The 2023 MPSA Conference will be held in a hybrid format. Except for poster sessions, which are in-person only, anyone participating can do so in-person or virtually. The same is true for audience members: virtual attendees will be able to attend most sessions in real-time (poster sessions will not be available to virtual audiences). The virtual meeting platform uses Zoom, a virtual meeting interface with many useful accessibility features.

Summary of the Hybrid Session Format

All sessions held in-person at the Palmer House Hilton will be accessible to virtual attendees. Each conference room is equipped with a laptop computer, a projector screen or monitor, and a wide-angle camera pointed at the in-person panel.

  • At the start of a session, the Zoom meeting room will be opened from the laptop in the conference room. MPSA tech support staff will be available for assistance at the beginning of each session.
  • During presentations, in-person presenters will use the laptop provided in the room while virtual presenters will use their own computer. All presenters will enable the Zoom screen sharing feature while they are presenting. All presentations will be displayed simultaneously on the projector screen for the in-person audience and on Zoom for the virtual audience.
  • The laptop provided in the room is connected to a wide-angle camera so that virtual attendees can see the full in-person panel. A built-in microphone enables virtual attendees to hear everything in the room clearly.
  • When presentations are complete, the session chair will monitor the Zoom meeting room for questions from the virtual audience.
  • The Zoom meeting room will close automatically at the scheduled session end time.

Preparing for the Conference

Prior to the conference, take the following steps to ensure a smooth experience with the virtual conference platform:

One week before the conference:

Test Zoom on Your Computer

  • To test your system, visit https://zoom.us/start/webmeeting and create a free account if needed. ​
  • This will launch a zoom meeting where you can practice your audio, camera, and screen sharing ​
  • We will be using the zoom for our conference and the same general features you see here in your free account will work

Update Your Web Browser

  • The virtual conference platform is designed to work with most major web browsers including Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Safari.
  • To ensure a smooth experience with the virtual platform, make sure your web browser is fully updated.

 

The day before the conference:

 

The day of your session:

  • If you are using a laptop, mobile device, and/or headset, be sure to have the chargers plugged in to the device or nearby.
  • Be sure to have a good internet connection. You will need at least 1.5 Mbps upload/download speed. You may test your upload/download speed by going to https://www.speedtest.net/
  • A wired internet connection is preferred when available.
  • Limit the number of items you are streaming and applications you are running to ensure a smooth experience.
  • Be sure to have adequate lighting for video sharing.
  • Be sure you are in a quiet place with minimal disruptions.

Accessing the Virtual Platform During the Conference

  • Go to www.mpsanet.org and log in to your MPSA account

Note: You must be logged in to your account in order to access the virtual conference platform.

  • After you have logged in, please select the Join the Conference button to be taken to the conference program and schedule.

Navigating the Virtual Platform

From the Home Page of the virtual conference platform, you can access the following navigation menus on the left-hand side of your screen. You can pull up these menus at any time by clicking the Side Menu button at the top of the screen:

Use the Browse/Search Menu to explore all sessions and participants, view virtual poster submissions, and visit the virtual exhibit hall:

Use the Search Bar at the top of the Home Page to look up participants, sessions, presentations, and events:

Use the Navigation Menu to view your personal schedule and assignments for the conference, edit your time zone settings, or log out of the virtual conference platform:

Use the Information Menu to access live chat with tech support staff throughout the conference:

Adding Sessions to Your Personal Schedule

As you browse through the virtual conference platform, you can identify sessions that you would like to attend and add them to your personal schedule by clicking the calendar icon next to each session. You can view your personal schedule at any time by clicking the calendar icon in the top right-hand corner.

Viewing Session Details

When you click on any given session, this opens the Session Summary page. The Session Summary page displays the panelists and presentations for that session and allows you to join the session if it is currently live.

  • Click on an individual presentation to view a brief overview of the paper, and to download the paper if the author has uploaded it.
  • Click on the name of a panelist to view all sessions in which that panelist is participating throughout the conference.

Joining a Live Session

To join a live session, navigate to the session and click on it. When the session has been opened for virtual attendees, a Join Zoom Meeting button will be visible at the top of the screen on the Session Summary page:

Click on this button to join to the session. The session will open in Zoom in a separate window.

Sessions are opened no earlier than 10 minutes before the scheduled start time. If you are trying to join a session and you find that it is not yet opened, you may need to wait a few minutes. Try refreshing your screen or re-entering the Session Summary page closer to the scheduled start time.

Please note that all sessions will close automatically at the scheduled time of conclusion.

 

Virtual Presentation Tips

  • Authors, discussants, and participants who are attending virtually should log in to the virtual conference platform at least 15 minutes prior to the start of your session. An MPSA staff member should be the first person to open the Zoom meeting room from the on-site computer at the conference.
  • Navigate to your session, click on it, then click Join Zoom Meeting to attend the session virtually. Please note that you will be unable to join the session more than 10 minutes prior to the scheduled start time.
  • Once you have entered the session, please be courteous toward fellow attendees by following standard best practices for virtual meetings:
    • Set your phone to silent
    • Turn off computer notifications (e.g., email, chat, etc.)
    • If you are not speaking, mute your microphone in Zoom
    • Avoid busy backgrounds that might be a distraction to other participants

For more information on using Zoom, please see our tips for using Zoom.