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=**MODERATING LIVE SYNCHRONOUS SESSIONS.**=

**Before**

 * If using a guest presenter, meet with them before the session to:

o Clarify nature and type of presentation o Check audio o Check content (slides? movies? application sharing? web tour? etc) o Ensure level of technical comfort
 * If you are presenting do the above with yourself! Enter the room some time before your session and roadtest your content and use of tools like application sharing, whiteboard, etc
 * Prepare any quizzes in advance

//On the day://

 * enter the room early and allow for social interaction
 * Have some activity ready for earlybirds
 * If you’re late starting, inform people why and how long till start time

**Introductions**

 * keep intros short
 * perhaps show video of you and other presenters for a few minutes (then turn it off)
 * have the modus operandi about questions/comments clear. eg during or after the session? in text or voice?
 * Announce role of any co-presenter (eg who is monitoring text chat?; addressing technical issues?)
 * if the session is being recorded, let participants know this.

**During**

 * monitor the text chat closely
 * keep an eye out for lurkers and invite them to speak/text chat when appropriate
 * encourage the use of a white board if you have one
 * encourage the use of the text chat
 * when you are about to do something that changes the view for participants (like application sharing, or web tour), let participants know in advance
 * make notes as you go so you have some questions up your sleeve if participants don't have any; these questions can also be prepared before the session and be ready for copying from Word or Notepad into text chat or on to whiteboard
 * copy questions/comments from text chat to Word or Notepad for easy copying/reference later

**Conclusion**

 * Finish on time
 * If going over time, ask participants if it’s OK, and let people know it’s OK if they need to leave at the scheduled finish time
 * Thank //everyone// for their participation
 * Announce details of any follow-up discussion and how to access recording (if session is recorded)

**General**

 * If you are facilitating keep your input brief if possible – only fill in the gaps if everyone else is silent. Your job is to get to others contributing
 * if you are presenting, don't speak for more than 5-8 minutes at a stretch; allow time for interactvity and participant input
 * be (and sound) enthused
 * allow people the option of contributing in text or voice
 * consider having a printed copy of the presentation at your side, or have the presentation open in another screen (typically in ppt, but often in a wiki or other webpage)
 * If you are the sole presenter do not address technical issues once the session is underway
 * No matter what, stay calm (at least on the surface!)

**Further Resources**

 * [|Learning in Real Time] (Jonathan Finkelstein)
 * [|The Synchronous Trainer's Survival Guide] (Jennifer Hoffman)
 * Interactivity in Virtual Classrooms (slides only)
 * Tips for Making Virtual Classrooms More Interactive (Sue Waters)
 * [|More assorted tips]

Please contribute your ideas to the wiki at http://synchfacilitation.wikispaces.com/