[#virtual #facilitation] How do you make a webinar really engaging, even when you can’t see anyone who is on the session? I was asked this yesterday so I want to share some ideas here.
I’ve found one of the main tricks for an engaged online session is to leverage the chat box.
🙋🏻♀️ So... Make sure your chat box is easily visible to you as well as your slides. And in the first couple of minutes, make sure all participants have their name visible clearly. And then...
1️⃣Think: "each name = real person"
In your mind, consider every single name that pops up as a real person who is in front of you and treat them as such. E.g. read names out as they share answers and comments in the chat box.
2️⃣Praise answers you want to see more of
Thanking and praising those who respond allows you to focus on the positives. Instead of saying: I’ve only got one person so far... come on… rather: praise that one person! Encouraging them and thanking them often makes others feel good to join in.
3️⃣Make friends with multiple choice
Making slide questions into multiple choice (A, B, C or (T)rue / (F)alse), rather than having a big, open ended question on a slide, or even a requirement to type out full words is so helpful for boosting engagement online. Multiple choice or single character answers is much more effective if you want your participants to give you swift responses. This is just about making it easy - and fast - to respond. (Note: I think there is a place for open questions, but they create a long pause of silence while answers are generated. This affects pace, so needs considered use.)
4️⃣ Include details on your slides.
It’s online! So since you can’t see your audience, it’s helpful if the instructions and details for your questions and information are written out. It’s easier for those who get distracted to look up and catch up. I think that a slide with more text is counterintuitively quite useful for participants. Detail is no longer a no-no for my online sessions. For in person sessions, though, it’s often the opposite.
5️⃣ Type in the chat box yourself
Get the chat box party started by offering up and modelling the kind of things you want participants to start sharing. The same way you might often model something in a class, it’s good for you to get the ball rolling online too.
💡This list is not exhaustive. 😬 Do you have any other tips? Let’s hear ‘em!
P.S. I was asked to share a demo of this in action. So here you are: the clip below is from a webinar I delivered a few months ago, and shows us doing a simple introduction word finding activity at the start of a session. You can’t see the chat box, but you almost don’t need to because I read out the names as they start to share one by one. I had never met these #teachers before. I couldn't hear or see them. I feel it is still possible to have a good time & create connection online. ✨
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