participants and observers can join the meeting. Video and Audio recording automatically starts as soon as the Moderator starts a session. For information on how to use the Discussions Meeting Room, see Running a Meeting.