Help for Online Educational Events
Whether you’re attending a U of I Tax School webinar or in-depth seminar, the platform used and testing instructions remain the same. This page contains a platform tour, details on testing your system, how to enter the session on the day of your event, and troubleshooting information. If you have questions beyond what you can find below, please call the Tax School Office at 217-333-0502.
How To Join A Webinar & Tour BigMarker Webinar Platform
The webinar platform that Tax School uses for all webinars and online seminars is BigMarker.
- No software to download or install; completely browser-based
- It does not use Adobe Flash, so no complications with “Allowing Flash”
- No Java updates needed
- All online live events will include instructor video, in addition to the PowerPoint slides.
DOWNLOAD PDF – How to join a webinar and tour of the BigMarker platform.
Testing Your Computer System
Please test your computer system using the instructions below before the webinar or online seminar. If you fail to test your system in advance and experience problems, you may not be able to participate. We cannot provide refunds because you experience technical problems the day of the event. When testing, use the computer you plan to use for participating in the webinar or online seminar.
NOTE: We recommend using a desktop or laptop computer rather than a tablet or mobile phone.
- Make sure that the computer that you will use for the webinar or online seminar is connected to the Internet with a broadband connection.
- Make sure that you have functioning speakers or headset to take full advantage of the audio capabilities during the session (all instruction is provided vocally).
- IMPORTANT: Disable any popup blockers before you try to join the session.
Testing Instructions
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This is an example of what the page will look like during the BigMarker System Check.
For your internet browser, please use Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge with Windows or Firefox or Safari for iOS/Mac. Do not use Internet Explorer. For more webinar platform browser information, go here.
- Disable any ad blockers or popup blockers when you are on the Tax School website.
- If you are working from home using remote desktop/VPN, be sure to enter the webinar on your physical computer, not in the remote desktop/VPN session.
- iPads and Android tablets are not supported. We highly recommend using a desktop or laptop computer.
This test should take less than 5 minutes to complete.
On the computer you will be using for the webinar or online seminar, go to the following web page:
www.bigmarker.com/system_check
When the page loads, it will run through various network tests. Click on Test Speakers to make sure you can hear audio. You do not need to test your microphone or webcam for Tax School online events.
Entering the Live Session
To enter the live webinar or online seminar the day of the event:
- Log into your Tax School account on this website.
- Scroll down to the event information and click the Join Webinar button as shown.
- Depending on which browser you are using, when you click on the button you may see a message that you need to enable popups. Click Allow (or whatever the permission wording is) to allow popups on the Tax School website, and then you should be able to get into the session.
Troubleshooting
The problem users most frequently encounter is failing the Network Firewall Check, which usually happens when the required communication ports are being blocked by your Windows Firewall or your Internet router. For more information on how to solve this problem please see the I Failed the Network System Check page on the BigMarker support website. Please note that as this has to do with individual settings in your computer firewall or your router, Tax School cannot easily help solve these problems. Some additional steps to try that may solve the problem:
- Reboot your computer system.
- Make sure you do not have any other programs open while attending the event.
- If you have access to a different computer at your location, try using it, just in case it is a firewall setting on that particular computer.
If you encounter additional problems testing your system, you can check the following resources:
Please call the Tax School office at (217) 333-0502 during normal business hours for options regarding webinar attendance if your technical problems cannot be resolved.