The document provides 12 tips for effectively moderating virtual classrooms using Elluminate software. The tips include being well prepared with slides and activities, being organized with technology and materials, arranging for a co-moderator, practicing multitasking such as scrolling chat and using whiteboard tools, focusing by being in a quiet space, being interactive using tools like chat and whiteboard, creating a profile, taking notes, saving chat text and whiteboards, using breakout rooms, and using multimedia effectively.

1. Twelve Tips for Effective Moderation of Virtual Classrooms Coach Carole’s Workshop 2

2. Tip 1: Be prepared Identify the purpose, style, title and content of presentation with your team Prepare your Powerpoint slides to engage and summarise Consider relevant interactivities to suit the group Prepare an outline of the session Book an Elluminate room with your administrator Days before the event check that you can access an Elluminate Room from your PC

3. Tip 2: Be organised Enlist the aid of an IT support person if you are behind a firewall Login to the room at least 20 minutes prior to starting time to allow for any technical difficulties Upload PPT slides, multimedia and shared files as required Create Breakout rooms if required upload slides there too for group work Check your audio equipment on entry Organise your materials, web links, prompts etc.

4. Tip 3: Arrange for a co-moderator Notify the co-moderator of date, time and location send invites with URLs if appropriate Identify the role each moderator will play before the session begins Check with co-moderator about archiving, saving whiteboards, keeping notes, keeping times etc Listen to this beginner Moderator for tips

5. Tip 4: Practice multi-tasking Select the wide layout of Elluminate windows to view the text chat area more comfortably During the event scroll the chat area to ensure that you can read and take in those comments, questions etc Scribe on the whiteboard select a smaller font size from the palette for typing in text Use the pointers and other whiteboard tools to highlight Ask participants to use the emoticons wherever relevant

6. Tip 5: Plan to focus Login from a quiet space Turn off phones Switch off email notifications Keep your session plan and notes beside you Establish protocols for questions

7. Tip 6: Plan to be interactive Use the whiteboard tools Use the Chat pod and the Audio tools

8. Tip 7: Create or update profile Select your own name in participant list Right click to select the profiler Complete your details as preferred Upload an image Note: suggest this action as an icebreaker

9. Tip 8: Take your own notes Click the Show/Hide Notes window icon to activate Have a notepad and pen beside you or open up Notepad or use the Elluminate notepad

10. Tip 9: Save the chat text Select the Save icon Select a folder and give the file a name

11. Tip 10: Save the whiteboards Select the Save icon Choose a folder and select PDF format

12. Tip 11: Use breakout rooms Divide the participants into groups of 5 or less do this by the hands up or alphabetical order Provide everyone with clear instructions on what they are expected to do in the rooms allow at least 10-15 minutes for the group work to happen Have a moderator for each room if possible or at least a leader Upload all slides to the main room (and copy the individual slides for the breakout rooms using the screen organiser) this tool is in Tools, Whiteboard, manage screens Ask each room moderator to copy their board to the main room

13. Tip 12: Use multi-media effectively Upload any files required before session begins: Flash, Mpg or Quicktime movies Some may be pre-uploaded in the SAS system Access and upload any shared files before session begins: Documents, flyers, questionnaires etc Create quiz file before session begins Multiple-choice, True/False