Virtual Conference 2026: Tips for Using the Webinar Platform

The Share My Lesson Virtual Conference is packed with inspiring presenters, practical strategies and engaging conversations with fellow educators. To help you get the most out of your experience, we’ve put together a quick guide to help you navigate the conference platform and make sure you receive your professional development credit. Note: It’s not too late if you want to register for free: https://webinars.on24.com/aft/VC2026. 

Tech Check

Follow these technology tips to ensure a smooth webinar experience:

• Use a laptop or desktop for the best experience. Note: You won’t be able to download your professional development certificate from a smartphone or tablet. However, you can log in from a desktop or laptop as soon as an hour after the webinar to access the certificate.
• Choose the right browser. For the best performance, use Google Chrome, Safari or Firefox.
• Fix audio issues quickly. If you still hear lobby music after the webinar starts or experience other sound problems, try refreshing your screen.
• Improve connectivity. If you’re having trouble staying connected, close any other applications that may be using up bandwidth.

By checking these in advance, you’ll be all set for a seamless experience. 

Closed Captioning and Live Translation

Closed captioning in English is now available for live viewing within the platform. Note: Captioning in English and Spanish are available automatically during the on-demand version.

If you’d like live captioning with translation in another language, you can enable it through Google Chrome by following these steps:

1. Open Google Chrome on your Windows, Mac or Linux computer.
2. Click the three-dot menu icon in the top-right corner.
3. Select "Settings" from the menu.
4. In the left sidebar, expand the "Advanced" section and select "Accessibility."
5. Toggle on "Live Caption."
6. Under "Supported Live Caption languages," add your preferred language and set it as the default.
7. Toggle on "Live Translate."
8. Under "Translate captions to," select your preferred language.

Top Navigation

The top navigation bar is the most important feature to know when using the platform. It allows you to quickly move between the key areas of the webinar environment.

Media Player

The Media Player will already be open and visible on your screen when you enter the webinar. This is where you will see the presenters speaking or any videos that are shared during the webinar.

You can minimize or maximize the media player during the presentation. However, please note that if you choose to maximize it or make it your whole screen, you will not see the presentation slides or pop-up polls that appear during the webinar.

If you accidentally close the media player, simply click Media Player in the top navigation, and it will reopen.

Slides

The Slides tab displays the presentation slides shared by the presenters during the webinar. These slides will already be visible when you enter the session, so you can easily follow along with the presentation.

If you accidentally close the slides window, click Slides in the top navigation to reopen it.

Resource List

Many presenters share additional materials such as lesson plans, handouts or helpful links. These resources can be found in the Resource List tab in the top navigation.

Speaker Bio

If you want to learn more about the presenters, click on Speaker Bio to read about the educators and experts leading the session.

Q&A

If you have a question during the webinar, the Q&A tab allows you to submit questions directly to the presenters or technical support. If you’re experiencing technical issues, the support team will respond there to help you troubleshoot. Moderators may also select questions from the Q&A to be answered by the presenters during the session.

Group Chat

The Group Chat is a great place to connect with fellow educators attending the webinar. Click on Group Chat in the top navigation to open it, and then use the chat to share ideas, discuss strategies mentioned during the presentation and engage with the learning community. Presenters may also ask participants to respond to questions in the chat during the webinar, and they may read and respond to comments live during the session.

Emoji Reactions

If you want to show the presenters some appreciation, use the emoji reactions!

Click on the emojis at the bottom of your screen and they will appear on the presenter’s screen in real time.

If you’re not seeing the emojis, click Engagement Tools in the top navigation and select Reactions from the dropdown menu. The emoji bar will then appear at the bottom of your screen.

Poll Questions

To qualify for a downloadable PD certificate, you must:

1. Answer at least two poll questions.
2. Listen to at least 35 minutes of the webinar.

All polls will pop up in a small window on your screen during the session. Simply click on your answer, and then click submit. (See image below.) Learn more about earning credit here. 

How to Access Your Certificate

After completing the webinar requirements, your certificate will be immediately available to download.

Depending on your computer’s screen size, the certification may appear in one of two places. 

It may appear highlighted in the top navigation where you can click on it and then download and save.

If you do not see it highlighted in the top navigation, then follow these steps: 

1. Click Engagement Tools in the top navigation menu.
2. Select Certification from the dropdown menu.
3. Your certificate will be available to download and save.