Choosing Between Classroom, Webinar, and Meeting in Live Class
Live Class offers three session types: Classroom, Webinar, and Meeting. Each type is designed for a different purpose and determines the default tools, screen-sharing capacity, breakout room settings, and available features. Choosing the right type helps you create the best experience for your participants.
1. Understand the Three Session Types
Choose a session type based on how you want participants to interact.
| Session Type | Best For | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Classroom | Interactive teaching, lessons, tutorials, and workshops | Whiteboard, documents, media, polls, and up to two simultaneous screen shares |
| Webinar | Presentations, product demonstrations, and town halls | Audience-focused sessions, registration, landing pages, and YouTube or Facebook streaming |
| Meeting | Team calls, study groups, and collaborative discussions | Whiteboard, polls, breakout rooms, and up to four simultaneous screen shares |
2. Compare Session Types
You can compare the available session types directly in Live Class before creating a session.
Navigate to 'Create Session', select 'Compare types' below the session type choices.
Review the comparison table to identify the features and settings available for each type.
Session Type Comparison
| Feature | Classroom | Webinar | Meeting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Default tools | Video, screen share, whiteboard, documents, polls, media | Video, screen share, polls | Video, screen share, whiteboard, polls |
| Simultaneous screen shares | Up to 2 | 1 | Up to 4 |
| Breakout rooms | On by default | Off by default | On by default |
| Default duration if the plan sets none | 3 hours | 6 hours | 2 hours |
| YouTube or Facebook streaming | No | Yes | No |
| Attendee limit | Plan's maximum attendees per room | Plan's webinar audience seats | Plan's maximum attendees per room |
| Landing page and registration | No | Yes, for scheduled sessions | No |
3. Create a Session Using the Right Type
Navigate to Create Session.
Review the available session types.
Select Classroom, Webinar, or Meeting, depending on your requirements.
Configure the session settings, including duration, attendee limits, and available tools.
If you need a particular tool, review its settings before starting the session.
Complete the remaining setup and create the session.
When to Choose Each Type
Choose Classroom when:
You are teaching lessons or conducting workshops.
Learners need to participate in interactive activities.
You need tools such as a whiteboard, documents, or media.
You want up to two people to share their screens simultaneously.
Choose Webinar when:
You are presenting to a large audience.
You need a public landing page or registration for a scheduled session.
You want to stream the session to YouTube or Facebook.
You need audience seats to be counted separately from hosts and presenters on stage.
Choose Meeting when:
You are hosting team discussions or study groups.
Participants need to collaborate and communicate as equals.
You need up to four simultaneous screen shares.
You want breakout rooms enabled by default.
4. Understand Settings Shared Across All Session Types
Some settings work the same way in Classroom, Webinar, and Meeting.
Microphone and camera: Attendees join with their microphones and cameras off by default unless Attendees can use mic and camera is enabled when creating the session or room. This applies to meetings as well.
Chat, Q&A, and reactions: Enabled by default for everyone.
Recording and backstage: Work the same way across all three types.
Room password and attendance verification: Follow the same behavior across all three types.
Host permissions: Hosts, co-hosts, and presenters have the same permissions across the session types.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can I change the session type after creating a session?
Yes. You can edit the type before the session starts. For a permanent room, change the Type setting in the room's settings to apply it to the next class.
2. Does the session type determine how many people can join?
It affects which attendee limit applies. Classrooms and meetings use your plan's maximum attendees per room, while webinars use webinar audience seats. Your Max Attendees setting can lower the applicable limit.
3. Does the session type determine how many video feeds appear on screen?
No. The number of video feeds displayed at once depends on your plan, not the session type.
4. Why can't I stream my Classroom session to YouTube or Facebook?
Streaming to YouTube or Facebook is available only for Webinar sessions. Change the session type to Webinar if you need this feature.
Choose Classroom for interactive teaching, Webinar for audience-focused presentations and public streaming, and Meeting for collaborative discussions. Review the comparison table before creating a session to ensure the selected type supports your required tools and attendee limits.
