Overcoming the Weakened Brand of the Webinar

Jack Wexler – Director of Technology Based Learning for Goodwill Industries International – Jack.Wexler@Goodwill.org

Tanya Pang - Manager, Talent & Organizational Capability Lockheed Martin Corporation – Tanya.Pang@lmco.com

Increasing Webinar Engagement Opportunities

Agenda

• Quiz based on a video• Discuss our Masie Consortium

project• Learn from experts and each other• Share resources• Collect any clothing you want to

donate to Goodwill

Virtual meeting?

Virtual classroom?

Synchronous Learning?

Distance Learning?

Web conference?

[Name of software]Webinar?

Do You Agree?

And Why Is That?

Quiz

Key Reasons

10%

Crowdsourcing

The Masie Project

Large Group Small Group Info Session

MarketingFacilitation

Pre Webinar During Post

Considerations for Determining and Increasing Webinar Engagement Opportunities

Instructor Subject Matter Expert

Skills Training

Platform Design Process and Training

Types

Strategies

Continuum

Involvement Participant Support

Design IssuesIssues How to Resolve

• Ppt slide decks • Poorly designed• Features not turned on• Too much info• Bandwidth• Learning objectives not set• Lack of question architecture• Using tools properly• Engagement, engagement• 3-5 minutes draw them back

Design IssuesIssues How to Resolve

• Participant learning curve with technology

• “How to learn the tool” pre-session

• Long, ambitious sessions with too many objectives

• Modularize & identify asynchronous / synchronous content mix

• Create a holistic solution; pre, during and post elements

• Wordy slides / too much lecture

• Create collaborative learning activities using the tools

• Session doesn’t match participants objectives

• Build questions in the registration process

+How would you define performance consulting?

Example Whiteboard Activity

Systems Training Example

Element Self-Paced (Asynchronous) Live (Synchronous)

Pre-Requisite Overview Module

Session 1 System Demos Intro Session / Demos

Session 2 System Demos Q&A Session / Demos

Session 3 System Demos Q&A Session / Demos

Session 4 System Demos Q&A Session / Demos

Post Training Forum / Job Aids / Demo Library

Facilitation IssuesIssues Issues

• Learn the tool • Using avatars to remind you of what you should be doing in a virtual environment (greeting them, treating them like people)

• Have a producer • Using cameras to increase accountability of user participation, treating them like you would face-to-face

• Need to teach facilitators to instruct in virtual environment

• Panoramic camera usage

• If people don’t participate, call on them! • Turn webcams on at beginning them turn off

• Keep participants responsible for participating (raising hand)

• Lower participation barriers – opt in / choice for using webcam

• Acknowledging participants when they come in

• Be in room by self when on webinar if at all process

• Webinars end harshly just like the begin harshly—tell participants how you can connect one on one afterwards

• Asking personal questions to get it started and bring up conversation

Facilitation IssuesIssues How to Resolve

• Great SME -poor communicated • Collaborate rather than lecture• Have a co-facilitator• Rehearse and coach• Stress conversational talk techniques• Use humor• Vary your voice intonations• Do not sound scripted

• Limited engagement with participants • Design compelling questions• Include interactive activities• Use the chat feature

• Improper use of features - polls • Learn how to facilitate a poll

• Uncontrollable speaking by participants

• Use raise hand feature

• Unfamiliar with technology • Practice

• Instructor unaware of what the participants see

• Use two computers and log in one as a participant

Have a Encourage Interaction Slide at Beginning

Although “anyone can teach,” delivering impactful, high value learning precisely is an art form.

Successful virtual training demands a new game strategy and necessitates higher standards..

In the past, knowledge was power.Today, knowledge is free.

Value drives power.

Camille Preston, Ph.D., PCC

Use the Chat Feature

Create Engagement: 3-5 minutes

Chatting WhiteboardsKnowledge Checks

Breakout DiscussionsQ and A Polling

Marketing Issues

If you build it they will come!!!

Marketing IssuesIssues How to Resolve

Marketing IssuesIssues How to Resolve

•Limited attendance •Increase frequency of announcement and reminder emails•Obtain testimonials

•Confusing robo-instructions / invitations from system

•Create branded and attractive invitations and advertising

•Perception that learning can’t happen in a webinar

•Campaign why your program works

•Identify “web evangelists” to go out and spread the word

• 144 Tips on Synchronous e-Learning – eLearning guild

• Live & Online: Tips, Techniques, and Ready-to-use Activities for the Virtual Classroom –Jennifer Hofmann

• The Synchronous Trainer’s Survival Guide – Jennifer Hofmann

Resources

• Synchronous e-learning – Patti Shank

• 101 Tips to Motivate the Online Learner – insync center

• Best Practices for Delivering Virtual Classroom Training– Randah McKinnie

And Several More on the Wiki

Resources