Online Presentation FAQs

What is the time zone?  

Central Daylight Standard Time Zone

How much time do we have? 

Most sessions are 45 minutes. We ask that you allow the remaining 10 or so for discussion so as to honor the "conversation" aspect of the Summit theme. The final 10  or 15 minutes of each session should be allocated for open conversation depending on the presenters. At this time, participants can put your question or comment in the chat, and the presenter will then answer your question or invite you to unmute to share your question, comment, or insight. 

Will I have tech support in the presentation room?

Yes, each presentation room has a dedicated tech support person. See our home page for their names and pictures. There will be a slide to great you so you know you are in the right room 15 minutes BEFORE your session. The tech person will make sure you have all the access you need to controls and help you get your slides ready. The tech person will collect attendance and also let you know when you have 5 minutes remaining. 

What are discussants? 

In the spirit of reciprocity, your session participants will serve as discussants for one other session. In this setting, discussants are primarily there to get the conversation started. If needed, you may provide professional and constructive conversation, raising issues for broader consideration during the session. Perhaps you can connect your session to the plenaries and other concurrent sessions throughout the day. A discussant may draw upon their expertise or views in commenting on presentations. Discussants have been assigned according to a perceived shared interest (e.g., mental health and trauma) and/or a perceived different role in YAL (e.g., an author at a research panel) based on the submitted proposal.

There is  no need to send materials to discussants ahead of time unless you wish to do so. There role is only to start the conversation, not evaluative in any way.

Where are the links to the sessions? 

We are pleased to offer the Summit online for Friday, April 21, 2023. The: links will be emailed to the email with which you registered the day before the Summit. Each room will have the same link all day with the same password for all rooms and sessions. 


To join your session, you will click on the link provided on the program, which will be available at 8:30AM (CST). We recommend you join your Zoom room 5-10 minutes before your session to be sure you can access the link. The Zoom host will give you screen-share access and briefly introduce you to begin the session (e.g., the name of the session and presenters' names). Then, they will be available for any tech questions or concerns. They will also let you know when 5 minutes remain. It is up to you and your co-presenter to monitor the chat and moderate any discussion if you choose to allow it though the Zoom host will help as they can.


We will not be recording the sessions so as to allow a safe(r) space for teachers to share concerns and classroom stories and to protect your intellectual property.


How do I share materials with participants? 


If you'd like to share materials, a hyperlink can be easily shared in the chat. (Be sure you have selected "view only" sharing access.) The chat may also allow for you to drop/upload a file. Another alternative is to share your email to welcome inquiries about your presentation or materials. Of course, there may be other options you've found as an experienced Zoom-er.


How do I make sure wi-fi is stable?


Regarding wi-fi stability, be sure to join the session from a strong wi-fi location. You may need to close any apps on your device that you do not need to preserve bandwidth. If you do have problems, during the presentation, you can turn off your video to save bandwidth, too. Also, the Zoom host can share their screen to present your slides, but again, for that you must have your slides accessible. If you are concerned, an  option is to email your slides to the Zoom host (see email addresses above). 


How do I set up my online Summit space?


We imagine you may be adept at setting up and facilitating a Zoom presentation, but if you'd like some guidance, we recommend setting up your home-office-closet-kitchen presentation space so that you are facing a natural light source (window) or, at minimum have a lamp in front of you rather than being back or side lit. We recommend doing a practice Zoom presentation at home (invite a friend or family member to join) to be sure your video and sound are strong. Here is one helpful tutorial about the aesthetic of online presenting, but YouTube has many. 


Finally, be mindful of time. Each session is 45 minutes. There are 15 minutes between sessions.. While the Zoom host will let you know when 5 minutes remain, it is helpful for you to also monitor this so that the Zoom host does not have to cut you off. 

Presenter Tips

We offer a few short checklist to support you in preparing for and enjoying your presentation experience.

Checklist for preparing for your Summit session

Checklist for the day of your Summit presentation

Checklist for the presentation itself

Checklist for after your presentation