How to create a live session as an instructor

Live sessions are one of the most powerful tools an online instructor has. They turn a one‑way video library into a real classroom. This guide focuses specifically on how to create a live session inside BetaLMS — from picking the right moment to inviting your students to clicking go live.

If you are looking for tips on actually running a live session well, read our companion post "How to go live as an instructor". This post is the operational checklist.

When does a live session make sense?

Not every topic needs a live class. Use them when:

The topic is discussion‑heavy and benefits from real‑time Q&A.
Students need to see something done live, not just watch a polished recording.
You want to build relationships with cohort‑style accountability.
You want a regular rhythm that keeps students engaged between modules.

For pure information delivery, a pre‑recorded video is usually more efficient. Live shines when human presence and real‑time feedback matter.

Before you create the session

Spend ten minutes answering five questions on a piece of paper:

Who is this for? All enrolled students, a paid cohort, or open registration?
What is the one outcome? A specific takeaway, not "we will discuss the topic."
How long? 45 minutes is a sweet spot. 60 minutes is the maximum before fatigue.
What is the format? Lecture, workshop, panel, office hours?
What do students need to bring? A laptop, a draft, a question, a piece of work?

Clear answers up front will shape every other decision.

Creating the session inside the portal

Sign in to your instructor portal and go to Courses.
Open the course the session belongs to.
Click Live sessions → Schedule a session.
Fill in:
- Title — short, specific and benefit‑driven.
- Description — what students will get, how long, what to bring.
- Date and start time — in your local time zone.
- Duration — 45 to 60 minutes.
- Visibility — enrolled students only, invite‑only, or public.
(Optional) Upload a cover image that shows up on the schedule.
Save.

Once saved, the session appears in three places automatically:

Every enrolled student's dashboard.
The course's public sales page (if visible).
Your instructor portal's calendar.

Each student gets a reminder 24 hours and 1 hour before the session.

Writing a title that fills the room

Most live sessions are under‑attended because the title is generic. Compare:

❌ "Live class — Module 3"
✅ "Live: how to fix the three most common SQL errors"

The second title promises something specific. Even busy students show up for specific outcomes.

Writing a description that pre‑sells the session

Your description has three jobs:

Set expectations. What you will cover and what you will not.
Make it easy to say yes. "Bring a question or a draft." "No prep required."
Tease the value. "You will leave with a checklist you can use for every project this year."

Keep it short — three to five short paragraphs maximum.

Inviting students well

By default, every enrolled learner sees the session. To boost attendance:

Send a short course announcement the day you publish the session.
Mention it in your community feed with a one‑sentence teaser.
Pin it to the top of the course homepage.
Add a calendar file (.ics) so students can click once and add it to their calendar.

For premium cohorts, send a personalised email 48 hours before. Personalised emails get triple the show‑up rate of generic announcements.

Co‑hosts and moderators

If you have a teaching assistant, a guest expert or an experienced student helping you, set them up before the session:

Open the session and click Manage co‑hosts.
Search by email or name.
Add them with the role Moderator or Co‑host.

Moderators can spotlight presenters, manage participants and stop disruptive behaviour. Co‑hosts can teach, screen‑share and answer questions just like you.

Having one moderator dramatically improves the experience of a busy live class.

Setting up the room a day before

24 hours before the session:

Open the session and click Open room as host.
Test your camera and microphone. Choose the right inputs.
Test screen share with the slides or app you will actually use.
Test the recording toggle so you know exactly where it is.
Close the room — your settings are remembered.

Day‑of, you only need to open the room and click Go live.

Going live

At showtime:

Open the session ten minutes early.
Click Go live when the first student joins, even if you do not start teaching yet.
Greet people by name as they enter — it is the single best way to set a warm tone.
Pin the session goal in the chat: "Today: how to fix the three most common SQL errors."
Teach.

Click End session when you are done. The recording is automatically saved and attached to the same session inside the course.

After the session

In the post‑session view you can:

Trim or rename the recording.
Move it to a specific module so future students can replay it.
Download the chat transcript.
See the full attendance list.
Send a follow‑up announcement with the recording and a short summary.

A two‑paragraph follow‑up is one of the highest‑leverage things you can do. It re‑engages people who attended, re‑activates people who missed it, and gives newly enrolled students value from day one.

A simple weekly rhythm

The fastest way to build attendance is consistency:

Monday — schedule next week's session.
Tuesday — promote it in your community and email.
Wednesday — your regular live time.
Thursday — publish the recording with a summary.
Friday — review what worked and what to improve.

Repeat for eight weeks and you will have an audience that expects your live class. That expectation is the most valuable asset you can build as an online instructor.

Final word

The hard part is not creating the session. It is showing up every week and treating live class like it matters. If you do that, your students will follow.

Pick a date for your next session right now. Title it specifically. Write a three‑paragraph description. Hit publish. Worry about being perfect after the third one.