Communicating in the VLC: Setting Up Your Audio & Video Settings and Using the Chat

The virtual learning center supports various ways to communicate with other participants. These options include Video, Audio, and Chat functionality that can be leveraged to help instruction and learning!

Adjusting Your Audio & Video Settings When You Join the VLC

1. Enter the VLC.

Enter the VLC and accept the web browser’s camera and microphone permissions. This is an important first step! In order to use audio and video during your online session, your browser will need to have permission to access your camera and microphone. You can learn more about the browser permissions needed for Upswing in this article: What site permissions in Google Chrome are recommended when using Upswing?


Once you've granted Upswing permission to access your audio and video, click the Got it! button.

2. Select the Camera to Use.

Click the Camera dropdown to select which camera to use within the VLC. If your computer only has one camera, you won't need to make any changes.

3. Select the Microphone to Use.

Click on the Microphone dropdown to select which microphone you'd like to use within the VLC. If you are using a headset or headphones with a microphone, make sure you have the correct microphone selected here.

Test to make sure your microphone is working by saying a few words. You should see the bars next to Input Level: light up to show your microphone is working.

4. Test Your Speakers.

Click Test Speakers to play a sound through the speaker the VLC is using. If you're not able to hear any sound, check to make sure you have your computer volume turned up. You may also want to check to make sure you aren't connected to bluetooth headphones or a bluetooth speaker.

5. Join Session.

Once you've confirmed your settings, click the Join Session button! Clicking this button saves any changes you made to your audio & video settings. Note: If you click the X button, any changes you made to your audio & video settings will not be saved!

Changing Your Audio & Video Settings During Your Session

Click the Wrench to Make Changes.

If you'd like to make changes to the microphone or camera you're using during your session, you can click on the wrench icon to re-open the Audio & Video Settings pop-up. 

Disable / Enable Your Camera or Microphone During Your Session.

You can click on the microphone and camera icons to make changes to your settings during your session.

Click the Microphone button to disable / enable the microphone during your session. 

• The microphone will appear green when your microphone is enabled.
• The microphone will appear red with a line through the symbol when your microphone is disabled. 

Click the Camera button to disable / enable the camera during your session. 

• The camera will appear green when your camera is enabled.
• The camera will appear red with a line through the symbol when your camera is disabled. 

If your camera or microphone is disabled during your session, other users within the session will see a disabled camera / microphone symbol at the top of your video feed, as shown below:

Using the Chat Box During Your Online Session

If you'd prefer to not use your camera or microphone during your online session, you can use the chat box to communicate.

1. Type Your Message.

Click into the Message text field to type the message you'd like to send. Please note: this message will send to all users in the session.

2. Send Your Message.

Press Enter, or click the Send button to send your message to everyone in the session.

Adjusting Your VLC Preferences

1. Click the Gear Icon.

In the chat box next to your name, click on the Gear icon to make changes to your preferences. 

2. Adjust Your Preferences.

Receive noise for each chat message received:

• Toggle this on (blue) if you'd like to enable noise notifications when other users send messages over chat during the session.
• Toggle this off (gray) if you'd like to disable these notifications.

Sound alert when users enter or leave:

• Toggle this on (blue) if you'd like to enable noise notifications when other users leave or enter the VLC during the session.
• Toggle this off (gray) if you'd like to disable these notifications.

Click the X or the Gear Icon to close the menu once you've made your changes.

Hiding & Showing the Communications Panel

Hiding the Communications Panel

Click the > button the Communications Panel (above the microphone) to hide the panel. This will give you more visibility of the VLC Whiteboard. Note: the Microphone, Camera, and Wrench buttons will still be available for ease of access.

If you are using the chat to communicate during the session, it's best to keep the Communications Panel visible!

Showing the Communications Panel

Click the > button the Communications Panel (above the microphone) to make the panel visible again. 

Video Tour of the Virtual Learning Center

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to our Support Team at [e-mail] -- we'd be happy to assist!