Thanks to everyone who submitted ideas for this blog. I will cover them over the next couple of months. I hope each of your received your bundle of books.

As trainers we all know how important it is to keep participants involved and engaged. Most of you can list dozens of ways to increase participation in the classroom. All of us should increase participation - or why are they called participants?

Yet this past week as I prepared to facilitate an ASTD Online Learning event for which 250 participants had registered, I couldn't imagine how to obtain ample participation. I created a practical handout and an accompanying PowerPoint presentation. ASTD was helpful, as were the In Sync Training producers: "Use the 'Raise-your-hand' feature." "Take a poll." "Vote using a green check for "yes" and a red "x" for no." "Have participants use their individual pointer to select an answer." "Use the whiteboard." "Try the 'chat' feature."

I used all the features, but still felt inadequate in obtaining the participation I desired. I wanted to get everyone in the game. I wanted participation.

This past year we saw a new level of participation coming from Apple. Getting everyone in the game is what Apple did when it opened its phenomenally popular App Store. The App Store opened early in the morning on July 10, 2008 and in less than a year has had in excess of one billion downloads of over 56,000 applications according to 148Apps, which keeps an independent running count. Developers (read participants) like this platform: it's easy to work with, provides a comfortable development environment, and offers a friction-free payment system where Apple handles all the accounting drudgery for a 30/70 revenue split. Apple has raised the participation bar.

What can we as trainers learn from Apple about participation? Make it easy to participate. Make it comfortable to participate. Make it pay off to participate.

No one likes to sit on the sidelines and that appears to be doubly so for Gen Ys. So how do you as a Workplace Learning and Performance Professional get everyone in the game? What can you do to make it easy, make it comfortable, and make it pay off - especially during online training sessions?

Get in the Game Yourself! How do you encourage participation and involvement in an online learning situation? Share your ideas with everyone here.

P.S. I'll be facilitating the sameonline session again in August. I would love to have your ideas to enhance participation for that event!