All your questions, answered
We hope this information helps as you prepare for FormFest. Please reach out to our team at formfest@codeforamerica.org if you have any further questions, or experience issues when joining the event.
Navigating RingCentral
Our virtual event platform allows you to watch keynote presentations, attend sessions, ask questions, network one-on-one, and send chat messages. To ensure you have the best experience possible, here are our top tips on how to navigate FormFest in this virtual event space.
How do I join FormFest?
You will receive a ‘one day’ and ‘one hour’ before the event email. Click the “Go to event” button in the email, which will take you to the Reception area.
All FormFest attendees will have the option to build out their personalized schedule in advance. You should receive an email one week prior to the event that will give you early access to FormFest. In the email, you will click the “Get early access” button, which will direct you to the reception area where you can customize your schedule.
How do I complete my profile?
- Sign into your account
- Click the profile icon and select ‘Manage Profile’
- Fill out your profile details
- Click ‘Save’
You will be able to fill out your profile details, such as uploading your profile picture, changing your name, adding a headline, a short bio, organization, and social media links. You can also add your interests to your profile and change your privacy settings. Remember to click save when you are finished.
How do I navigate RingCentral?
When you join the event, you will automatically arrive in Reception. You can think of the reception area as a venue’s lobby. Here you will find a welcome message, a link to our Code of Conduct, and the full event schedule, including descriptions of all sessions.
Stage is where you’ll watch the opening and closing keynotes.
Click Sessions to go to the concurrent breakout sessions. These sessions appear five minutes before they start. Each session has its own chat, so you can interact with other participants and ask questions of the presenter. More on Sessions below.
Meet like-minded people with short one-on-one video conversations in Networking. When you enter the Networking page you will be able to join speed networking, see recommended connections, and search for other attendees. More on Networking below. When you first join the Networking area, you will see a reminder in a panel on the right that your profile is not complete. Click Complete your profile to add more information about yourself. Adding this information means that you will show up when other attendees search for keywords.
The Resource Hub allows attendees to view slide decks and other materials provided by speakers.
How can I add sessions to my schedule?
In the Reception area:
- Click ‘Schedule’ in the event header. On the right-hand side of the session, you will see a bookmark icon.
- Click the icon to add sessions to your agenda.
- At any time, you can see your personalized event schedule by clicking “My Agenda” on the right-hand side under your profile image.
What browser can I use to watch FormFest?
RingCentral is compatible with the latest versions of Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge (chromium version on Windows 10 and above). We recommend using Google Chrome.
Where can I find notifications?
During FormFest, you will receive notifications in the event for agenda reminders, mainstage start time, meeting invites, and direct messages (if enabled). Click the bell icon on the right-hand side next to your profile picture to view notifications.
How can I change the display language?
You can change the display language in the event to Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, or Spanish.
Click on your profile photo at the top right corner of the page, then choose Languages from the drop-down menu. Select your preferred language and click Save for the changes to take effect. The event interface will appear in a new language automatically.
Sessions
How do I join a session?
Sessions will appear under ‘Sessions’ during their scheduled times. Click the session that you would like to join.
Can I leave one session and join another?
Yes, you are free to jump to another session if you choose to.
Can I ask a question to the presenter(s)?
While in a breakout session:
- On the left-hand side, you will see the ‘Session’ tab
- Under Q&A, add your questions to the chat box
Please note that Q&A will be disabled for mainstage.
How do I enable closed captions?
- In Stage: Click on the CC button at the bottom of the video feed.
- In Sessions: Click on the CC button at the bottom of the screen you are viewing.
Please note that closed captions are AI-generated captions and are not always completely accurate.
Captions are only available in English. Please use Google Chrome browser, as other browsers do not support closed captions on this platform. Closed captions are only available on desktop.
Who will be speaking at FormFest 2025?
You can find the list of speakers directly on our website. You can also see them in the RingCentral platform under the speakers tab.
Networking
I want to opt-out of networking. How do I change my settings?
You can decide what options are available to other attendees. You can turn off direct messages, video calls, and meeting invites from other attendees. If you opt out of networking, other attendees will not be able to send you messages directly.
To change your privacy setting:
- Click your profile icon
- Click ‘Edit Profile’
- Click ‘Privacy Settings’
How do I join Speed Networking?
Speed networking is a great way to meet people within the event. You will be matched randomly with different people for a set amount of time. During these interactions, you can choose to lengthen the call and even share contact details. When the Speed networking segment starts, simply click Join now!
General questions
Who typically attends FormFest?
We attract a diverse audience for FormFest—from designers to researchers to policy leads from all around the world. There’s a mix of everyone who loves forms and works in service design and delivery.
Will sessions be recorded and available after the event?
- Sessions will be recorded and made available on the Code for America and Digital Service Network YouTube channels.
- We will send out an email when the videos are available to view.
Will slide decks be shared with attendees?
- If speakers are able to share their slides, attendees will be able to view slide decks via the Resource Hub inside RingCentral.
Who can I reach out to if I’m having issues with the platform?
- If you are having technical issues during the event, please click the ‘help desk’ icon. Someone will be happy to help. You can also reach out to formfest@codeforamerica.org.
- You can also use this guide to do a deep dive into the platform.