Darlene Christopher

‘Mise en Place’ for the Virtual Classroom Facilitator

December 11, 2012

Foodies and chefs will recognize the French phrase, mise en place  (pronounced MEEZ ahn plahs), which translates to “put in  place.”  In the world of cooking it means having all your ingredients prepared and ready to go before you start cooking.  It’s tempting to jump right in and turn on the stove as soon as [...]

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Live Blog from the ASTD International Conference: Gamification & Learning

May 9, 2012

I’m at the ASTD International Conference & Exposition in Denver, CO and trying live blogging for the first time.  Mary Myers and Robert Pearson from Maritz Canada are speaking on Driving Engagement & Performance: Gamification & Learning Fun can change behavior for the better. The presenters showed a video that covered how people don’t want to take the stairs, [...]

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Icebreakers for the Live Virtual Classroom

May 1, 2012

Most trainers understand the importance of beginning a training session with an icebreaker to get participants warmed up and ready to learn. Icebreakers in the virtual classroom serve an important dual purpose of not only warming up participants, but also getting participants comfortable with the interactive tools in the classroom. Icebreakers in the virtual classroom [...]

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Online Facilitator Fitness

February 24, 2012

I’m training for the Knoxville Marathon which means working out has become part of my weekly routine.  It sounds strange, but as I’ve been training for the marathon, I’ve noticed some similarities with preparing for online facilitation and it got me thinking about a regimen for online facilitator fitness.  Be 100% prepared for the day [...]

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ASTD Infoline: Facilitating in the Global Virtual Classroom

November 14, 2011

As the number of organizations with a global footprint continues to grow, the training function in an organization must keep pace with this trend by offering training solutions designed for global audiences.  To reach global audiences efficiently, many organizations offer training delivered in a virtual classroom using web conferencing technology. Successfully delivering training in the [...]

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When Daylight Saving Becomes Costly Online

November 4, 2011

This weekend marks the end of daylight saving time in the U.S. which means we will set our clocks back one hour. The times of year when daylight saving time goes on or off  can cause a confusing day or two as we adjust to the change, whether we had prepared for it or not. [...]

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Five Monsters That May Visit Your Virtual Classroom

October 31, 2011

It’s Halloween and a spookier day than normal with monsters out and about. Are there monsters lurking in your virtual classroom?  If so, here are a few ideas on how to handle them: Wireless Goblin: This monster likes to appear right as you are about to start your virtual classroom session, especially if the instructor’s [...]

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To Record or Not to Record in the Virtual Classroom

August 31, 2011

Has this ever happened to you:  you announce a training session that will be delivered in a live virtual classroom and someone who would like to attend but cannot asks if he or she can get access to the recording.  Recording virtual classroom training is usually just a matter of learning how to set up [...]

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Ten Ideas for Exercises in the Virtual Classroom

July 27, 2011

If you have either attended or facilitated training in a virtual classroom you know that maintaining a high level of interactivity is key to keeping participants engaged.  Here are ten ideas for exercises to try in your next virtual classroom session: 1. Discuss a picture Display a picture that illustrates a concept you are teaching.  Ask [...]

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What Online Facilitators Can Learn From Rock Stars

June 10, 2011

Yesterday I had an interesting conversation with a friend whose kids are Canadian rock stars in the band, The Trews, currently on tour with Kid Rock.  He mentioned that their performances have improved remarkably while touring.  When I asked what they attribute their improvement to he mentioned that Kid Rock, a music perfectionist, suggested that [...]

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