9 Facilitation Tips Running Inspiring Online Workshops (The Klatch Guide)

Facilitation of online workshops can be a daunting task for new instructors. There is a lot to remember between the content and tech and ensuring participants are fully engaged.

With all the new technology available, it can be hard to know where to start when it comes to virtual training. That’s why we’ve put together a guidebook of some of the most important things to remember when you start your live online classes.

Online workshops have become increasingly popular in recent years, as they have many benefits. We have done all the hard work for you and have given you some facilitation tips to help you get started.

Klatch Facilitation Tips: Prepare for Your Online Workshops

While you may feel over-preparing for your live online classes can be excessive, remember that one day you’ll thank yourself for doing so. As with any online activity, it’s essential to be prepared for potential technical difficulties – which are likelier to occur online than in person. So make sure to test and practice any unfamiliar features before the start of your session.

We found that having several shorter sessions at different times can help participants join in more easily.

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Klatch Facilitation Tips: Get Everyone on Webcam, Including Yourself

One way to increase the human connection and communication between trainers and participants during a virtual meeting is to have everyone on camera. This creates a sense of community, which can help foster cooperation among the participants.

Your body language is a powerful tool that can set the tone for your meeting, and you will have the most influence if you are aware of it and take steps to develop a welcoming tone from the start. Make sure your camera is on when you are admitting your participants and that you keep an eye on their body language to make sure they feel comfortable and welcome.

Verify that…

• Your background is plain and free of any distracting patterns or messes.
• Instead of being in your background, all major light sources are in front of you (this means windows, lamps, overhead lights, etc.)
• Only a few inches of headroom are available above you since you are positioned in the middle of the video screen.
• After allowing people in, you encourage them to activate their cameras too!

If you are comfortable being on camera, participants will be more likely to feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and experiences with you.

Are you new to Social Media Marketing? Check out Klatch’s Guide for Understanding and Tracking Social Media Analytics

Klatch Facilitation Tips: Inform Students About Expectations

We believe that following some basic remote working etiquette is essential to make your live online classes as smooth and comfortable as possible for everyone. These expectations typically arise after acknowledging how someone’s current life situation can make working from home difficult.

These “ground rules” thus far have included:

• If at all possible, locate a calm and well-lit location, and if the connection is strong, turn on your webcam—good it’s to see everyone’s faces!
• If you can, close any other browser tabs or devices using bandwidth to guarantee a steady connection.
• Mute themselves when not speaking and only have one conversation at once.
• Be “present,” pay attention when others speak, and build on their ideas.
• Share the stage, invite everyone to speak, and keep your remarks brief.
• Feel free to respectfully and constructively challenge others.

For more information, visit Learner Expectations for Online Courses (and How to Surpass Them)!

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Klatch Facilitation Tips: Manage Your Time

Many participants need online workshops to finish on time because they may have other priorities after. Therefore, tracking your time and finishing when you are supposed to be essential.

Klatch Facilitation Tips: Take Plenty of Breaks

It is important to schedule regular breaks into the workshop plan to avoid feeling overwhelmed by video call technology, sound delays, and awkward silences.

It is important to schedule short breaks during long online workshops to allow participants to take a comfort break, drink water or stretch their legs. This will help them be more refreshed for the remainder of the workshop.

For example, we recommend incorporating two ten-minute breaks into online workshops longer than three hours to help participants avoid becoming too focused on the video recording and having difficult conversations. 

Klatch Facilitation Tips: Encourage Discussion

We noticed that, after our first few online workshops, participants were less inclined to challenge or comment publicly on each other’s input. This was helpful for facilitators as it encouraged participants to review and build on each other’s ideas critically.

Virtual workshops can be enormously beneficial for groups of people because they allow for a sense of togetherness and broader inclusivity to form. In addition, holding group discussions with all the participants can create a more enriching experience for everyone involved.

Klatch Facilitation Tips: Use Interactive Elements

In most virtual training platforms, the poll function gives you a quick and easy way to see your participants’ understanding or opinions at a given moment. By clicking on the poll button, you can ask participants questions about what they have seen in the presentation and see how many people have responded. This provides an important way for you to gauge participant comprehension and ensure that everyone is on track with the discussion.

Klatch Facilitation Tips: Have a Second Facilitator

A second facilitator can help to run sessions more smoothly, freeing up the leading facilitator for other tasks.

The main facilitators are relieved of the following duties by our Live Event Support team:

• Control over breakout rooms
• Control of the chat
• Releasing poll results
• Keeping an eye on the waiting area
• Resolving technical problems

Having a second facilitator to help with tech issues can help keep the event running smoothly without sacrificing attention away from the content.

Having multiple facilitators allows the organizers to manage conversations in breakout rooms more effectively, and the facilitators who are not currently speaking can keep an eye on the chat box for comments, questions, and queries.

Klatch Facilitation Tips: Get Feedback for Future Sessions

Taking feedback is an essential part of growing and developing as an individual. After all, we are constantly learning and improving! By asking for feedback on your live online classes, you can identify the areas that are working well and those that still need improvement.

Conclusion

Practice is key to ensuring a successful presentation. This includes preparing your content, practicing using your platform, and breaking participants into breakout groups to help them understand the material better. Doing this will improve your delivery experience and ensure everyone in attendance has a positive experience.

With these tips, you’re ready to create a powerful and engaging experience for your audience. So what are you waiting for? Schedule your next virtual gathering, and let us know how it goes!

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