What are some tips for delivering great online workshops and webinars for parents?

1 Choose the right platform and tool

Depending on your purpose, audience, and budget, you may have different options for hosting your online workshop or webinar. Some popular platforms and tools include Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, Webex, and GoToWebinar. Each of these has its own features, advantages, and limitations, so you need to do some research and testing before you decide which one to use. Consider factors such as ease of use, security, interaction, recording, and analytics.

2 Define your goals and outcomes

Before you design your online workshop or webinar, you need to have a clear idea of what you want to achieve and what you want your participants to learn. This will help you to structure your content, choose your activities, and measure your impact. Write down your goals and outcomes in specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) terms. For example, by the end of this webinar, parents will be able to identify three strategies to support their child's reading at home.

3 Create an engaging and interactive presentation

One of the biggest challenges of online workshops and webinars is to keep your participants interested and involved. To avoid boring or overwhelming them with too much information, you need to create a presentation that is engaging and interactive. Use visuals, videos, audio, and animations to illustrate your points and make your presentation more dynamic. Break up your content into small chunks and use transitions and summaries to connect them. Invite your participants to ask questions, share opinions, and participate in polls, quizzes, or surveys.

4 Prepare yourself and your participants

To ensure a smooth and successful online workshop or webinar, you need to prepare yourself and your participants well in advance. Make sure you have a reliable internet connection, a good microphone and camera, and a quiet and comfortable space to deliver your session. Test your platform and tool, and familiarize yourself with its functions and settings. Send your participants an email with the link, instructions, and agenda for your session. Ask them to register, confirm, and check their equipment before joining.

5 Deliver with confidence and enthusiasm

On the day of your online workshop or webinar, you need to deliver your presentation with confidence and enthusiasm. Greet your participants warmly and introduce yourself and your topic. Set some ground rules and expectations for the session, such as how to use the chat, mute, and raise hand features. Speak clearly, slowly, and loudly, and use gestures and facial expressions to convey your emotions. Monitor your participants' reactions and feedback, and adjust your pace and tone accordingly. Encourage participation and interaction, and acknowledge and respond to their questions and comments.

6 Follow up and evaluate

After your online workshop or webinar, you need to follow up and evaluate your session. Send your participants a thank-you email with a link to the recording, slides, and resources from your session. Ask them to complete a feedback form or survey to rate your session and provide suggestions for improvement. Analyze the feedback and the data from your platform or tool, such as attendance, engagement, and satisfaction. Identify what worked well and what can be improved for your next online workshop or webinar.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?