Resolving "live" Lack of Activities/Bad Activities issues

11. Passive delivery (Death-by-Power Point)

Warns against relying solely on slide presentations in online sessions.
Suggests replacing them with interactive activities like breakout rooms, whiteboards, chatstorms, and quizzes. If lecturing is unavoidable, keep it short and engaging through stories, myths, and case studies. (4:09)

Summary of this lesson in PDF here.

12. Low participation. Dealing with too few comments: "Nothing else?"

Addresses the challenge of few participants engaging in discussions or turning on webcams. Recommends limiting host speaking time to 25%-5% and planning interactive tasks for most of the session. Offers instant fixes like silence, polls, chats, and process checks to boost participation on the spot. (3:10)

Summary of this lesson in PDF here.

13. Not-so-great session opening “What do I say after Welcome?”

Highlights the importance of engaging openings to set tone, break the ice, and align participants with objectives. Provides examples like plenary questions, speed networking, humorous videos, and “Would you rather” games. Encourages dedicating significant session time to opening and closing activities. (3:26)

Summary of this lesson in PDF here.

14. Weak session’s closing: “Ok, that’s it. Goodbye!”

Critiques abrupt endings that fail to consolidate learning or foster continued engagement. Presents creative closing activities to reflect, share insights, and set next steps. Stresses planning closures that celebrate achievements and encourage follow-up actions. (3:08)

Summary of this lesson in PDF here.