You're spoiled for choice when it comes to creating events in Gecko. You can offer in-person and virtual events in various styles that will change how the event looks and feels to your students.
Event types
The type of event you're running will influence what students can book and how the event appears on form event fields. The event type can be picked when first building your event or editing any existing event by heading to Edit > Type & Categories > What event are you holding?
Gecko supports three unique styles of events. Learn about each below:
Single Event - The most simple event type: students can join the event or decline.
Single Session - Share a range of sessions with students and let them choose one session to participate in. Useful for campus tours, interviews, or anything else with timeslots or breakout sessions!
Multiple Session - Share a range of sessions with students and let them choose to join as many sessions as they'd like. Though Gecko will allow students to double-book sessions that run simultaneously, we'll warn students of the clashing times.
Students can fully manage their attendance for all event types via their RSVP page.
Location
If we think of event types as the underlying structure of our event, then the location is the delivery method. Where is your event taking place? In-person/on-campus? Online/virtually? Or a hybrid of the two? Gecko supports each of these approaches in turn.
📍 Venue/on-campus
In-person events can be set up by going to Events > + New Event > Locations and clicking the Venue card.
In-person events in Gecko grant you the following boons:
Your event/session(s) address can be dynamically referenced in any emails or texts you send through Gecko event workflows using the {{event.location}} template tag.
👩💻 Virtual
Virtual events came in clutch during the Covid-19 pandemic and remain essential to event playbooks. Gecko supports two types of virtual events: 3rd Party, which redirects students to an external webinar/call URL of your choice, and, Hosted, which lets you stream your webinar/call to your students without them having to leave the comfort of their RSVP page.
3rd Party
3rd Party virtual events redirect students to your webinar/virtual calls at the appropriate time from their RSVP page.
To get set up, go to Events > + New Event. On the Location tab, click Virtual > 3rd Party.
If your event type is a Single Event, add the URL to your virtual call in the Webinar Link field. If your event type is a Single/Multiple Session, then the URL of your virtual calls is configured on a session-by-session basis by heading to Session > {Your Session} > Location > Webinar Link.
By default, students can join virtual calls from their RSVP page at the start date/time of the event/session, though this join time can be altered by editing the Self Check-in time. Clicking Join Now will mark the student as Attended, allowing them to proceed to the stream and read any Additional Details provided when setting the webinar URL link.
The link to your event/session webinar(s) can be dynamically included in any emails or texts you send through Gecko event workflows using the {{event.webinar_url}} template tag.
Pros:
✅ Quick and easy to set up
✅ Unique links can be set on a per-session basis
✅ Webinar/call URLs can be imported into Gecko in bulk
Cons:
❌ The student might click Join Session on their RSVP and not proceed to join the stream
❌ You're pushing the student to a third-party location that won't be institutionally branded, where they might have to download software
❌ You'll be tracking attendances in Gecko and on your call
❌ Unique 3rd Party links can be set for the event/sessions but not for session times
Hosted
Hosted virtual events let students watch a live stream of your virtual webinar from their RSVP page; without any need to join the actual call.
The benefits to this are multiple: fewer barriers for students trying to join, the call taking place in a fully institutionally branded environment, etc.
This uses RTMP (Real-Time Messaging Protocol) to broadcast your call into Gecko. RTMP is supported by various popular platforms, including Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Wirecast, GoToWebinar, Webex, OBS (Open Broadcast Software), ecamm live, and more.
The table below outlines creating your hosted virtual event based on your desired event type. In both examples, the virtual call will be streamed from Zoom:
Single Event | Single/Multiple Session |
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RTMP streaming details can be configured well before your event starting time. During the stream, your team can moderate the chatroom, introduce hosts and call out questions as an event administrator or host. To create an administrator or host, click into your event on Gecko and go to the overview screen. Click Actions > Generate video admin/host page and share the link with your team.
Pros:
✅ All calls take place in an institutionally branded location
✅ Students can watch the stream, chat, read the event/session description and switch between sessions from one page
✅ Dynamic presenting tools such as speaker introduction and chat question highlighting
✅ Unique streams can be configured for events, sessions and session-times
✅ Unique streams can support over 1k+ student watching and streams up to 12 hours in length
Cons:
❌ Not every webinar service supports RTMPS (though most do!)
💡 Hybrid
Hybrid events are only supported if you plan to run a Single or Multiple Session event. The delivery method of the event (in-person or virtual) is set on the session level.
To get set up, go to Events > + New Event. On the Type & Category tab, click choose Single or Multiple Session. Next, go to Location and click the Hybrid card.
Finally, go to the Sessions tab and click + New Session. Give your session a name, and then, on the Location tab, tell Gecko whether this session will be run as a Venue or Virtual Session.
Hybrid sessions enjoy the same functionality as their pure on-campus or virtual siblings.
Any questions? Start a live chat with a support team member, or feel free to explore the rest of our academy. Spotted an error or want to suggest a future article for the academy? Let us know here.