Teaching Online Is Like Teaching After Lunch

In the synchronous classroom, the trainer loses all eye contact, body language and the opportunity to tap dance. The trainer needs to look for body language in the bandwidth. That means seeking out subtle signals that indicate the level of participant engagement and knowledge transfer. Use light or white backgrounds and minimal text. That makes whiteboard tools more effective for facilitating activities, highlighting lecture points and attracting attention. Try to incorporate the audience's voice by encouraging verbal discussion, having participants read bulleted points and asking for their opinions or illustrations of content.