Synchronous meetings
As we move along the online teaching and learning continuum, we have begun to revise our approaches to meet the needs of students. Based on the student survey, some students expressed that they do miss their friends and teachers and would like to meet with them virtually. I helped to arrange a meeting between grade 10 students and their teachers via Zoom. I quickly noticed that students were excited to see the familiar faces and simultaneously, they also felt awkward to see their teachers and classmates after a week and a half. Students were giggling and really did not know how to interact with each other in this virtual space. Almost all grade 10 teachers attended this meeting as they cared about students and they wanted to check in and say hi. There was no specified agenda for this meeting.
Before we started our two-week Songkran (Thai New Year) break on Friday, April 3, I organized another meeting. It was a synchronous videoconferencing for participants to meet our grade 10 students and shared their journeys of completing their personal projects. Prior to the meeting, grade 10 students brainstormed questions that different target audiences might ask and they prepare for their responses accordingly. I requested KIS community members to indicate their participation via a Google form and they also had an opportunity to ask questions in advance on the sign-up form. I consolidated all questions before the Zoom meeting and also shared with grade 10 students in advance. The videoconferencing was conducted very intentionally and anchored in a meaningful purpose. Grade 10 students signed up for the meeting voluntarily. They were coached on how to be a panelist and how to interact with the audience in the virtual environment. I set up the logistics for the meeting and acted as the panel discussion moderator. Wow! It was a very productive gathering and everyone felt energized after the meeting.
I reflected on both experiences and made an attempt to identify factors that contribute to productive and sustainable connections. Seth Godin's blog post, The Conversation was inspirational to me. To make the conversation better, he suggested some ideas.
Before we started our two-week Songkran (Thai New Year) break on Friday, April 3, I organized another meeting. It was a synchronous videoconferencing for participants to meet our grade 10 students and shared their journeys of completing their personal projects. Prior to the meeting, grade 10 students brainstormed questions that different target audiences might ask and they prepare for their responses accordingly. I requested KIS community members to indicate their participation via a Google form and they also had an opportunity to ask questions in advance on the sign-up form. I consolidated all questions before the Zoom meeting and also shared with grade 10 students in advance. The videoconferencing was conducted very intentionally and anchored in a meaningful purpose. Grade 10 students signed up for the meeting voluntarily. They were coached on how to be a panelist and how to interact with the audience in the virtual environment. I set up the logistics for the meeting and acted as the panel discussion moderator. Wow! It was a very productive gathering and everyone felt energized after the meeting.
I reflected on both experiences and made an attempt to identify factors that contribute to productive and sustainable connections. Seth Godin's blog post, The Conversation was inspirational to me. To make the conversation better, he suggested some ideas.
- The most important: Only have a real-time meeting if it deserves to be a meeting.
- People come to the meeting ready to have a conversation.
- Part of being engaged means being prepared.
- Organize a conversation.
A conversation involves listening and talking. A conversation involves a perception of openness and access and humanity on both sides. (Seth Godin)
I also recalled Priya Parker emphasized the importance of anchoring the gathering in a meaningful purpose in her book, The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters. When there was no clear reason for why people come together, then we are creating gathering for nothing.
How do we intentionally build sustainable connections, virtually?
I begin to wonder how we can intentionally build sustainable connections in the virtual environment. This is an important thing to do when the school closure is extended. Imagine how weird and awkward that might be when teachers and students see each other again after the long separation. We don't use synchronous meetings for content delivery. We continue to investigate how we can organize videoconferencing to build our community and enhance relationships.
As readers might have noticed that I like to use acronyms to organize my thoughts. I decided to use PAUSE to re-think about synchronous meetings and identify factors to build sustainable connections that can engage and energize everyone. PAUSE is also to emphasize the importance that we allocate time to reconnect with each other. We are separated because physical distancing is good and healthy for everyone. However, there are different ways that we can connect emotionally and creatively in the virtual environment.
As readers might have noticed that I like to use acronyms to organize my thoughts. I decided to use PAUSE to re-think about synchronous meetings and identify factors to build sustainable connections that can engage and energize everyone. PAUSE is also to emphasize the importance that we allocate time to reconnect with each other. We are separated because physical distancing is good and healthy for everyone. However, there are different ways that we can connect emotionally and creatively in the virtual environment.
Prepare students on how to interact in the virtual environment
It requires a different skill set for students to interact online and we need to explicitly teach them how to participate in a synchronous meeting. Seth's Godin suggested a simple 9 point checklist. We also created Zoom Videoconferencing Student's Guide to support our students for online interaction. To ensure a productive and effective conversation, we need to do some prepping. It is not going to work if we simply organize students to meet online in a chat room. On a different note, I know more and more governments and schools are banning Zoom due to security and privacy issues. However, I do think Zoom is a convenient tool and if teachers learn how to use it correctly and responsibly, we can continue to ensure students' internet safety and privacy.
It requires a different skill set for students to interact online and we need to explicitly teach them how to participate in a synchronous meeting. Seth's Godin suggested a simple 9 point checklist. We also created Zoom Videoconferencing Student's Guide to support our students for online interaction. To ensure a productive and effective conversation, we need to do some prepping. It is not going to work if we simply organize students to meet online in a chat room. On a different note, I know more and more governments and schools are banning Zoom due to security and privacy issues. However, I do think Zoom is a convenient tool and if teachers learn how to use it correctly and responsibly, we can continue to ensure students' internet safety and privacy.
Anchor the gathering in a meaningful purpose
Priya Parker justified the importance of deciding a specific and meaningful purpose for a gathering extensively in her book. Instead of saying we are meeting to check in student's progress, we can dig deeper and specify the purpose for students to share what has worked and what hasn't work in their home learning environment. Students who are interested in this topic can attend the meeting.
Priya Parker justified the importance of deciding a specific and meaningful purpose for a gathering extensively in her book. Instead of saying we are meeting to check in student's progress, we can dig deeper and specify the purpose for students to share what has worked and what hasn't work in their home learning environment. Students who are interested in this topic can attend the meeting.
Specificity is a crucial ingredient. The more focused and particular a gathering is, the more narrowly it frames itself and the more passion it arouses. (Priya Parker)
Use a warm-up question to connect and listen attentively without judgements
We are humans but not robots. Rather than jumping right into the business, it is beneficial to do a grounding activity to warm up everyone's "conversation muscle". The inclusion activity will also allow us to get to know each other better. Unlike being at the school, it is harder for students to share what's on their mind. Students are not easily to share their favorite book or video game that they currently enjoy during their breaks now. This is also an opportunity for teachers to gain an insight of students' lives and it is important to listen attentively to expand perspectives without making judgements. The idea of using warm-up questions is inspired by Elizabeth Weingarten's article,20 questions to ask instead of "How are you doing right now?"
We are humans but not robots. Rather than jumping right into the business, it is beneficial to do a grounding activity to warm up everyone's "conversation muscle". The inclusion activity will also allow us to get to know each other better. Unlike being at the school, it is harder for students to share what's on their mind. Students are not easily to share their favorite book or video game that they currently enjoy during their breaks now. This is also an opportunity for teachers to gain an insight of students' lives and it is important to listen attentively to expand perspectives without making judgements. The idea of using warm-up questions is inspired by Elizabeth Weingarten's article,20 questions to ask instead of "How are you doing right now?"
Structure the time for an effective conversation and allocate a wrap-up session
I personally have very little tolerance when the meeting is not structured, and some people talk too much and some people do not talk at all. We finally get everyone's attention and permission to be together and I think it is paramount we respect each other's time and ensure the gathering experience is productive and energized for everyone. We will also want to avoid the meeting finishing without a conclusion. When facilitating a meeting, it is always a good idea to monitor the time and always allocate a wrap-up session. Participants can identify actions that they need to take or reflect on today's meeting and share their biggest take-away in the wrap-up section. If the meeting is finished in a rush and participants do not have a chance to say a proper goodbye, I feel the meeting is less effective and it feels incomplete.
I personally have very little tolerance when the meeting is not structured, and some people talk too much and some people do not talk at all. We finally get everyone's attention and permission to be together and I think it is paramount we respect each other's time and ensure the gathering experience is productive and energized for everyone. We will also want to avoid the meeting finishing without a conclusion. When facilitating a meeting, it is always a good idea to monitor the time and always allocate a wrap-up session. Participants can identify actions that they need to take or reflect on today's meeting and share their biggest take-away in the wrap-up section. If the meeting is finished in a rush and participants do not have a chance to say a proper goodbye, I feel the meeting is less effective and it feels incomplete.
Engage everyone and ask "How can I help?" to signal you care and can offer support
Not everyone gets a chance to speak in the class or in a meeting. Isn't it an opportunity that we can connect all participants via the videoconferencing tool? We can leverage the breakout room function and use protocols to facilitate conversations. Lastly, as James Ryan wrote in his book, Wait, What?, one important question to form the base of all good relationships is "How can I help?' This question signal we care and are willing to offer support.
Not everyone gets a chance to speak in the class or in a meeting. Isn't it an opportunity that we can connect all participants via the videoconferencing tool? We can leverage the breakout room function and use protocols to facilitate conversations. Lastly, as James Ryan wrote in his book, Wait, What?, one important question to form the base of all good relationships is "How can I help?' This question signal we care and are willing to offer support.
PAUSE to build sustainable connections
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