01.04.2010
A message to organizations that prominently display their years in business: no one cares. This market is about, “what have you done for me lately”.
Understandably, showcasing years in service is a means of communicating subject matter expertise. Imparting this knowledge is easier said than done. At a baseline, context rules the roost. Context is what drives a visitor’s search for expertise. In short, someone needs to know how to perform a task and you have an opportunity to teach. Teach them successfully and you now have a customer.
Moynihan Lumber, they (almost) get it. Their, “How To” page, with a few topics and supportive instructions is a good start but;
- How does the audience know which content is helpful and which isn’t?
- How does ML know which content hits the mark?
- How does the customer know which content has been updated without going back to visit?
These shortfalls are easily solved with adding an RSS capability, content (star) ranking and a place for visitors to comment on each set of the instructions individually.
Thinking strategically, a good conversation is one that maintains its momentum. Momentum is achieved and maintained through content which is relevant to tasks or situations that address the audience’s pains.
Currently lacking on ML’s, “How To” page is anything that talks to how to maintain a home during a recession. This is an exceptionally relevant topic that can produce fodder for weeks if not months.
Lastly, the current conversations and instructions are one-dimensional. The audience has to read. Sounds easy but most audiences rather watch and listen. If their needles have been moved then they’ll read and print. Making the consumption of content as easy as possible is as important as the content itself.
Posted by Amin on 01.04.2010 at 2:11pm Tags: instruction, learning, moynihan-lumber
0 comments
Email this post
11.15.2009
We’ve made it to the final installment of the Virtual Teaching Is Easy series. In this last segment we’re going to walk through tips five through eight.
Don’t Skimp On Equipment:
This is not the time to be cheap. Frugal maybe, cheap definitely not. Seems like a no brainer however this happens all too often and the audience pays the price. In short, you might be the next Walt Whitman however if your machine doesn’t have the horsepower to compile your voice properly or your Internet connection is flaky you might as well be a mute.
Make sure to arm yourself with a higher quality microphone headset combination. Being that you’re going to have it strapped to your head for hours on end, make sure that it’s as comfortable as it is functional. I use the Logitech ClearChat Pro USB. Hindsight being 20/20 I should’ve purchased the wireless version for convenience sake but this one works just fine.
Location, Present in a Quiet One:
Find a location without background noise. It’s surprising what microphones will pick up. Echoing kills quality by making it hard for the audience to hear you. Add to that, a globally dispersed audience of non-native speakers and you’ve created a perfectly horrible learning environment. Improve sound quality by putting a pillow in front of you but behind your monitor to absorb sound. If you’re near a window, think about putting up a heavy blanket to absorb your voice from the inside and any street noise from the outside.
Be A Student:
Do this from two perspectives. Work in the environment as if you were taking a course. Pay attention to how the instructor shares applications, interacts with the class and moderates lab sessions. Also, see how he handles Q&A in both the chat window and live from the microphone. Second, take the opportunity to sit with the instructor who developed the course you’ll be teaching. Talk to him about his style of teaching and determine if there are any pitfalls you should avoid.
Have A Personality:
Be yourself. If you’re snarky by nature, use it in your instruction. You’re not a robot. Your one-liners and sidebars add color to the conversation, don’t be afraid to use them. The combination of building a compelling presentation, expertly manipulating the presentation application and keeping your vernacular conversational will keep the audience engaged.
Lastly, there’s no silver bullet or magic elixir that will ensure a successful teach. Rather, it’s a combination of doing a number of things right. There will be malfunctions and students will ask tough questions. Remember to stay calm, expect the unexpected and talk to them as if they were directly in-front of you.
Posted by Amin on 11.15.2009 at 9:40am Tags: distance-learning, e-learning, elearning, instruction, learning, logitech, virtual
0 comments
Email this post
11.09.2009
Providing an overview of the components essential for a successful virtual teach was step one. Step two of the conversation focuses on components one through four.
Own The Content:
“But I didn’t design or create the content”. Frankly, no one cares if you created the content or not. If your voice is behind it, it’s yours and you own it, plain and simple. It’s best to visit with the author(s) of the courseware to get a better feel for the message they are trying to convey and to whom they’re targeting. Not gathering this information puts you at risk of misinterpreting key points, contradicting previous communications or worst yet, being off brand.
Command the Environment:
As a baseline, understanding the courseware is the first half of being prepared for a virtual teach. Understanding how the course will flow within the presentation application (Elluminate, WebEx, Saba Centra) is the second half. Situations that affect the presentation software of choice as well as flow are;
- Is instruction being delivered via PowerPoint only
- Are technical labs which include virtual machines (VMs) being used
- Does the presentation have slide builds (animations)
- Will an application be demonstrated
- Is the application web based
- Is the web based application secure (https)
- Will the audience be expected to participate
- How are the expected to participate (labs, quizzes, surveys)
These are some of the parameters that require consideration when scoping a presentation platform as well as understanding how the platform will be used. Regardless, it’s imperative you’re comfortable with the environment. Why? Simply, because you won’t have the time or the brain-power to concentrate on the presentation at hand and stumble around the environment trying to figure out how to share the desktop, take control of an application or start a lab exercise.
Lose the Distractions:
Everyone multitasks. No one multitasks when standing in front of an audience. When you’re presenting to a virtual class, treat the situation accordingly. Turn off instant messenger, the ringer on your phone, and close your email. Have in front of you the objects that are pertinent to the presentation, such as reference material or diagrams. ESPN.com won’t help you when some asks a question about extending the schema in generic LDAP.
Present in Manageable Bites:
Your audience will revolt if your plan is to lecture to them straight for 4 hours. This never happens, right? Think again, it does and somewhere there’s a soon to be unemployed instructor who’s planning to assassinate a class with PowerPoint. Don’t be that guy.
Content is consumed best when it’s broken into 15-20min chapters. Weaved into these chapters should be the corresponding demonstrations that enrich the conversation. Try out different sequences to determine where labs and demonstrations make the most sense.
Stay tuned for the conclusion of this 3 part series where we’ll talk though points five through eight.
5. Don’t skimp on equipment
6. Location, present in a quiet one
7. Be a student
8. Have a personality
Posted by Amin on 11.09.2009 at 10:00am Tags: centra, distance-learning, elearning, elluminate, instruction, powerpoint, saba, training, webex
0 comments
Email this post
11.03.2009
Online dating is devoid of the trappings of body language. There’s no eye contact, subtle touching, preening etcetera, etcetera. As body language is the most reliable indicator of how others perceive us, it’s the cornerstone of effective communication. This premise is also common to teaching virtually. Here too, there is no eye contact, and little ability for the instructor to determine visually, if the class is lost, interested and or engaged. In an environment such as this, it can be a daunting task trying to deliver content overall, keep it engaging, all the while staying on track. Here are a few tricks of the trade you should use to ensure a successful teach.
- Own the content
- Command the Environment
- Lose the distractions
- Present in manageable bites
- Don’t skimp on equipment
- Location, present in a quiet one
- Be a student
- Have a personality
Posted by Amin on 11.03.2009 at 8:16am Tags: elearning, instruction, training, virtual
0 comments
Email this post
