• Online Facilitation

    What You Need to Know About Adobe Connect Pro Mobile

    September 10, 2010 /

    Adobe offers one of the most sophisticated web conferencing tools in the industry, Adobe Connect Pro, so it’s not surprising that they were one of the first vendors to release an app to allow iPhone and iTouch users to participate in a web conference:  Adobe Connect Pro Mobile.  You probably know that Adobe Connect Pro runs on Flash, and Flash doesn’t display on an iPhone or iTouch.  If you’d like to know how Adobe worked around this barrier, read this article.

    I held a web conference using Adobe Connect with participants who logged into my session via iPhone users last week.  Below is a summary of how Connect works on an iPhone.

    • What’s Visible: iPhone users can see the share pod, chat pod, attendee list and camera pod (requires 4G).  The share pod and camera pod appear on different screens, while the chat pod and attendee list appear together.
    • Share pod: iPhone users can watch your slides, but they cannot see annotation tools such as the pointer or any tools in the white board overlay.  Because of this limitation with the white board overlay, it means that mobile participants will not see white board interaction. iPhone users cannot see any flash content in a share pod, such as Captivate or Presenter.  When you switch to application sharing mode, mobile participants can see the screens that you share.  Keep in mind that their screen is much smaller, but you can let them know that the pinch-zoom feature will work.
    • Chat pod: iPhone users can see one chat pod, along with the attendee list.  This feature works best if you hold the phone horizontally to make the attendee list and chat pod to appear side by side.  Connect allows the host to display multiple chat pods, however, users can only see one chat pod.
    • Limitations: iPhone users cannot see poll pods, file share pods, web links pods nor use instant feedback features (raise hand, agree, disagree, etc.).

    Mobile web conferencing is still in its infancy, and I expect the tools and the market for these products to grow.  It would certainly help for Apple to allow Flash content on Apple devices.  Just think how fun mobile web conferencing will be when participants are on tablets, like an iPad!

    For more info from the Connect User Community, check out this video and quick guide and this article from PC World.

    Since iPhones don’t display Flash, now the heated fight that is boiling over between Adobe who develops Flash and Apple, whose products don’t run flash is another story and all I can say is that I hope the two can learn to play in the sandbox together.

    Read More

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  • Online Facilitation

    Mobile Web Conferencing: Do’s and Don’ts

    September 10, 2010 /

    Mobile learning is hot right now.  So hot that the E-Learning Guild devoted an entire conference to mobile learning, mLearnCon, this year which attracted hundreds.  This year, several web conferencing vendors like Adobe Connect, Cisco WebEx and Zoom have released mobile versions of their tools which allow users to participate a web conference from a mobile device.  The first devices to be supported, not surprisingly, are iPhones, and Driod phones and Blackberries are coming online quickly.

    If your web conferencing vendor supports mobile devices, and you are considering including mobile participants, here are a few items to keep in mind:

    • Don’t attempt to facilitate a session from a mobile device – for obvious reasons.  However, if you plan to include mobile participants, log into your session from a mobile device as a participant, so you can watch the mobile “view” as you facilitate.
    • If you will use a conference call for audio, make sure mobile participants know how to mute their mobile device or that you have the ability to mute participant phone lines. Imagine the sound of an ambulance or wind blowing and disrupting the audio for everyone on the call.
    • Remind mobile participants to charge their device before joining the session.
    • Don’t offer to include mobile participants if you have not tested your material on a mobile device. Test everything on a mobile device, from signing in to the end of the session so that you can see what adjustments you need to make to instructions, content, and exercises.  The full set of features available for desktop participants may not be available for mobile participants.  Case in point: in a recent webinar using Adobe Connect Pro I posted a poll asking if participants were on a desktop/laptop or mobile device.  I later realized that mobile participants cannot see polls.  No wonder 100% of the responses showed that everyone was at a desktop or laptop!
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  • Online Facilitation

    Maximizing the Application Sharing Feature in a Web Conference

    September 10, 2010 /

    Web conferencing tools like Adobe Connect, Cisco WebEx and Zoom and others allow the host to share his/her screen with the audience. When the host shares his screen it means that participants in the web conference view the host’s screen as he navigates the web or to an application such as Excel.  The host retains control of the screen and participants watch as he performs a specific task.

    Here are a few ideas to make the most of the application sharing feature in a web conference:

    • Log into an extra computer as a participant: Since the instructor view and participant view are usually different in application sharing mode, it helps to have an extra computer next to you.  Log into the extra computer as a participant so that you can glance at the participant view and make sure everything is ok.
    • Optimize your screen: Test the application sharing feature before using it in a live session and make a few changes to optimize your screen.  By optimize I mean make the screen as clear as possible for your viewers.  If you will be showing websites while in application sharing mode, remove all toolbars you don’t need.  Does the audience really need to see your bookmarks toolbar?  Better to remove all the unnecessary toolbars in your Internet browser for a cleaner look.   Also, experiment with the text size and zoom options in your browser or in the application you are sharing and see if you can make any adjustments to improve the clarity of the screen.  Check the extra computer next to you to see how the screen changes as you make adjustments.
    • Avoid ‘Antsy Mouse Syndrome’: Keep in mind that while you are sharing your screen with participants, they can see your mouse moving on the screen. A presenter suffering from antsy mouse syndrome constantly moves his mouse as he speaks which is very distracting.
    • Practice: Practice the steps you will follow when you are in application sharing mode so that they are fluid.  You want to avoid clicking around needlessly which will confuse participants.  For example, if you plan to navigate to a section of a web site that you will demonstrate, note the path you will click through in your speaker notes or leader guide.

    The application sharing feature is a powerful feature, and when used properly it can greatly enhance your web conference.

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  • Global Virtual Training Resources

    e-Book Review: Getting Started with Synchronous e-Learning

    September 10, 2010 /

    The e-Learning Guild recently published an e-Book by Patti Shank entitled: Getting Started with Synchronous e-Learning. This 48-page research report is based on a survey conducted by the eLearning Guild with over 3,000 respondents.

    The report includes an interpretation of the survey data with a range of tables and charts. If you are trying to determine which synchronous e-learning (also referred to as virtual classroom) tool to purchase, there is an analysis of the top vendors, including the top applications by used by organizations based on their size and industry affiliation.

    Intertwined with the data analysis are definitions, tips and best practices for designers and facilitators. If you are trying to learn synchronous e-learning facilitation techniques, Shank provides presentation tips and examples including screen shots of various virtual classroom activities.

    Finally, if you want to dive deeper into the world of synchronous training, the report concludes with a generous list of references and resources.  This report is a quick read and well worth the time to see current research and pick up a few tips on for successful synchronous e-learning.  Access to the report is provided to Guild Members, Member Plus, or Premium Members.

    Disclosure:  I am a member of the e-Learning Guild

    Read More
  • Online Facilitation

    What Web Conference Facilitators Can Learn From the Movies

    September 10, 2010 /

    Many years ago, someone in the movie theater business got the great idea of showing something on the screen to entertain the audience during the lead up time to the movie start time.  This meant that those who arrived to the movie early had something to watch to entertain themselves.  Advertisers also seized on this opportunity to market to a captive audience.

    Similarly, learning professionals from CLOs to learning specialists have a captive audience during the lead up time before a web conference begins.  In order to get a web conference to start on time, you need to ask participants to arrive early.  Why not make the most of those minutes leading up to the start time of your web conference by showing pre-session slide show?  The content of the slide should be entertaining, while supporting the material you will cover in your course.  Consider including the following in the pre-session slide show:

    • Interesting statistics (for example, for a computer security course include a statistic about the amount of attempted computer hacks)
    • Famous quotes that relate to your topic (for example, for a writing course include a quote from Mark Twain or Shakespeare)
    • Quiz question followed by the answer. Just like at the movie theater, show a photo of a person or place and a simple multiple choice question.
    • Logistical information. Remind participants about materials they need to have ready, start/end time or other FAQs.
    • Marketing information. Remind participants about upcoming courses follow up seminars, etc.

    How you set up your pre-conference slide show will depend on which web conference tool you are using.  For example, with Adobe Connect you can link each slide to the next to create a loop of slides (do the linking in PowerPoint), then each participant clicks through the slides at his/her own pace.

    Each minute of a web conference is precious, so make the most of the lead up time with a pre-session slide show that peaks your audience interest and gets them into a learning mindset.  Who knows, you may find a pre-conference slide show so helpful that you include it in your face-to-face trainings as well!

    Related Resources:

    Adobe Connect

    CLO Magazine

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  • Virtual Training Design

    How to Gather Participant Feedback in a Web Conference

    February 10, 2010 /

    Gathering evaluation feedback from participants in a web conference can be easily done through an online evaluation conducted at the conclusion of your training. The importance of soliciting feedback and making adjustments cannot be understated: since we cannot see our participants, their evaluation of the training is critical.

    Just as in a physical classroom, it’s important to leave few minutes at the end of your session to conduct an evaluation.Participants in a physical classroom generally tend to scoot out the door quickly when a session ends, and this holds true in a virtual classroom as well, so build in time for your evaluation.As the session concludes announce that you would like feedback from participants, then describe what you would like participants to do and approximately how long the evaluation will take.For example, “We would like to know what you thought about this session.Please take a few moments to complete an anonymous 10-question survey.It should only take you about 5 minutes and that’s how much time we have left before the conclusion of today’s session. To access the evaluation go to…”

    Some web conferencing tools have an evaluation tool built into the system that lets you pre-load questions and presents them to participants at the moment of your choosing, or as participants exit .If your web conferencing tool does not include a built-in feedback mechanism, you can build an online evaluation on a web based tool (such as SurveyMonkey, Question Pro, etc) and send the link to participants by posting in the chat box or “pushing” the link to participants which will open a new browser on their screens.

    An evaluation of a training course delivered via web conference is very similar to an evaluation of a course delivered in a physical classroom.However in addition to the questions you typically include in your course evaluation for training in a face-to-face session, consider including questions that will provide feedback on:

    • Pace of session
    • Facilitator’s skill
    • The level of engagement/interactivity of the session
    • Effectiveness of delivering [your course name] in a virtual classroom
    • Interest in receiving more training in a virtual classroom

    Once you’ve gathered feedback from participants, share it with the facilitation team and see what you can learn from the evaluation.Hopefully you will be pleasantly surprised by the ratings and comments.You may even be able to pick out a testimonial or two to help you attract participants for your next web conference.

    Read More
  • News

    The iPad’s “Disruption” Potential for Virtual Learning

    January 31, 2010 /

    All eyes were on Apple this week with the release of the iPad, the new tablet PC. Apple CEO Steve Jobs announced the iPad will be ideal for watching video, reading newspapers, browsing photos. “It’s so much more intimate than a laptop.”

    Chadwick Matlin of Slate.com wrote an interesting article that focuses on the “disruption potential” of the iPad and how this new device will affect various industries. Since virtual learning such as self-paced e-learning and learning delivered via web conference often takes place on a laptop, I’m wondering what iPad will mean for the world of virtual learning? Right now it’s difficult to tell what the iPad will do to e-learning industry, and any seismic changes to the industry are a long way off for many reasons. First, the iPad does not currently support Flash. Many self-paced e-learning programs are built with Flash and Adobe Connect Pro, a leading web conferencing tool, runs on Flash. It also lacks a webcam and only runs on AT&T’s network, so its web reach is limited right now.

    The device is currently marketed as a consumer product, which means that workplace learning programs will not be affected by the iPad for the time being. Right now, a crowd of early adopters is busy trying out this new device and it has a long way to go before becoming mainstream. However, the iPad and similar tablet PCs are definitely devices to keep an eye on. With e-learning courses (mobile learning) and training delivered via web conference (such as WebEx) quickly moving onto iPhones and smartphones – just imagine what that experience would be like on a tablet PC like the iPad.

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  • Online Facilitation

    Ten Resolutions for Webinar Instructors

    January 13, 2010 /

    It’s January so it must be resolution time. Here are ten ideas to think about as you get ready to facilitate webinars and other online events this year.
    1. Focus on your voice: The facilitator’s voice carries extra weight in a virtual environment, so focus on inflections, pace and rhythm. Speak clearly and purposefully. No slang or muttering allowed.
    2. Engage your audience early: Set the tone for an interactive session by engaging your audience early. Weave early interaction into the first few minutes of your session by asking participants to type their location into chat, respond to a poll about their background, and “raise” their hand if they can hear the audio clearly.
    3. Annotate while you speak: Most web conferencing tools include a pointer as well as annotation tools like a highlighter and other writing tools. Use these annotation tools generously but wisely as you speak to emphasize key information. Bob Mosher from LearningGuide Solutions is a master of this technique. You can feel Bob gesture as he uses the annotation tools to circle or highlight parts of the screen while speaking. I highly recommend observing Bob deliver an online session if you ever have the chance.
    4. Use interesting slides: Add images and color to your slides to make them visually appealing. As a rule of thumb I like to cover one concept per slide. This means that you may increase the number of slides as you spread out your content over more slides, but not increase the amount of content.
    5. Rehearse your session: Practice your session with a mock audience to fine tune the timing and flow of your material. Try recording your session and listening to yourself if you cannot rehearse with others.
    6. Know your audience: Learn as much as you can about your audience before you begin your webinar. Information such as their experience level with the topic, native language and experience with webinars will help you shape how you deliver your information. If you can’t find out this information ahead of time, run polls at the beginning of the session or post questions in chat.
    7. Start and end on time: Most of us are working on overdrive these days so respect your participants’ time. Plan to start and end your session on time and think about the factors that will allow this to happen. For example, send clear instructions and reminder emails to participants, join the session early to get everything prepared and rehearse so that you can ensure the material + interactions can covered in the time allotted.
    8. Observe other facilitators: Whenever possible, observe other online facilitators and note what you like and don’t like about their facilitation technique. Note how they engage the audience, how they present information on the screen and what they do in general to maintain your interest. I’ve also gathered many great ideas from in-person presenters who use techniques that can be translated to the virtual meeting room.
    9. Try something new: By observing other facilitators you will undoubtedly come across new ideas and techniques. Take a chance and try something new in your next session. If it works, you’ve added a new idea to your toolkit. If it didn’t work as planned, gather feedback on what happened and how to improve next time.
    10. Celebrate your successes: Just like traditional classroom facilitation, mastering the art of online facilitation is a continuous process. Sometimes it may feel that participants don’t appreciate all of the planning and behind the scenes work that goes on to design and deliver a successful webinar. Celebrate your successes by reviewing the positive feedback participants may have posted in the chat area or in the session evaluation and pat yourself on the back for a job well done.
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  • Virtual Training Examples

    Webinar Case Study: Meeting a Urgent Need in the Pharmaceutical Industry

    December 31, 2009 /

    I recently interviewed a colleague who designed and delivered a webinar to meet an urgent training need. She works for a Boston pharmaceutical start up of 20 employees and used GoTo Meeting to deliver training to nurses in a call center in Dallas.
    The purpose of the webinar was to train the call center nurses to answer questions about a new cancer drug developed by my colleague’s company. If you’ve ever read the package insert on prescription medicine, you’ll notice a phone number to call with questions, which is required by the FDA of pharmaceutical companies. Small pharmaceutical companies typically outsource this work to a call center.
    To help develop the training, my colleague interviewed the manager at the call center for two hours. Using this information she developed a 90-minute session with 25 slides. The slides included a large number of patient photos to illustrate before and after affects of the medicine. A journal article about the disease that the drug treats was sent as pre-reading to participants to help provide context for the presentation and maximize the time spent during the session. After the presentation the senior medical advisor from the pharmaceutical company (who is based in North Carolina and joined virtually) reviewed an FAQ and answered additional questions.
    The result was an efficient training session delivered in real time, plus a recording made available to those who could not attend. Had this training been delivered the traditional way, my colleague and the senior medical advisor would have flown to Dallas to deliver two sessions (since some nurses needed to staff the call center). Additionally, a secondary audience in the Boston office (employees and contractors) attended the webinar and learned first-hand from company experts and from the questions raised by the nurses.
    In total, 3 sessions (2 sessions for nurses and 1 for staff/contractors totaling 4.5 hours) were consolidated into 1 session (1.5 hours) and several hours of travel time were eliminated. In a small organization where resources are stretched thin and staff are in various locations, replacing face-to-face training with training delivered via web cast is a great way to save time and gain efficiencies.
    Read More
  • Online Facilitation

    How to Keep Your Cool Online

    December 13, 2009 /

    Picture this: A project manager with a geographically dispersed team, who was somewhat new to conducting meetings via web conference, decided to facilitate a project kick-off meeting using a web conference. Her goal was to get the team on the same page and make a good first impression. As the meeting started, she lost her Internet connection and lost her virtual meeting room. In a panic, the project manager blurted out that “I guess we won’t have a meeting. Why do these things always happen to ME?” in an exasperated tone. Sound familiar?
    A skilled online facilitator knows that from time to time, there will be technology glitches, and she knows how to keep her cool and deal with these issues with confidence. Ideally, you should partner with someone when facilitating an online meeting so that one person can run the meeting and a second person can handle technical issues. I also always make sure I can access the meeting agenda and handouts outside of the meeting room (either printed copies or a copy on my computer) so that I can continue the meeting on a phone line if needed. Even better if you can email all meeting documents to participants as a back-up.
    In this case, the project manager was using a separate phone connection, and everyone was still connected to the audio bridge. She also had a second person helping with the technical issues. Instead of panicking she could have muted the phone, told her partner that she would start the meeting without the visual and request a signal or a note to her to let her know the status of the virtual meeting room. A comment such as “We are working to restore the meeting room and can actually start without it by introducing the agenda and first topic, etc.” would have appeased her audience.
    As it turned out, in this meeting the internet connection was restored within minutes. The project manager lost credibility with her team by sounding the alarm bells and losing control of the situation. If she had been better prepared and planned with her co-facilitator, she could have seamlessly shifted from plan “a” to plan “b.” The participants would have certainly noticed that things weren’t going exactly as planned, but they would have also observed a professional who was well prepared, confident and kept her cool in a difficult situation.
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