Here’s what to do if they’re not paying attention when you teach online.
From Classroom to Online–Not as Easy as We Think…..
Many instructors thought they could just keep the same instructional style they had used in the ‘live’ classroom when they started training online. Now, we’ve found it doesn’t work. Why? Because we’re not physically there with them in the classroom. We don’t have that energy, that interchange that we depended on when we’re ‘live’ to hold their attention.
The Problem: Not Enough Variety When We Teach
In fact, a majority of my online training attendees say they lose interest, on average, in 5-15 minutes!Two Creative Methods to Focus Your Audience’s Attention
- Get them up! Imagine it’s a usual day in your business. How many hours a day are you in training or meetings now online? Two–four–or more? You can’t help it–you get distracted and bored! And, if you’re a trainer, you’re probably more able to focus on the training than most!
I just saw a trainer give this assignment: “Get out of your chair. Go find something that has significance to you, regarding our topic. Come back and tell us why you chose that object.” The attendees loved the exercise!
How could you use that idea? If you’re teaching listing presentations, you could bring back a picture of your home and talk about what appealed to you. If you’re teaching how to create a database, you could bring back your Christmas card list (or a bunch of Christmas cards you’ve received).
This exercise does several things. It gets people out of their chairs! It refreshes their mind. It helps them focus on what’s important to them. Then, when you share the results with everyone, you start to build camaraderie with your attendees.
2. Send a box with things inside you’re going to use in your course–and don’t let people open it until they start your class. Isn’t that fun–and kind of mysterious? We all love to get boxes (Have you gotten a box from Amazon and had forgotten what you’ve ordered? Of course….). Doing this exercise helps you focus on your attendees and prepares them that they will have a different experience with you. Then, your box could include exercise, mystery objects–whatever creative things you can dream up to include.
Want more information and inspiration? Check out my prior blogs here for more strategies you can implement to provide variety and keep their attention.
Want to watch the video of my webinar Masterclass: How to Take your Classroom Online? Go to www.carlacross.com, and press the Webinars and More Button. You’ll see the post with the video and the handouts available for you.
More Help: Let’s Work Together to Make your Online Course Awesome!
Join my Mastermind group (no more than 6 people), where we’ll work on taking your classroom online with verve and confidence. We’ll
- refine your course to make it ‘transferable’ online
- Work together for 4 weeks, with a Zoom call once a week
- Put the right audience attention-getters and exercises in the right places so your audience stays focused on you and your course
- practice sections of your course so you’re comfortable and confident
- expand the principles so you can apply to all your courses
Investment: $499, if you contact Carla by 6.30.20–and you can bring a friend FREE! (just email me at carla@carlacross.com and say you want in!)
