The document presents techniques for enhancing engagement in virtual classrooms, including minimizing multitasking and utilizing various interaction tools. It emphasizes the importance of creating compelling presentations and fostering discovery through questioning. It also highlights the significance of building virtual presence and collaboration among participants.

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Engaging Learners
in the
Virtual Classroom
March 5, 2015

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Webinar Objectives
• Apply five techniques to create a
compelling virtual classroom
• Use all the interaction tools in your
web conference platform to build
engagement
• Minimize multi-tasking in your
webinars

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About Cynthia Clay
• 25+ years of experience
• Author of Great Webinars
• An expert in collaborative,
engaging virtual learning

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Questions!
What is your top-of-mind question today?

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Confess
How often do you multi-
task when attending
webinars?

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Confess
Why do you choose to
multi-task?

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Self Assessment
I design engaging online
learning programs.

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Self Assessment
I build virtual presence
when I deliver online
learning.

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Self Assessment
I facilitate learning instead
of lecturing in the virtual
classroom.

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Self Assessment
I use all the interaction
tools in my web platform.

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Self Assessment
I make my virtual learning
sessions “sticky.”

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Maximum Engagement
Design to
Engage
Facilitate
Discovery
Build
Virtual
Presence
Interact
and Solve
Problems
Make
Learning
“Sticky”

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Design to Engage

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This is a Visual Medium

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Spend no more
than one minute
per slide.
Technique 1

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Use less text and
more compelling
images.
Technique 2

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Presentation Zen
Before

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Presentation Zen
After

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Presentation Zen
Before

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Presentation Zen
After

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Your Virtual Tool Kit
Chat
Polling
Annotation Tools
Emoticons/Status Icons
Video/Audio
Streaming Video
Breakout Rooms

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Your Virtual Tool Kit
What interaction tools do you use
most often?

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Your Virtual Tool Kit
Chat
Polling
Annotation Tools
Emoticons/Status Icons
Video/Audio
Streaming Video
Breakout Rooms

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Short Videos

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A Challenging Coworker
The Manipulator
The coworker who attempts to
influence your attitude or behavior
through deception or secrecy.

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Short Video

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Chat with Video
What clues in the video tell you that you might be
working with a manipulator?
Example

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Maximum Engagement
Design to
Engage
Facilitate
Discovery
Build
Virtual
Presence
Interact
and Solve
Problems
Make
Learning
“Sticky”

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Facilitate Discovery

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New Mindset
What is Discovery Learning?

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Discovery Learning?
Is it possible to create a discovery learning
experience in the virtual classroom?

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Ask good
questions to
facilitate learning
Technique 3

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Why Ask Questions?
• Develop interest in the topic
• Check on learner readiness
• Review key concepts
• Stimulate thinking and
insight
• Develop critical thinking skills
• Encourage learning transfer

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Research
• More effective in producing
achievement gains
• Foster learning (particularly oral
questions)
• Result in greater comprehension

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Lower Cognitive Questions
• Probe for facts
• Usually closed
• Direct
• Stimulate recall
• Check for knowledge
Should you ask lower cognitive
questions?

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Status Icons
• Do you agree or disagree?
• Have you printed the handout?
• Are you ready to move forward?
• Let’s give Bob a round of
applause.
• Raise your hand if you have an
example.

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Higher Cognitive Questions
• Stimulate thinking
• Require learners to combine
information or provide
evidence
• Usually open-ended
• Encourage interpretation
• May lead to synthesis or call
for inference

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Example
What is an example of a
higher cognitive question?

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Example

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Example

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Maximum Engagement
Design to
Engage
Facilitate
Discovery
Build
Virtual
Presence
Interact
and Solve
Problems
Make
Learning
“Sticky”

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Build Virtual Presence

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Virtual Presence

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Social or Virtual Presence
The way people represent themselves
in their online environment
The degree to which a facilitator is
perceived as a “real” person online

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Streaming Video
Do you like the facilitator
on streaming video?
Why or Why Not?

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Building Virtual Presence
• Reduced ambiguity
• Increased connection
• Reduced conflict

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Facilitator On Camera

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Look into the
camera when you
are speaking
Technique 4

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Look into the
camera when
they are speaking
Technique 5

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What Most Learners Say
• Builds rapport
• Holds attention
• Creates connection
• Reduces the tendency to multi-task
• Creates the experience of a virtual
classroom

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Maximum Engagement
Design to
Engage
Facilitate
Discovery
Build
Virtual
Presence
Interact
and Solve
Problems
Make
Learning
“Sticky”

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Interact & Solve Problems

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Interact every two
to three minutes
Technique 6

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Think of a time when you have
manipulated a person or a
situation by withholding
information, flattering, or sharing
information in secret.
What motivated you?
Reflection Chat
Example

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Debriefing Chat Comments
• Use their names
• Comment on their points
• Link comments
• Get to know them
• Encourage peer-to-peer
chatting

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Collaborate on
shared problems
Technique 7

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Whiteboard (Annotation)

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Breakout Rooms

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Interact!
• Pose juicy questions to stimulate
thinking.
• Use chat to solicit open responses.
• Use polls to capture and compare
opinions.
• Generate ideas on a whiteboard.
• Use breakout rooms to problem
solve.

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Can You Lecture?
Yes.
Keep it short.

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Extend Respect
• Use good listening and questioning skills to
encourage openness.
• Pay attention to your gut/intuition.
Example

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Maximum Engagement
Design to
Engage
Facilitate
Discovery
Build
Virtual
Presence
Interact
and Solve
Problems
Make
Learning
“Sticky”

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Make Learning “Sticky”

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Use stories to
frame key points
Technique 8

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Story with Examples

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Story with Poll
Which behavioral clues have you
experienced personally at work?
• Offers unusual favors, gifts or flattery
• Appeals to your sense of guilt
• Deceives you
• Presents only positive reasons (no
negatives)
• Misrepresents or excludes data
• Whispers in your ear
• Asks a leading question or pretends to
ask for input
• Tells stories that are inconsistent
Example

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Theorize less and
apply more
Technique 9

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Demonstration

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Learner Feedback

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Maximum Engagement
Design to
Engage
Facilitate
Discovery
Build
Virtual
Presence
Interact
and Solve
Problems
Make
Learning
“Sticky”

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What’s Next?
What is one action you intend to take as
a result of participating in this webinar?

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Virtual Facilitator Training
• Deep dive, comprehensive course
• Focused on virtual design and delivery
• Public courses offered six times/year
• Customized for private delivery in your web
conference platform

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Q & A

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Thank You!