Trainers often ask me: What are some key steps to ensuring a successful online event? I've boiled it down to seven items: Test. Clarify. Script. Use wired. Plan pauses. Use Polls. Plan questions. Read on:
 

1. Test everything in advance. Login, test audio, click through materials, and practice application sharing and interface controls. Test the login from the participants’ viewpoint.
 

2. Clarify how the software tools you’re using will support the design of your session. If you've planned a brainstorming activity, think through how that activity will play out online. Are participants going to speak their responses? Do they know how to control their own audio? Do they know how to type in Chat? How will you get them to do what you ask?
 

3. Script key phrases. If phrases like “Please respond by typing in the Chat pod” or “Please show Hand Raise icon” are new to you as a presenter and sound clumsy, practice them! Script how you'll give instructions that prompt learners to use tools.
 

4. Use a WIRED, not wireless, internet connection – for better consistency, responsiveness, and audio quality.
 

5. Plan pauses. To avoid the temptation to talk nonstop throughout the session, plan how you’ll pause to read questions/comments and verbally respond to them. Also, when you ask a question, don’t rush to fill the silence. Pausing serves two purposes: It gives learners time to process the question and respond, and captures the distracted learner’s attention.

6. Use Polls to prod participants to think and act on what you’re showing them.

7. Most important, plan to ask lots of questions throughout your session. Use open-ended questions to invite participants to share opinions or experiences. Make use of the binary polling (Agree or Disagree icons) to get basic feedback for questions like, “Are you able to hear me?” and “Have you ever experienced this scenario?”
 

Remember: Always set up and test your backup plan. If it’s not ready to implement in the middle of the session, it’s not a plan, it’s just an idea.

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Updated 5.13.20