Online communication and collaboration

Introduction

If you are running a training session or workshop in a face-to-face setting, then communication with your learners is relatively easy. They are there with you in the room; you can talk to them, they can talk to you, you can get them to move around, work collaboratively in groups, discuss topics amongst themselves and with you, and so on.

If you are delivering training online all of this is very different. There can be a danger that training is reduced to one-way communication from you to them that is both dull and ineffective.

You can avoid this trap by making use of the many tools and methods that enliven online training and enable you to facilitate collaboration and encourage collective learning.

This section looks at the main types of communication and collaboration tools available for use online and will help you consider which are appropriate for you and how and when you might use them.