How to Use Zoom for Successful Online Workshop Facilitation (Tips & Tricks)

If you’re planning on hosting an online workshop, one option is to consider video conferencing software like Zoom. We believe a Zoom workshop is one of the best digital collaborative tools for remote learning.

Zoom is a comprehensive conference calling software tool that allows you to host virtual gatherings. In addition, it provides cross-platform support, so members of your team or participants of your program can assemble anywhere in the world. 

No matter what your course is about, Zoom has everything you need to run a successful workshop.

How Do You Host an Online Workshop on Zoom?

Have the Right Setup for Your Zoom Workshop

A poll of our workshop attendees revealed that 50% had never attended an online workshop before. This is why it is essential to provide clear instructions during the workshop so everyone can participate comfortably.

Give individuals steps in case their connection stops, such as to log out and try again or call one of the participants. In addition, one attendee can serve as a co-host, a member of the institution who could assist anyone with any technical problems, such as logging into the workshop.

To avoid confusion, equip yourself with the proper equipment when presenting. For example, you cannot share your screen in PowerPoint and see your speaker notes on one monitor. If you need to present with materials on a second monitor or laptop, you will need to transfer these files before presenting or memorize the presentation.

For more tips on Zoom, visit The Best Zoom Features for Online Instruction and Teaching!

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Zoom Meetings: The Foundation for Your Workshop

Zoom meetings let you have video conference calls with others and a messaging feature so you can stay in touch even if you’re not on the same device. It’s easy to use, works on any device, and easily syncs with your calendar to schedule future meetings.

We at Klatch also love the following features:

• The Record feature lets you create automatic, searchable transcripts.
• Virtual backgrounds can help you appear “meeting-ready.”
• Share videos with full audio and video transmission without uploading the material.

Zoom Workshops Need Breakout Rooms

Zoom’s breakout rooms are a fantastic way to make an online workshop more interactive. With this feature, you can pair participants up to discuss or do an activity together and then return to the group. This makes the Zoom workshop more engaging for everyone involved.

Zoom has an instant messenger for sending text, images, and files and meeting features such as whiteboarding and wireless content sharing. In addition, you can integrate it with your Google calendar to catch up with a specific group at any time. Webinars can include 25 active panelists and feature Q&As, polling, and reporting.

For more information, visit Most Effective Zoom Breakout Room Tips for Online Group Workshops!

Interactive Elements for Your Zoom Workshop

We believe that Zoom workshops should be interactive to keep participants’ attention. People have short attention spans, and distractions such as a cat purring, the doorbell, and barking dogs can quickly take away from what a speaker is saying. Interactivity keeps people engaged and allows for shorter talking segments which maximize the learning opportunity for participants.

Zoom has several features that make it an effective tool for student engagement and interaction. For example, Zoom allows users to chat with experts from all over the world in real-time, which helps to build relationships and learn more about topics. Additionally, Zoom offers several other features that help students better understand concepts and debates:

• Create a poll as an icebreaker to keep things lighthearted. Polls are a terrific way to keep people interested. Later on in your presentation, use them to provide insightful information. Remember that you can only give the individuals predetermined answers to choose from (as opposed to letting people enter their answers)
• Who doesn’t enjoy gifs of cats? Find an appropriate gif online, right-click, choose “copy image,” and then paste it onto your deck. All you have to do is that. Your gif will play automatically when you click “present slideshow.”

Video Webinars on Zoom

Broaden your audience with a live virtual event or broadcast. The software can hold up to 100 interactive video participants, and there are plans for 100 to 10,000 view-only attendees. The easy-to-use technology provides interactivity for attendees watching your live event from their own devices elsewhere. Additionally, integrations with Facebook Live and YouTube allow you to include all members of your team or workshop.

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Be Mindful of Technical Issues

Zoom allows users to continue participating in a session even if their computer or connection becomes unstable. This is because they have booked a set time in the Zoom serves (e.g., 2 hours).

It is essential to be prepared for the inevitable glitches when delivering content online. Have a backup plan and be patient while things get sorted out.

Learn more about how to Build Your Learning Community & Brand Masterfully: Online Workshop Promotion 101!

Great Facilitation

Be sure to familiarize yourself with Zoom’s general principles to get the most out of your Zoom Workshop. These will help you create high-energy events that help people generate ideas, solve problems, and share opinions.

These often consist of:

• Sharing of knowledge and ideas through lively, open debates in which participants explore new ideas and test out hypotheses
• Focusing on action rather than passive listening is much more successful;
• Peer-to-peer learning and feedback are essential since everyone offers their knowledge, expertise, and viewpoint; also, the curriculum must be flexible to accommodate the demands of the workshop attendees.

Review and See What Can be Improved

Reflecting on your online workshop after it has ended is always a good idea, as you can learn what can be improved. Use the feedback form to provide your thoughts, and then write about how you managed to improve things in your next Zoom workshop.

Last But Not Least, Follow Up With a Thank You

It is always a good idea to follow up with participants after the workshop has ended. Do this by sending out a one-pager that summarizes the main points of the workshop or thanking everyone for their involvement.

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