We all know good facilitation skills: Ask don't tell; encourage discussion among participants-not just between you and the participants; play devil's advocate to challenge people's thinking, etc.,

But when we move from the classroom to the virtual classroom we seem to revert immediately to lecture and presentation mode.  If you think straightforward lecture is a snoozer in the classroom, it’s ten times worse in the virtual classroom when the only thing participants have to keep them engaged is the sound of your voice.

In order to deliver online classes that are engaging, here are five keys to better facilitation in the virtual classroom.

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4.  All instructions must be written

The least preferred way for Americans to take in information is in an auditory manner and yet the virtual classroom forces 90% of our communication to be solely auditory.  This heightens the possibility of participants getting confused - especially when you are asking them to complete some type of activity. In order to assist your participants, all instructions for activities should be written - preferably both on the screen and in a handout or workbook that you have provided for them. If you've not provided a written guide to correspond to your online class then, at the very minimum, activity instructions need to be on the screen and participants need to be allowed enough time to copy them so that they can refer back to them while completing the activity.

5.  Keep the energy up

Synchronous Learning Expert, Jennifer Hofmann, says that teaching online is like teaching after lunch all the time.  In the classroom there is a natural flow of energy from the co-mingling of your participants.  But in an online class most of the participants are isolated and it is up to you, the facilitator, to keep the energy up.  You don't want to be super caffeinated - that's the wrong kind of energy - but you do want to put on your “presenter’s” voice and mannerisms.  If possible, stand up and move the way you would if you were standing in front of the class.  Using your natural body language and mannerisms keeps your energy up and translates quite successfully through the telephone lines.

In general, the skills you have as a classroom trainer translate well to the online classroom. Don’t approach online training like a telephone conversation or radio broadcast; your participants are still out there and are desperately hoping to be engaged in your class – it’s up to you to lead the way to their success.