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Documentation Index

Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://bigbluebutton.com/docs/llms.txt

Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

As a moderator, you have tools to manage participant behavior and maintain a productive learning environment.

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User Management Panel

Access user management by clicking on any user in the user list. From there you can:
  • Mute/unmute individual participants
  • Mute all — silence all participants at once
  • Remove a user from the session
  • Promote a viewer to moderator or demote a moderator to viewer
See Manage Users for the complete guide.

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Lock Settings

Restrict specific capabilities for all viewers in the session:
  • Disable microphone, webcam, public chat, private chat, or shared notes
  • Lock settings apply to all viewers (moderators are not affected)
  • Settings can be changed during the session
See Lock Viewers’ Abilities.

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Private Chat Controls

Control whether viewers can send private messages to each other:
  • Lock or unlock private chat for individual users or all viewers
  • Useful for preventing off-topic side conversations during instruction
See Lock/Unlock Private Chat.

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Raise Hand Queue

Students can raise their hand to signal a question or comment:
  • Raised hands appear as indicators next to the user’s name
  • Address raised hands in order to keep discussion fair
  • Students lower their hand after being acknowledged, or moderators can lower it for them
See Raise Hand.

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Clearing the Chat

If the public chat becomes cluttered or off-topic:
  • Moderators can clear the entire public chat history
  • This removes all messages for all participants
  • Use sparingly — consider a verbal reminder first
See Clear the Public Chat.

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Tips for Classroom Management

  • Start sessions with microphones muted and unlock as needed
  • Use lock settings proactively for large classes (50+ students)
  • Keep an eye on the raise hand queue — a forgotten raised hand frustrates students
  • Use private chat to address individual behavior without disrupting the class