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Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Establishing an Online Presence - Preparing Your Learning Space

In order for clients to have a successful experience using eVolve, it is essential for the facilitator to establish a strong online presence from the very start. No different than you would in a face-to-face workshop, facilitators need to show up online to welcome their clients and set the stage for their work together. There is nothing more comforting for a client logging into their eVolve session for the first time, than to feel a sense of personal welcome. Below are a few strategies on how you can prepare your client’s learning space prior to a workshop starting to maximize success:
  • Make yourself visible through the use of Photos, Videos and Bios – photos and bios can be easily added using the Profile feature, available to all users of eVolve. Those with Classic and Premium Design privileges are also able to upload videos, such as personal welcome messages. Once you create your video, upload it to an external video-hosting website such as YouTube or Vimeo. Once uploaded, videos can then be embedded into the HTML code of any slide.  
  • Using the Private Messaging feature, write a personalized welcome message – whether facilitating a group or an individual learning experience, facilitators have the ability to send individual private messages to each client. This is one great way for a facilitator to welcome each client individually, as well as introduce and showcase the private messaging feature. 
  • Start a Group Reflection – if you are facilitating a group workshop, consider starting a Group Reflection titled “Say Hi to the Group” or something similar. If your clients have already met face-to-face, be creative with your first group question (ie. What’s one thing you are looking forward to out of this learning? How do you think this group can be of help to each other?, etc.) Be the first to post a response. It will help clients feel less shy about posting and you will also be able to point out how a client can respond (ie. “just click on New Reply at the top right corner to make a post.") 
  • Link any email instructions to eVolve Content and Features  – many facilitators send out log in instructions to a client over email. Consider including a word or two about what to do first once logged in: (eg. “Once you log in take some time with the unit called Getting Started. You will find it by clicking Development in the menu bar. Also take time to introduce yourself in the Group Reflection called Say Hi to the Group. That way your fellow participants will know you have ‘arrived’!”) 
  • Suggest Where to Start – eVolve is pretty intuitive to navigate, but it is important that your clients orient themselves. This way, they will be able to concentrate on actual learning rather than trying to figure out where to access what. Help clients along, and by using the suggestion feature, point out where a client can start their learning and orientation.
  • Consider posting a response to the first Reflection within 24 hours of the client’s first login Reflections are one of the valuable meaning-making spaces in eVolve, but keep in mind that clients may not initially understand what a Reflection question is or who sees the responses. To introduce a client to the concept of a reflection and to show them how the feature works, consider posting a response to the very first one they will be completing. By doing so, your response will show up on their summary page, showing them how they will be able to see new activity in their learning space. You also have the opportunity to introduce the idea of reflections and let a client know how quickly you will respond to each one they submit.
To keep track of your “welcome communication”, consider keeping a word document with some of these initial communication pieces. While you won't want to use a “one size fits all approach”, by having templates you will save yourself some time.  Tailor your responses based on the information that you have about each client – this will be the most effective way to build rapport and help the client feel supported and welcomed.
For further tips or to discuss your particular delivery scenario, please connect with us!