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: Select 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
Don't forget! You will need to configure each of the smaller break out rooms with their own participation method.
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 Online deliberation workshops in the Tools section of the admin panel
Click Manage your workshops → + Add 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
ℹ️ : 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.
⚠️ : 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