Hybrid - Room and Zoom Training

Remote collaboration made easy

Everyone, everywhere can now receive the same training. Welcome to the ‘Hybrid – room and zoom’ training delivery option – where you have some of your staff attend in person and others join in via an online meeting platform (eg. Zoom or Microsoft Teams)

This option removes the need to have all participants in the same location, reducing cost and hours spent on logistics. All you need to ensure the ‘Hybrid – room and zoom’ is a success is to have the following setup (or hire a preferred PD Training venue that is already set up for Hybrid).

Classroom/Equipment Set-Up

To facilitate this style of training delivery, we have learned some important lessons related to the best practice technology and equipment required to provide the best experience for the participants as per outlined below:

Preferred Scenario – In a preferred classroom setup we would have the following equipment:

  • Video Camera that can follow the trainer as he/she moves around the room
  • Large Screen TV where the Zoom/Teams call is screencasted, so the physical attendees can see the virtual attendees and vice versa.
  • A laptop to facilitate the zoom call
  • A separate laptop for the trainer’s presentations and notes
  • A projector to facilitate the slides on a large screen

Minimum Scenario – The minimum setup would have the following equipment:

  • Fixed Video Camera with widescreen lens
  • A laptop to facilitate the zoom call and show attendees
  • A separate laptop for the trainer’s presentations and notes
  • A projector to facilitate the slides on a large screen
Classroom Setup
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Our Hybrid Trainers

First of all, let’s understand that not every face to face trainer has the makings of a good Hybrid trainer. Also, not all good virtual trainers are good Hybrid trainers either.

A Hybrid trainer is a blend of an excellent virtual trainer with an excellent face to face trainer and not everyone can be both. They are a rare breed and at PD Training we continue to train and hone the skills of our selected Hybrid Trainers.

So what makes a good hybrid trainer?

  • Engagement – ensure inclusion of both face to face and virtual learners. As you can imagine, this is no easy feat when you have people in front of you to ensure you keep your virtual learners engaged. An effective hybrid trainer will have tools to ensure engagement and will set this scene right from the very beginning
  • Activities – activities must be relevant and work for both types of learners. The trainer must be ready to adapt on the fly if the activity is not working for one or both of the parties, or even have two ways of delivering the activity prepared to ensure the outcome is achieved for both parties.
  • Energy – trainers need high energy at the best of times. When you are dealing with face to face learners you need to have interaction with the learners every 15-20 minutes, whether that is asking a pointed question, moving around the room, or doing an activity to get the learners moving. With Virtual learners this is even more intensive, with the need to engage the learners every 2-3 minutes. For this reason, a lot more planning and thought process needs to go into each session to ensure all learners are kept engaged. For these reasons your trainer must have very good energy to last the distance.
  • Tech savvy – where technology is involved, something is bound to go wrong sooner or later (usually sooner rather than later). From learners not knowing how to turn their microphones, to the trainer’s PowerPoint not displaying. Having a trainer who does not buckle under technical issue pressure is a must.

PD Training have been delivering Hybrid workshops for the last 6 years, and we feel we’re become rather good at it.

Our Hybrid
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