Welcome to the Virtual Conference as a Presenter!

Thank you for offering your expertise and knowledge as one of NASPA's Virtual Conference presenters. This conference gives access to professional development and learning for individuals, teams, divisions, and institutions. This year, the Virtual Conference was offered as both an institutional pre-package and individual registration. The institutional pre-package registration allows all NASPA individual members from that institution to register at no additional cost. 

As a presenter, your session will be live and on-demand for 354 days. Sessions will also include resources supporting them and a facilitation worksheet that can be used to continue the discussion through on-demand learning. 

Accessing your Session

The presenter can access their session in two ways: 1) Through the Online Learning Community in their Dashboard, or 2) through the Virtual Conference website in the sessions directly. All presenters can access their session 30 minutes ahead of showtime. This will give everyone an opportunity to access the session and complete technical checks. Below are steps to access sessions as a presenter both ways. 

1. Online Learning Community

2. Virtual Conference Website

Presenter FAQ

How can I register for the Virtual Conference as a presenter?

All presenters were emailed information with registration steps. If you have notil with received an ema registration steps, contact virtuallearning@naspa.org. Since you are a speaker for the session, your Dashboard in the Online Learning Community will display the session in which you are a speaker. 

Do I have to upload slides before the event?

Yes, per our accessibility standards, all slides must be sent to NASPA in PDF format two business days before the event.  An email was sent out with a link to where to upload your session. 

Converting PPT slides to PDF

Converting Google Slides as PDF

When can I access my session?

Sessions will be open for presenters 30 minutes before the session begins. It is recommended that you practice your session ahead of the 30 minutes to go over the flow of the presentation and technology. A NASPA staff member will meet with you during your session to provide support and go through the technology check. 

Can I create polls and/or breakout rooms?

Yes, more interaction is encouraged during the conference. If you are planning break-out rooms, contact virtuallearning@naspa.org and we will set those up for you. Polls can also be set up via virtuallearning@naspa.org. 

Visit the Online Learning Community's Presenter Resources page to learn more ways to interact in the virtual space. 

Will I recieve feedback on my session?

Yes, all sessions will have a feedback survey for that specific session. Presenter feedback can be requested through virtuallearning@naspa.org.

Do presenters have access to the entire conference?

Yes, given the registration for the Virtual Conference, all presenters receive a complimentary registration. Since you are registered, you will have access to the live and on-demand sessions.

Presenting Virtually

Presenting virtually is a great way to share your expertise in a format that allows for a limited time and allows the audience to be in demand.  Here are some tips for creating an engaging presentation that lasts through the on-demand timeframe. 

  1. Think about discussion topics and questions that will be beneficial as teams reflect and learn from the session. Share these in the presentation and chat. Every session will come with a Facilitation Worksheet; review this worksheet in the conference session before the presentation. 
  2. Make it engaging! Use the chat function to engage your audience. You could simply post where you are from or use an emoji to answer a poll. If you use polls in the chat, review the answers in the session so those on demand can hear the information. 
  3. Use Mentimeter, an interactive presentation software. This can be used for polls, word clouds, and other interactive techniques in virtual space.
  4. Ensure your presentation is accessible. 
    1. If you are using PowerPoint, complete a "Check Accessibility" run to check for color contrast, alt text, table readability, and slide reading order.
    2. PowerPoint or Google Slides are recommended because they can be converted to PDF. All slides must be converted to PDF to allow those with screen readers to access the content. 
  5. If you use many acronyms or unrecognizable terms, provide a list of terms to upload in the conference session or your presentation. 

Land Acknowledgements

Land acknowledgments are not required but encouraged for those who wish to do so. If you choose to present a land acknowledgment in your session, below are some resources to guide your work. 

The virtual format of this conference allows attendees to join in recognizing the many different Native lands in which we live. While land acknowledgments have traditionally been spoken at the beginning of a presentation or event, there are other ways to recognize Native Lands, including: 

  1. Create a slide in your presentation with your land acknowledgment. 
  2. Post your land acknowledgment in the chat and encourage attendees to do the same. 
  3. Insert a link to your institutions/organizations’ land acknowledgment or any resources to local tribes and territories. 

Additional resources: 

Find out more about specific lands and territories using Native Land.

Review Native Governance Center's Guide to Indigenous Land Acknowledgment

Read more about NASPA's efforts to repair and re-center our work with our Indigenous Peoples community. 

Accessing your Session

All presenters will access your session by using the Virtual Conference website and navigating directly to your session. Your session will be 30 minutes beforehand to perform the technology check. A NASPA staff member will be there to support you. 

  1. Login to your Elevate platform using your login and password and click the  “Dashboard” link.
  2. Look for the Product name/title for which you are presenting under the heading “Upcoming Live Events”. 
  3. Click on the Product name and go to the Product Page. 
  4. In the right column, under the “You are Registered” tag, you will see a list of Components associated with the Product.   You will also see the Presentation Component with a button that says “Enter and Start meeting as Presenter.”  At the appropriate time, click this button to enter the meeting room. 

Check your Dashboard before the event; if you do not see the session "Upcoming Live Events," contact virtual learning atvirtuallearning@naspa.org. 

Technology
  • Zoom System Requirements can be found here.
  • Prior to your session, test your computer system compatibility, internet connection, and audio settings ahead of time using this link. This will allow for a smooth start on your session day.
  • Recommended internet speed: 10mbps for upload and downloads.
  • If you choose to use a Wi-Fi connection, you will need to boost your Wi-Fi strength. Sit close to your router and have as few obstructions between you and your router as possible (e.g., obstructions be., walls, microwaves, TVs, etc.).
  • Close everything on your computer that is not being used for the presentation. If possible, turn off notifications and silence any alerts and alarms.
  • If sharing the internet with other users, ask them to minimize their internet use during your presentation.