Improving your Webinars and Virtual Meetings

Stan Skrabut@skrabut#UWCEShttp://www.slideshare.net/skrabut

Increasingly, more presentations are being conducted virtually through Webinars.

Other than this presentation, have you been to other Webinars?

- Yes

- No

You are an educator who has a need to meet or teach virtually.

Are you using the best teaching principles in your Webinars?

You want to develop engaging instructional opportunities.

Let me show you how you can improve your Webinars.

Using the chat box, how do you believe Webinars and virtual meetings can be

improved?

First, improve your slide

presentation.

When you create a PowerPoint presentation, do you…?

A. Use few slides, primarily bullet points and text

B. Use lots of slides, bullet points and text.

C. Use few slides, primarily images and little text

D. Use lots of slides, primarily images and little text

You need to guide your viewer’s attention.

One idea per slide is easy to digest.

Do you typically focus on only one idea per slide?

- Yes

- No

Use complete sentences to guide thought; this increases learning.

A simple graphic should relate to the specific point at hand.

Information you provide should be “need to know” not “nice to know.”

Use the notes section of your slides to add value added material to your slides.

Do you use the notes section when you prepare a PowerPoint presentation?

- Yes

- No

The notes section is where you enter your verbal channel information.

The notes section result in a well created handout.

Do you make your PowerPoint presentations available as handouts?

A. Yes, I send the out as an e-mail

B. Yes, I put them on my Web site

C. Yes, I put them on a site like Slideshare or Google Docs

D. No, I do not give handouts.

The notes section will also be available to you in the presenter mode of your presentation.

The notes section can be used to script roles for presenter and host.

Finally, add images and graphics to tell the story.

First, sit down with a printout of your slides and sketch pictures for each slide.

Do you sketch out your ideas before starting to look for images?

- Yes

- No

Try to tie the key point slides together as well as the explanation slides.

Using your sketches, select images that will instantly add meaning to your point.

Using the chat box, where do you get images for your presentations?

Second, incorporate

interaction and collaboration slides at least

every 5 minutes.

Add polling and status icon questions periodically through your presentation.

Do you use polls in your virtual meetings and Webinars?

- Yes

- No

Start using polling questions in the introduction to help break the ice.

Use polling to gauge experience, to determine interest, and prepare discussion.

Do not display results right away, use it to continue discussion.

Solicit user experience by adding chat questions in your presentation.

Using the chat box, how have you seen chats used in Webinars and virtual

meetings?

When pointing out comments, ensure you also include the user’s name.

Bob

You are able to gather written responses.

Best used when there are a large number of participants.

You should acknowledge and encourage the backchannel.

During a Webinar, have you every participated in a Webinar or virtual

meeting backchannel conversation?

- Yes

- No

Add backchannel information to your introduction slide.

Incorporate Twitter breaks into your presentation.

@skrabut

#UWCES and #netc2010

Do you use Twitter?

- Yes

- No

Review your backchannel for feedback that will help you improve.

Important steps to help ensure a

flawless presentation.

Here are steps you need to take prior to your presentation.

Schedule your presentation and send out invitations.

Using the chat box, how do you get the word out about your Webinars?

Prepare your slide presentation, and review slides in system.

Add a slide to provide housekeeping instructions.

Incorporate polls, chats, whiteboards, and video in presentation.

Schedule and coordinate with host, if necessary.

Have you ever used a host or sponsor during a Webinar?

- Yes

- No

Print out slides for host and presenter.

Send out constant reminders through all means possible.

Rem

inder

Recommend that you conduct a dry run of your presentation.

Do you do a dry run prior to your Webinars or presentations?

- Yes, I do a dry run

- No, I like to live on the edge

Test audio, video, and recording capabilities.

Coordinate and practice with host.

Upload necessary documents and media.

Verify links, quizzes, polls, and media works as expected.

Check linksEnsure quizzes workEnsure polls work

Check functionality of other media

Things to do on the day of your presentation.

Sign In earlyLoad presentation and set start screen

Remove distractions

Sign in early to ensure everything is working.

Set your presentation to your opening slide.

Control for all distractions such as telephones, computer pop-ups, and instant messaging alerts.

Do you multitask when you watch a Webinar?

- Yes

- No

Did you multitask when you watched this Webinar?

- Yes

- No

Using the chat box, what is one thing you will do differently in your upcoming

Webinar?

References