Training at IALS Library: Online training FAQ

What platform will the online training sessions be held on?

All of the online training sessions advertised in this guide will be held as Zoom webinars. 

A Zoom webinar is a bit different to a Zoom meeting in that you will be able to see and hear the trainer, but they will not be able to see or hear you. You can interact with the trainer by asking questions in the Q&A panel.

How do I join the session?

You must always book a place for the session. The link to join the session will be sent to you in an email; usually this is sent in the early hours on the day the training session is due to take place. Please do not share this link with anyone else. If you cannot see the email in your inbox three hours before the start of the training session, check your spam/junk folder. If you have not received the booking link three hours before the session is due to start, please contact us ials@sas.ac.uk

Do I need to download anything to join the session?

If you are using a PC or laptop, you do not have to download anything in order to join the training session, you can choose to join in the browser, however, downloading the application is likely to provide a better user experience.

Download Zoom

If you are using a mobile phone or some tablets, you will need to download the free Zoom app in order to join the session.

What browser should I use?

We recommend using a recent version of Chrome, Firefox, Edge or Safari for the best experience if you are joining the session in a browser.

Do I need a camera or microphone to take part?

You do not need a camera or microphone to take part in the training sessions.

Can I use my mobile phone or tablet?

We recommend using a PC or laptop for these sessions as this will provide the best experience. It is possible to use a phone or tablet, but the experience may not be optimal.

How do I ask questions during the training session?

Use the Q&A panel to ask the moderator questions during the session.

To open the Q&A panel in Zoom, click on the icon :

Questions are initially private (they will only be seen by the presenter and/or moderator) but if the moderator deems it to be of general use, they may publish the question (this means that all attendees can see the question and the answer). You can choose to submit your question anonymously if you wish.

Will the sessions be recorded?

Some of the training sessions are recorded. If you want to view a recording from a training session, please email us at ials@sas.ac.uk

There is no sound

This issue may be caused by your volume or speaker settings. Here are some suggestions to try:

• Check that the volume is turned up on your computer
• Check that the volume is turned up in the Zoom application using the volume slider
• If you are using headphones, make sure your system audio is configured to use them
• Try exiting and re-entering the session
• Try re-booting your computer

The video is freezing or glitching

This may be caused by connection or bandwidth problems. Here are some suggestions to try:

• Eliminate bandwidth competition by closing any browser windows you're not using. Do not use the network to stream or upload anything else at the same time
• Try exiting and re-entering the session
• Try re-booting your computer
• If possible, use a wired connection

Unable to join the session in the browser / seeing an error message when trying to join in the browser

This may be caused by a browser compatibility issue. Try using a different browser.