What are online workshops?
The Online Workshop feature enables admins to host live, interactive sessions on the platform, including breakout groups, polls, Q&A, and real-time collaboration.
Supports up to 50 participants.
Works on desktop only (Chrome, Firefox, Edge).
Allows for multi-step agendas and data exports.
What are the different room steps?
Workshops support several participation methods within each room-step. Each method determines how participants interact in that step and what appears on the right side of the screen (the video feed always remains on the left).
Q&A
Allows admins to ask questions and participants to post answers (up to 255 characters) or vote on others’ responses.
Posts can be shown as square cards or rectangular list items.
Optional setting: Copy Q&A inputs from previous step to carry over discussion points between steps.
Info
Displays text, images, or embedded media.
Useful for sharing instructions, context, or presentations.
Allows screen sharing and a “Full screen for all” option for better visibility during presentations.
Breakout Rooms
Moves participants into smaller discussion groups.
Options:
Self-selection (participants choose their room)
Random assignment (admin distributes them evenly).
Room configurations can be shared across multiple breakout rooms for easier management.
Summarise Discussion
Used at the end of breakout discussions to collaboratively draft a summary.
All participants in that room can type/edit the shared text.
Report Out
Used in the plenary room to show all breakout room summaries at once.
Allows the workshop to “bring everyone back together” and display consolidated conclusions.
How to create an online workshop?
Go to the Workshops tab in the admin panel.
Click Manage your workshops → + New workshop.
Enter a name, date, and slug (used for the workshop URL).
The URL will follow the format: yourplatform.govocal.com/workshops/slug
How to define your workshop?
Use the Manage panel → + Add step.
Common steps: Welcome, discussion steps, breakout sessions, Conclusion.
Steps can be reordered later.
How to add rooms to your workshop?
Add rooms via + Add room.
Types:
Plenary room (all participants together)
Breakout rooms (smaller groups, 5–8 people each recommended)
Configure video/chat options:
Raise hand
Microphone/camera on/off by default
Screen sharing
Note: Admins always have full rights regardless of room settings.
How to configure room steps?
Each room-step defines what happens in which room during each step.
Hover at the step/room intersection → + Add roomstep.
Choose a participation method:
Q&A → Post or vote on answers.
Poll → Single/multiple choice questions.
Info → Share text/images, enable screen sharing.
Breakout rooms → Self-select or random assignment.
Summarise discussion → Collaboratively draft conclusions.
Report out → Display summaries from all breakout rooms.
How to test and edit the workshop?
Use Next step button or timer (10s, 1min, 5min countdown).
Steps can be reordered in the Manage panel.
Note: Do not add “test” written input, it can’t be deleted easily without redoing the roomstep.
How to export workshop data?
Admin panel → Export Data.
Downloads Excel file with a tab per step (polls, Q&A, conclusions).
Workshop capacity and browser rules
Max 50 participants.
Desktop only (no mobile/tablet).
Chrome, Firefox, or Edge required.
For company laptops: may require IT support for network settings.