Do you want to run great online meetings, workshops and events?

Learn and practice ways to make online events participatory, engaging and productive.

The world is changing. COVID 19 has challenged us to move many of our meetings online, while the Climate Crisis encourages us to make online interactions part of our regular practice in the future. With technology rapidly developing, facilitators have a unique opportunity to contribute significantly to people’s virtual experience, making meetings more inclusive, more effective and more fun!

  • Continue to function effectively during COVID 19
  • Design and deliver interactive, engaging online events
  • Allow people to exchange experience and knowledge
  • Pay attention to issues of diversity, inclusion and power
  • Produce compelling documentation
  • Reduce travel and venue costs

The course is divided into 7 sessions, and is held online twice a week. Each session lasts for 2 hours. The course is delivered using Zoom but is intended to be ‘platform agnostic’. If people wish to run their practice sessions via a different platform, that is encouraged.

We also invite you to participate in a discussion forum where you can post questions, request resources, have discussions with your course peers and download the materials from each session.

Download a summary of the course.

Who is the course for?

This course is intended for anyone who is experiencing the growing demand for effective online meetings, workshops and events – and who wishes to develop their skills as both facilitators and producers of online gatherings.

Anyone who is leading virtual meetings, virtual teaching, webinars or other events in the private, public or voluntary sector including Teachers and Lecturers, Project Managers, Team Leaders, Facilitators, Trainers, Coaches, and Community Activists

Assumptions and Requirements

All participants should have basic computer literacy skills and a basic competence in Zoom. The language of delivery will be English.

You will need:

  • An account with an online platform (Zoom (free or paid or any other you prefer), so that you can practice setting up and running a meeting.
  • Your own headset with integrated microphone, or earbuds with microphone
  • A laptop/desktop from which you will join, rather than a tablet or phone

What will you gain?

  • Learn to lead engaging online meetings, workshops and events that elicit innovative thinking and creative problem-solving.
  • Gain competency leading virtual meetings, workshops and events regardless of platform.
  • Build your confidence as a virtual facilitator.
  • Learn tools and techniques for virtual meeting design and eliciting participation.

Each cohort will be limited to 18 participants to ensure high levels of interaction and personal attention:

  • PRACTICE. Integrate learning by designing a virtual Focused Conversation with a partner, and by practising as facilitators and producers, with the rest of the class acting as participants.
  • FEEDBACK. Receive peer and instructor feedback during practice sessions.
  • CLASSROOM. Seven virtual sessions using Zoom.
  • ASSIGNMENTS. Some light exploratory ‘homework’ may be provided between sessions, e.g. setting up your own Zoom preferences, researching icebreakers and energisers, comparing different documentation tools etc.
  • RESOURCES. We will provide an ‘asynchronous’ discussion forum (Basecamp) for posting of ‘homework’, uploading of session chat and recordings, and conducting between session discussions, as a way of deepening learning.

Our Trainers

For this course we are pleased to be working in partnership with a wider group of trainers, many of whom were involved in the design of this course originally and who bring extensive online knowledge and experience. See here for their profiles. At least two will be involved in the delivery of the course.

See also Lead Trainer Orla Cronin’s blogs on this topic:

Going Virtual? 6 tips to make your virtual meetings more effective and engaging

The Producer Role in Virtual Events – more than just a ‘spare pair of hands’

and her Case Study: Facilitating “hybrid” offline/online events

Other Case Studies

South Tyneside Council’s Children’s Services (Dawn Williams)

Ecovision (Moldova) (Bhav Patel)

Please visit our course calendar to see upcoming dates for this course and make a booking. Alternatively, contact us to enquire about a tailored in-house course for your organisation.

Carol McCarthy
Carol McCarthy
The perfect introduction to online facilitation!
Created by potrace 1.10, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2011 Read More
I'm new to the world of online facilitation and the 90 minute online taster facilitation session was the perfect introduction! The team were so professional and delivered an action-packed session full of variety, interaction, information and fun...I'm really looking forward to attending the full programme!
Paul O'Raw
Paul O'Raw
Virtual facilitation tour-de-force
Created by potrace 1.10, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2011 Read More
As I'm beginning to dip my toes into 'virtual' facilitation this session was very timely for me. I am about to facilitate an on-line session with a number of presentation and break-out rooms. Martin and team gave a tour-de-force of how to engage people on line. I got many tips from it - it has boosted my confidence as I prepare for my forth-coming webinar.
Claire Doole
Claire Doole
Virtual Facilitators Set Great Example
Created by potrace 1.10, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2011 Read More
Orla Cronin and her team of virtual producers walked the talk in the virtual facilitation workshop. They demonstrated best practice and gave many practical tips that I have immediately transferred into the virtual workshops i am running.
Hilary Topp
Hilary Topp
Great virtual facilitation taster session
Created by potrace 1.10, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2011 Read More
I attended the 90 minute virtual facilitation taster course. A lot was crammed into 90 minutes, and I picked up lots of tips which I have already put into practice in workshops and online conversations. Thank you ICA-UK!
Liz
Liz
Virtual facilitation skills training
Created by potrace 1.10, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2011 Read More
I signed up for this 90 minute training to enhance my skills and understanding of working online; given the changing context of my work due to COVID-19. The training was packed full (in a good way) with hints, tips, and experiences of ways of working. Lots to take away, digest and explore further. Mostly, the training left me positive and even excited about my move online. Thanks for putting this on at this time.
Fran O'Hara
Fran O'Hara
Learnt expert Virtual Facilitation Skills
Created by potrace 1.10, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2011 Read More
I attended the virtual facilitation course near the start of the Covid-19 lockdown and the skills I learnt have proved to be invaluable. The course was run in a very professional way, with the presenters modelling good practice and sharing insights - I'd recommend it and am signing up for the extended course next!
Emma Barr
Emma Barr
Highly recommend for those in virtual events (Virtual Facilitation 2 Hour workshop)
Created by potrace 1.10, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2011 Read More
This was a very interactive workshop with excellent tips and ideas on keeping attendees engaged in virtual events. I have used a number already and they work very well. Highly recommend for those running or transitioning to virtual training or events.
Unanimity
Unanimity@UnanimityCC
Read More
Very excited to have been on a great training course for virtual facilitation, once again the training and support from the @ica_uk is amazing, and I'm feeling much more confident. Now to put this training to good use! #virtual #facilitation
Mary Robson
Mary Robson@ThinkinPractice
Read More
Really useful training session in online facilitation this afternoon from @ica_uk , learnt a lot. Don’t feel I need to apologise to people I worked with this week, but will be less clunky next time. lots to look at and try but really confident and excited about possibilities.
Suzanne Trew
Suzanne Trew@suzannetrew
Read More
For anyone who feels their online meetings could be more engaging and productive, this is a wonderful course. Not only is the content superb, but all of the techniques are role modelled, so the sessions themselves are hugely engaging, informative and fun.
Emma Barr
Emma Barr
Virtual Facilitation - Fun and Tips (6 session course)
Created by potrace 1.10, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2011 Read More
The Group Facilitation course is a brilliant a great confidence boost and allows you to practice in a safe and controlled environment. The practice sessions are invaluable and your get so much out of them. A fab mix of facilitators who are very happy to share their knowledge. I would highly recommend this course for anyone wanting to learn our virtual facilitation
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