Keeping participation high in a virtual setting can be a challenge. Your virtual training programs will be much more successful if you create an interactive and engaging learning space for your participants. Here are 5 tips to help keep people interested and engaged in your virtual training session.
- Clear Expectations for Participation – Prior to your virtual training session, send a communication to all participants to outline expectations for program involvement. You can set the tone by letting them know it will be an interactive session and encourage them to turn off notifications and close other applications on their browser. With a short window of time together, they’ll get the most of it by being focussed.
- Cameras on – encourage participants to turn on their videos during the session. You can let them know ahead of time to be ‘camera-ready’, explain why it’s important for everyone to be able to see each other and thank those who have their cameras turned on as the session begins.
- Engagement in first 5 minutes – having participants engage in some way at the beginning of your programs helps to set the tone that it will be an interactive session. Adding to the chat box, or whiteboard, responding to a survey or clicking on reactions can be simple, easy ways to have participants interact with the whole group from the get-go.
- Interaction every 10 minutes – frequent participant interactions are highly recommended during virtual training. They can be quick and easy questions to answer either in the chat, by raising a hand, or sharing a reaction on a blank PowerPoint slide. Examples of ways to gain interaction that are focused on the topic of the day would be to ask for a “fist of five” voting on what you will be covering, run a fun Zoom poll on the theme, ask for examples to be add to the chat box, or download a free dice roller to pose questions.
- Collaborative activities – utilizing online platforms, such as VirtualGlass™ can be a great way to make your session fun and interesting. Participants can work on case studies, examine different communication styles, work together to complete problem-solving tasks, or take part in an experiential activity that seems unrelated to the job yet the behaviors link the learning content to work related scenarios. Find ways for participants to make the learning relevant to their own context while creating an engaging experience.
Successful virtual sessions include clear expectations for participation ahead of time and frequent opportunities to interact in a variety of ways throughout the session itself. These approaches will increase the likelihood that participants will walk away from your virtual training program more knowledgeable, energized by the content and raving about your session.
