Is there a cut-off date for registration?
No, registration is open throughout the conference and you will have immediate access to all of the Engage: Spring21 events
upon registration. If you register after a session has taken place, then you can view that session in the session browser
for 90 days following the conference.
What if I’ve purchased registration and find I can’t attend?
You will still have access so you can log in any day, any time, up to 90 days after the conference;
and, as frequently as you want during this 90-day period using the session browser.
How do I log in to the site?
The e-mail address and password with which you registered for Engage is your login and key to access. Log in to
the NSTA website and then go to My Library and click on the button to access the event.
Note: To get the best virtual experience on the Engage: Spring21 platform you must have the latest version of Zoom downloaded to your computer. Before entering our Zoom platform,
please visit Zoom.us/download, click on Download, and then click on Execute file to initialize.
How do I access the Keynote Presentations for the dates that I did not Register?
The Keynote Presentations can be accessed with your e-mail address and password/ID# with which you registered for Engage.
Login to the NSTA website and then go to My Library, click on the “Engage” banner link to access the conference.
Note: For the week(s) which you did not register for the conference only Keynote access is being granted.
What should I do upon entry into the site?
We suggest that you update your attendee profile for easier networking with your colleagues and then browse the sessions and create a personal agenda (My Agenda). Additionally, it is
requested that attendees should ensure that their video and audio features are turned OFF prior to entering a meeting room.
Are there any terms that I should familiarize myself with?
Yes, oftentimes you will see/hear the following terms:
- Home - This is your landing access page: My Library
- My Agenda — Create your schedule here to quickly access all the sessions that you’ve added to your agenda.
- Session Room — This is a term for virtual meeting rooms, where presentations are shown and attendees can watch, as well as network with colleagues live through chat.
- Marketplace Partner Resource Pages — Browse our Marketplace Partner (exhibitor) Resource Pages to see the latest information on products, services, competitions, and resources available. Chat live with representatives from the organization or send a quick note with an inquiry. Discover a myriad of creative solutions!
- Marketplace Partner Keynotes — Enjoy inspiring, engaging, and informative presentations from our Partners.
- Marketplace Partner Workshops — These are featured presentations offered by our Marketplace Partners (exhibitors), sharing the latest information on new and popular products and services that support classroom educators.
What are the various components of the program?
Each day is comprised of the following:
- Concurrent Sessions — A series of educator-to-educator sessions that are scheduled simultaneously each day.
- Keynote, Featured, and Special Sessions — There are a number of keynotes, featured, and special sessions that have been identified for each week of programming. We recommend that you take time to review these sessions at some point, even if you do not attend them.
- Marketplace Partner Keynotes and Workshops — Featured presentations offered by our Marketplace Partners, sharing new and popular products and services that support classroom educators.
- Speed-Sharing Chats — Tuesdays of each week are short three-minute chats to get to know each other with interesting and fun stories.
- Unconferences — Thursdays of each week are opportunities to discuss the most popular topic ideas that have been identified by you and your colleagues.
- Trivia Night — an evening of trivia, fun, and stress-free networking! Hosted by NSTA’s very own Matt Hartman on Thursday, April 22. To play is free, but you must be registered for at least one week of programming at NSTA Engage: Spring21 to participate. The deadline to register is April 19.
- Virtual Escape Room — on Thursday, May 6, sponsored by Brain Chase, participants will go on an exciting, fun-filled quest to solve a mystery. In addition to conference registration, a ticket purchase is required for participation and space is limited. Ticket cost is $10.
- NSTA District Directors Happy Hour — on Saturdays of each week. Join in on the fun at these happy hour “barhopping” events to create your own beverage of the different district regions and hop to the next.
Will sessions begin at the designated scheduled time?
Yes, all sessions will begin and end at the designated times. We have scheduled a 15-minute break between each session to allow attendees time to navigate from one session to another and regroup prior to the start of each session.
If I find myself in a session that is not exactly what I was looking for, can I go to another session?
Yes, you can click on the “Leave Meeting” button at any time and go to another session. Please note that even though the next session you
join may have already started, you will be able to view the entire session in the session browser the next day.
Will I have access to the chats in the meeting rooms?
Yes, all chats in the session rooms are public and can be saved by clicking on the three dots (...) at the bottom right of the chat window.
As a presenter, where can I share the documents for my sessions?
To share materials for your presentation, go to https://my.nsta.org/conferences/materials, choose your day and
session title, click Upload, and select your document. To upload multiple files, simply repeat the process.
As an attendee, where can I find a collection of documents from the sessions?
Documents for sessions will be available on our session browser.
Note: This is only if a presenter has uploaded materials.
Can I share my log-in with a colleague?
No, your e-mail address and password are your unique access to the virtual conference.
How can I get the maximum benefit from my registration?
- Use the e-mail address you used to register for the conference along with your password to create a personal schedule (My Agenda), browse the sessions on the website, and select the sessions you want to attend. You can refer to your “My Agenda” for quick access to the session room by clicking on the session link.
- Log in to the programming site prior to the actual starting time. Browse the featured and concurrent sessions to determine which you would like to attend so you can ask questions of those presenters. Otherwise, you can return to the programming up to 90 days after the event, at your leisure, to view any of the other sessions.
How can I find a colleague or network with someone who might also be registered?
If you are looking for someone in particular, visit our three directories (Attendees, Speakers, and Marketplace Partners). Note, each
presenter will be identified as he or she is speaking.
If I notice someone else attending that I want to network with, is there an opportunity to chat somewhere outside the sessions?
To find an attendee to network or chat with you should visit the “Attendee Directory” and select the private message tool to send them a message.
Will the programming be available for purchase after the virtual event is held? If so, for how long and what is the cost?
No, the programming will not be available for purchase after the conference. However, all registered attendees will have access to the programming up to 90 days
after the conference in the session browser.
How can I receive professional development credit for attending?
NSTA offers professional development certification (based on clock hours) for its conferences. The transcript, which lists the sessions attended, also serves as proof of attendance at the conference. NSTA acknowledges up to 17 clock hours per week for NSTA Engage: Spring21 virtual conference. Click here for complete details.
Can I get graduate credit?
Earn one (1) or two (2) graduate-level credit/units in professional development through Dominican University of California course #9066. To obtain credit/units, you must be registered for the NSTA Engage: Spring21 virtual conference, complete the required assignments, and pay a fee of $104 for one credit/unit or $208 for two credits/units. A copy of your NSTA Engage: Spring21 virtual conference attendance certificate is also required. Register for graduate-level credit by Saturday, May 22, 2021, and submit the required assignments by Monday, May 31, 2021.
Click here for complete details.
How do I access the conference?
The e-mail address and password/ID# with which you registered for NSTA Engage: Spring21 is your login and key to access. Login to the
NSTA website and then go to My Library, click on the “NSTA Engage: Spring21” banner link to access the conference.
What should I do if I don’t see the link to the virtual conference in My Library?
Click the orange “Help” button at the bottom right of the page and someone will respond to you.
If my presentation is scheduled for a week that I did not register for the conference, will I have access to the meeting room?
Yes, you will receive an e-mail communication from the moderator for your presentation that
will include the link for your session’s meeting room.
How soon should I arrive at my room?
Presenters should join the session room 15 minutes before the start of their session to meet
with the Moderator and be assured of any necessary instructions.
Are breakout rooms available for my session?
Breakout rooms will be available only for those presenters who requested this service in advance for their session.
Will I be able to use polling for my session?
Polling will be available only for those presenters who requested this service in advance for their session.
Will the chat feature be enabled?
Yes, the chat feature will be enabled. Participants can ask questions, share links, ideas, and experiences. The
presenter can respond via the chat window and/or read questions and respond with their microphone. Presenters
may choose to answer questions as they come or answer them at the end of the session. The NSTA Moderator can
assist the presenter in managing the questions. This process can be decided when you meet with the Moderator.
Will I have access to the chat discussions in the meeting rooms?
Yes, all chats in the session rooms are public and can be saved by clicking on the three dots (...) at the bottom
right of the chat window.
Can I share my screen with the attendees?
Yes, a presenter will be able to share their screen to display their presentation. There are a few sessions
where pre-recorded videos were submitted; these presenters will not need to share their screen.
How can I upload my materials for my session?
To share materials for your presentation, go to https://my.nsta.org/conferences/materials
Choose your day and session documents, and click Upload. To upload multiple files, simply repeat the process.
What should I do if I am connecting through my VPN and having trouble with the connection?
If you are unable to disconnect from your VPN, please contact your provider as this may be a firewall issue.
Will the Q&A session be recorded?
Yes, the Q&A will be recorded as part of the session archive.
Can I “practice” my session in advance?
Yes. There will a training session for Presenters to ask questions. You are asked to arrive to your Zoom
Meeting room 15 minutes in advance of your session. After discussing logistics with the NSTA Moderator, there
should be time to “practice” before the audience arrives.
Will sessions begin at the designated scheduled time?
Yes, all sessions will begin and end at the designated times. We have scheduled a 15-minute break between each
session to allow attendees time to navigate from one session to another, and stretch their legs
prior to the start of each session.
Will the Moderator give information to the attendees at the top of the session on how to raise hands, accept stage invites, etc.?
Yes, the NSTA moderator will share instructions with the participants about basic meeting room etiquette and the Q&A process.
Note: this process may vary slightly from room to room.
Should presenters say anything when they first come into the session location?
The Moderator will be in the session room upon your arrival to provide feedback to you on sound quality, instructions, etc. At
the time a presentation is scheduled to start, the moderator will introduce you, and for prerecorded videos the moderator will
introduce the session and play the video. After the video ends, a general overview of how the Q&A portion of the session will
be introduced and the moderator will distribute the survey link.
Note: To get the best virtual experience on the Engage: Spring21 platform you must have the latest version of Zoom downloaded to
your computer. Before entering our Zoom platform, please visit Zoom.us/download, click on Download, and then click on Execute file to initialize.