Comments on: Starting a Multipoint VC Professionally

By: Janine Lim

Janine Lim — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 20:14:00 +0000

These are great tips too, Rachel! Thanks for adding! All the school multi-point programs that I’ve seen and participated in have this order of interacting etc. Otherwise things get out of hand very quickly!

By: Rachel

Rachel — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:54:49 +0000

Also with a number of sites you need to have a very clear overview of the programme, including etiquette (muting & side conversations) when you first come on. And have a run sheet of participating sites that the facilitator calls on in turn to respond rather than just opening discussion out to everyone at the same time. Having a run sheet and order of speaking also helps make sure that the quieter ones are invited into the conversation & not left out. This is all very structured but avoids the confusion of people trying to come into the conversation at once. The trick in facilitating this is trying to get the balance between structure and allowing a conversation to flow naturally.

By: Arnie Comer

Arnie Comer — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:41:59 +0000

I think it is really important to start the conference on time even if only one class is connected. Most of my multisite conferences are multiple sessions as well. Too much of a delay can threaten the start of the next conference.

Like Janine, I too don’t hesitate to hard mute a site if they don’t mute themselves. And I also jump in and remind sites to please keep theri microphones muted if it is not their turn to ask a question or present to the conference. Many times after students from a school ask their questions, present or respond the person at the school who is supposed to mute the microphone forgets. Then someone from that classroom will cough, or the school bell will ring and then that school pops up on everyone’s screen who is part of the conference.