@Cara Silletto: I agree that the camera use makes a HUGE difference.  Seeing the presenter(s)/host(s) feels more personal and engaging.  Seeing participants, as well, helps to create a small community feel, even if for a short time.

Anyone else working with participants across multiple time zones who you need to get in the same sessions? We've started working with an afternoon "sweet spot" - but it really has limited our flexibility and the amount we can do in a week!

We are using Zoom almost exclusively for training and they keep adding more functions and features for interaction, like annotations, reactions, etc., in addition to the breakout rooms, polling and chat options they've had.

Separating the half- and full-day courses into shorter sessions over time has been helpful, keeping all virtual sessions under 90 minutes. We're even combining blended learning where some content is now pre-recorded and participants must watch the foundational content on their own before arriving for the discussion or deep dive Zoom session together.

I will say one key to success we've discovered in this space is requiring that all participants use their camera. If they don't, it's more likely they will disengage and try to multi-task during the session. These aren't one-way webinars. They are virtual workshops.

Look forward to hearing others' tips and tricks!

Here at the University of Louisville, we use a number of platforms. The BlackBoard LMS offers a few that are internal for faculty/Staff/Student use. However, many faculty, staff and students use some that you are probably all familiar with, such as Webex, Zoom, Go-To-Meetings because your companies might use these. Most of the ones I have attended were fine for meetings, however the presenter was not versed in good training design or delivery.

Any of these platforms can be used for effective training if designed properly, keeping the participant center to the learning. If you don't build in engagement in the form of formative evaluation (knowledge check), group work or even gaming, the participant will tend to check out. You can make your training just as engaging as you would in the classroom if it is designed properly. Here is an informative article from Zoom that gives good ideas for engagement.

https://blog.zoom.us/wordpress/2019/06/06/make-learning-trainings-interactive-zoom/

The last thing I recommend is that you keep your training short with a number of sessions that might be stringed together over time to complete a topic. 

I have used Zoom and Microsoft Teams (with the U of L account) and both of these work well for training, if designed and delivered properly.

 

I'm very curious what platforms everyone is using for virtual training and your pros/cons. We use Microsoft Teams for our collaboration tool, but I think it has limitations when we talk about moving our in-person trainings to virtual, and the tool we've been provided (Global Meet) is not meeting our needs. I'd love to hear from those of you who have experienced both Zoom and Webex Training Center for facilitation about which you like better. And if anyone has another tool they love - please share that too!