# Remote Guest Speakers *How to host a remote guest speaker in an online DCE course varies depending on the teaching format. Here's what to do and how to get technical help.* April 13, 2026 ## How to host a remote guest speaker in an online DCE course All guest speakers in DCE courses should fill out the guest speaker form available from FEAA in the [Faculty Portal](http://faculty.dce.harvard.edu), which includes the video recording release. If the guest is appearing in a cross listed course and does not register with DCE FEAA, we will need them to fill out a separate video release form for DCE, available from Classroom Video Production. How your guest speaker will join class depends on the format of your course. ## Web Conference For web conference courses, you can either make a breakthrough link in Gather yourself for your guest, or you can ask the [Web Conference Support](https://teach.dce.harvard.edu/helix-web-conference-connect) team for assistance. Breakthrough links are good for only the date that you expect your guest to join you, but have no other security to prevent unauthorized use. Because breakthrough links are insecure, be sure that they are given only to the individuals that are authorized to join your class. ## HELIX Classroom Hyflex Please contact the DCE “Brattle Media” AV Services team when you expect any guest to join your hybrid [HELIX Classroom](https://teach.dce.harvard.edu/helix-classroom), whether the guest will be remote or on campus. The AV team will adjust your classroom setup that day if needed, and will provide you with a breakthrough link that your guest should use to join the session if they are remote. ## Live Streamed Cross List Do not have your guest join the DCE student live stream! For classes that are not held in dedicated DCE HELIX Classroom spaces but are [live streamed from other campus buildings](https://teach.dce.harvard.edu/news/2026/04/live-streaming-crosslisted-classes-dce), remote guests will not use the same link that students use to view class. People using the “Class: Live Stream” student link are not seen or heard in the campus room, so this will not help your guest speaker. Instead, use a completely separate Zoom session of your own, and send that image and audio to the classroom screen. If you require assistance getting your remote guest on screen, contact the [ESS AV Services team](https://ess.fas.harvard.edu/integrated-audiovisual-services/) for your classroom building. Do not attempt to screen share into the DCE live stream while you are hosting your guest on your own computer. If online students have questions or comments for your guest, they will use the webinar chat as usual in their own separate live stream session, and these questions will need to be relayed to the campus room and guest the way you would during any class. ## Contact - For questions or assistance with web conference course guests or Gather, contact [DCE Web Conference Support](https://teach.dce.harvard.edu/helix-web-conference-connect) at - For classroom AV Services in DCE buildings, including [HELIX Classroom support](https://teach.dce.harvard.edu/helix-classroom) for remote guests, contact - For a video release form, use the [Faculty Portal](http://faculty.dce.harvard.edu), or contact Classroom Video Production and OpenCast Services at production @dce.harvard.edu Article by Kriss Barnhart, Associate Director for Classroom Video Production and OpenCast Services, Harvard Division of Continuing Education, April 2026