DO I REALLY NEED A VIRTUAL CLASSROOM …...DO I REALLY NEED A VIRTUAL CLASSROOM PRODUCER? Tuesday, February 26, 2019 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM Coronado CD Disney's Coronado Springs Resort

DO I REALLY NEED A VIRTUAL CLASSROOM

PRODUCER?

Tuesday, February 26, 2019

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Coronado CD

Disney's Coronado Springs Resort

Session Code: 411

Kassy LaBorie

Principal Consultant

Kassy LaBorie Consulting, LLC.

[email protected]

www.KassyConsulting.com

1 ©Kassy LaBorie Consulting, LLC

SESSION DESCRIPTION

Maybe you don’t. But what you absolutely need is the skill set, and whether

you assign those to another trainer, a dedicated person in the role, or do it

yourself, commanding the technical aspects of your virtual classroom delivery

is the key to online learner engagement.

Still not sure? Recall the last webinar you attended, the one where it started

late due to audio problems. Remember the recent breakout activity you tried

to complete, but everyone was too technically confused to get to the

assignment? Or how about that time everything was cancelled because the

slides wouldn’t load, and no one could figure out what to do.

Virtual classroom production is an art. It requires a unique skill set that

balances deep platform knowledge with multitasking agility while at the same

time calming everyone down before the panicked screams can be heard

through the mute! It’s just the support you’ve been seeking, without even

knowing you needed it.

It might just be exactly what the disengaged online learner has needed all

along!

APPLICATION ON THE JOB

• Articulate the distinct benefits a producer skill set brings to the virtual classroom experience

• Implement a virtual classroom platform disaster recovery strategy

• Integrate 3 producer tasks into the delivery of your virtual classroom, even if you don’t have a producer


VIRTUAL CLASSROOM PRODUCTION

What is it?

Virtual classrooms, meetings, webinars, and webcasts all require technical

setup and focus that is not necessarily within the knowledge or skill set of the

trainers, presenters, and facilitators leading them. Virtual production is the

planning, setup, *in-session management, and follow-up of all the logistical

and technical details required of a successful and engaging virtual event.

The Producer is an individual who performs these tasks. Other titles for those

who perform production tasks include but are not limited to: Host,

Moderator, Virtual Classroom Assistant, and Event Specialist.

*In-session management

Producers demonstrate and teach effective use of the tools of the online

platform, guiding participants to connect and manage audio, use chat to

communicate, annotate whiteboards, and participate in breakout activities to

name a few. They support the facilitator and participants during the

preparation, launching, and debriefing of activities during a live event. They

assist with engagement of exercises and activities by role playing,

commenting in chat, participating during discussions, and assisting with

progress checks as needed.


COMMON ISSUES

Successful live online events require

preparation and planning not only with the

technology, but also with the people

involved. Below is a list of the most

common problems that cause

disengagement in virtual sessions around

the globe.

TECHNOLOGY

• PARTICIPANTS CANNOT JOIN THE EVENT. The setup and preparation of the

connecting devices, both software and hardware, and other equipment (e.g.

audio and visual) needed for the event to work is not addressed in advance.

• AUDIO OR VISUAL DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. Echoes, low volume, speaker

phones, computer audio confusion, webcam failures, slides not showing, and

delays in screen shares are common problems.

• LACK OF KNOWLEDGE ON HOW TO MANAGE THE TECHNICAL PROBLEMS.

Grace under pressure and deep knowledge of how the platform is supposed to

work are the most important skills when problems occur, especially when it

happens in front of a live audience.

PRESENTER

• DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO USE THE FEATURES OF THE PLATFORM. Not

knowing how to advance slides, view poll results, or watch chat affects a

presenter’s credibility. A producer can assist with these tasks.

• TECHNIQUES ON ENGAGING DELIVERY IS UNKNOWN. Failure to learn the

unique techniques of virtual presentation and facilitation. Getting comfortable

with the features is the first step.

• THE CONTENT IS NOT DESIGNED FOR LIVE ONLINE DELIVERY. Expecting

slides presented in-person to be engaging online is a mistake. Learn the

technology to adapt the design.


PARTICIPANTS

• DO NOT KNOW HOW TO USE THE FEATURES OF THE PLATFORM. Not

knowing how to connect audio and participate to communicate makes

attending a webinar a waste of time. Learn the technology.

• DO NOT COMMIT TO ACTIVE PARTICIPATION. This one is not entirely a

participant’s fault, but when a presenter is asking for interaction, take

advantage of the opportunity!

• DO NOT DO ANY PRE-WORK OR POST WORK. Do not miss out on this

opportunity to get ready, often technically. Do the work outside of the live

event, especially since it is often intended to prepare you for a better

outcome.

Notes:


PRODUCER SKILLS

TECHNICAL

✓ Quick learner

✓ Problem solver

✓ Multi-tasker

✓ Quick responder

BENEFITS

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES

✓ Flexibility

✓ Communication

✓ Patience

✓ Improvisation


LEARN THE TECHNOLOGY

Notes:

DOWNLOAD my platform checklists to help you learn:

https://kassyconsulting.com/resources/


3 TASKS TO IMPLEMENT TODAY!

1. GET THE 15-MINUTE BEFORE HELP

Most technical issues occur in the beginning of sessions, when participants

are joining and trying to connect to the audio. If I do not have a person

who can be in the role of producer for my entire session, I will make sure I

have help for the 15-minutes before a session.

2. DOCUMENT FOR A QUICK COPY/PASTE

I compose the following information on a document ahead of time so that

it is ready for a quick copy / paste into the chat: greeting messages, audio

information, directions for contacting technical support, partner names,

team names, extra activity instructions, break messages, etc.

3. BREAK FOR BREAKOUTS

Managing breakouts takes time and requires focus. I prepare them at

break times in my sessions. I also use the platform options to group

automatically or evenly distribute the group members when it does not

matter who is working together in the teams.

1. GET THE 15-MIN

BEFORE HELP

2. DOCUMENT FOR A

QUICK COPY/PASTE

3. BREAK FOR

BREAKOUTS


DISASTER RECOVERY STRATEGY

Notes:

To FIX any problems you may experience using your platform, you must

know the features and how they function. It is the only way.


My Personal ACTION PLAN

Take time now to reflect on what you have learned, and

importantly, what you want to DO with it. Be sure to share your

action plan with your immediate supervisor or manager, friends,

family, or… anyone who will listen!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

ACTIONS I will take to continue building my VIRTUAL

CLASSROOM PRODUCTION skills:

ACTION PLAN


RESOURCES

Christopher, Darlene (2014). The Successful Virtual Classroom: How to Design

and Facilitate Interactive and Engaging Live Online Learning. New York, NY;

AMACOM.

Clay, Cynthia (2012) Great Webinars: How to Create Interactive Learning That

Is Captivating, Informative and Fun. San Francisco, CA: Pfeiffer.

Huggett, Cindy. (2010). Virtual Training Basics. Alexandria, VA: ASTD Press.

Huggett, Cindy. (2013). The Virtual Training Guidebook: How to Design, Deliver

and Implement Live Online Learning. Alexandria, VA: ASTD Press.

Huggett, Cindy. (2017). Virtual Training Tools and Templates. Alexandria, VA:

ATD Press.

LaBorie, Kassy, and Tom Stone. (2015). Interact and Engage! 50+ Activities for

Virtual Training, Meetings, and Webinars. Alexandria, VA; ATD Press

Miner, Nanette and Hofmann, Jennifer. (2009). Tailored Learning: Designing

the Blend That Fits. Alexandria, VA: ASTD Press.

Murdoch, Matthew and Treion Muller. (2013). The Webinar Manifesto: Never

Design, Deliver, or Sell Lousy Webinars Again. New York: RosettaBooks.

Pluth, Becky Pike (2010) Webinars with WOW Factor: Tips, Tricks and

Interactive Activities for Virtual Training. Minneapolis, MN: Pluth Consulting.


ABOUT THE PRESENTER

KASSY LABORIE

Kassy LaBorie is the principal

consultant at Kassy LaBorie

Consulting, LLC. She is a speaker,

instructional designer, classroom

facilitator, and author who

specializes in virtual learning,

teams, and live online

technology. Kassy is passionate

about helping organizations,

learning teams, and training

professionals successfully move

to the virtual environment.

In her previous role at Dale

Carnegie Training, she was the

director of virtual training services, a consultancy that partners with organizations to

help them develop successful online training strategies. Kassy also served as the

product design architect responsible for developing the company’s live online

training product and experience. Prior to this, she was an independent master virtual

trainer, a Microsoft software trainer, and a senior trainer at WebEx, where she

helped build and deliver training at the WebEx University.

Kassy is the co-author of Interact and Engage! 50+ Activities for Virtual

Training, Meetings, and Webinars. A frequent speaker at industry

conferences since 2006, she has presented at Training Magazine events

including their yearly conference and Online Learning Conferences,

Chief Learning Officer symposiums, The Virtual Learning Show, ATD’s

TechKnowledge and International Conference & Exposition, as well as

many local ATD Chapter events.

Documents

DO I REALLY NEED A VIRTUAL CLASSROOM …...DO I REALLY NEED A VIRTUAL CLASSROOM PRODUCER? Tuesday, February 26, 2019 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM Coronado CD Disney's Coronado Springs Resort