Presenting online at a hybrid conference: a practical guide

Presenting online at a hybrid conference lets you take part without travelling. For many researchers this is the difference between presenting and not presenting at all. An online talk is still a live talk, though, and the details of your setup decide how well it lands. This guide covers what to prepare.

Presenting online at a hybrid conference: know the format

Check what the conference expects. At ETLT 2027 and ALTL 2027, an online presentation is a live 10-minute talk in an online session, with questions. Online presenters do a short technical check before the conference and send a pre-recorded video as a backup.

Check the time zone

Online sessions run on the conference’s local time. ETLT and ALTL sessions run in Bangkok time (UTC+7): the Friday online session is timed for East and Southeast Asia, and the Saturday session for Europe, Africa and the Gulf. Convert your slot to your own time zone, put it in your calendar, and plan to join early.

Equipment

• Connection: use a wired connection if you can. If you use Wi-Fi, sit near the router and ask others at home or work not to stream during your slot.
• Microphone: a headset or USB microphone sounds much clearer than a laptop’s built-in microphone.
• Camera: at eye level, so you are not looking down at the audience.
• Power: keep your laptop plugged in.

Your room

• Choose a quiet room and close the door; put a note on it.
• Face a window or a lamp; do not sit with a bright window behind you.
• Use a plain, tidy background.
• Turn off notifications on your computer and silence your phone.

Slides for online audiences

• Use large text: some viewers will watch on a small screen.
• Keep animations simple; they can lag over a video connection.
• Number your slides, so people can refer to them in questions.
• Close other files and windows before you share your screen.

The backup video

Record your talk as a video, within the time limit, and send it by the deadline. If your connection fails on the day, the session can play it so your work is still presented. Record it in the same room and with the same equipment you will use live; this also works as a full rehearsal.

On the day

1. Restart your computer an hour before, then open only what you need.
2. Join the session early and test sound and screen sharing with the host.
3. Keep a glass of water and a printed copy of your notes beside you.
4. Look at the camera when you make your key points.
5. Stay for questions; online audiences often ask good ones in the chat.

Online presenters at ETLT 2027 and ALTL 2027 receive the same review, the same DOI and the same certificate as those presenting in Bangkok, and fees for online presentation are lower than for in-person attendance.

Related guides

• How to give a 10-minute conference presentation
• Oral, poster or online presentation: which should you choose?
• Bangkok for conference travellers: airports, visas and getting around