Before Joining a Training Event:
- If you have not used Zoom before please test it in advance of the session
- If you have a headset or headphones you might want to use these for the session. Make sure you test this before the session.
- If you have any special needs, please let us know in advance, so we can try to find a solution together.
- Prepare as you would for a face-to-face meeting: get what you need – pen, paper, tea, coffee, water.
- Switch off or turn your mobile to silent.
- Switch off notifications from email.
- Close as many windows as possible.
Video Feature:
- Be mindful that we can see your background.
- Choose if you want to switch video on or off.
- Please do not share your joining instructions; only attendees booked onto the session will be admitted to training.
Joining an Event:
- Be there on time!
- Video: Position yourself so your face fills the screen.
- If you can’t get the video to work, you can still connect via audio.
During Training Events:
- Try not to multitask – give your full attention as if you were in a face-to-face training session to get the most out of the session.
- Doodle, make notes, stand up, do stretches if that helps you to stay concentrated (switch off your video for some for these).
- The host will mute all participants at the beginning of the session. This avoids background noise like paper rustling, coughing etc.
- The host will invite questions at designated points in the session. They will let you know when these are.
Virtual Training Etiquette:
- If you need to ask a question outside of these times please enter your question in the chat box, this enables the co-host to directly respond to you, or raise your hand virtually and unmute yourself once invited by the host.
- Remember if writing a question in the chat box your question can be read by all participants unless you directly message the host or co-host and if you ask a question verbally, all participants can hear you.
- Remember you should never share anything online that you wouldn’t do in real life.
- Thumbs up, smiles and nodding are all great ways to give feedback.
- Online training will be new to some; please be sensitive to others.
- You always have the choice to switch video off at a later point in the session if you wish, for example if you need to respond to a family member.
- Please do not try to record the session for future use. Resources will be made available to you after the session and you can always follow-up with us if you have any questions afterwards by contacting the event organiser, usually one of our MDO team.
Credit: Adapted from Historic England Virtual Meeting Etiquette and South West Museum Development.