Develop interactive learning modules

It was during the pandemic that I had to find a way to transfer my in-person trainings to a virtual environment. I wasn't able to pack up my Lego bricks, Play-Doh, markers and other supplies and bring them on site so I had to find a way to match that high level of creative engagement virtually. And through that need, I discovered online interactive tools that help me bring the creative nature of my work to a virtual platform. I found these tools to be so effective for promoting active participation and deep learning among the trainees, that I still use them to this day with a virtual or in-person. In this lesson, I'll share how I use these creative technologies in my programs so you can start integrating similar activities. The first tool is Mentimeter, an online resource used to create interactive polls, quizzes, and word clouds to engage your audience. It requires you to follow some simple instructions to create questions or prompts for your participants to engage with. Then, whether in person or online, simply share the generated link or QR code with your participants so they can interact with the question and see the results in real time. Through Mentimeter, you effectively ensure all voices are heard. Even those who might not usually speak up. I often use Mentimeter to create an icebreaker, get instant feedback and create word clouds, which gathers all the data inputted and highlights the answers that were most often presented. You can create multiple questions in one Mentimeter presentation to use throughout your training to ensure engagement from start to finish. If your goal is collaboration, an interactive whiteboard is a great option. Mural or Miro are comparable choices to elevate this experience. These online collaborative workspaces are designed to enhance team creativity and productivity. They provide virtual canvases where teams participate in visual collaboration, combining text, images and drawings in real time, making your sessions more interactive and inclusive. Similar to Mentimeter, you will share a link or QR code for your community whiteboard and ask participants to engage given the prompt you've created. There are so many uses for a whiteboard. You can ask participants to add an emoji that represents a hobby as a way to introduce themselves, use the Post-it note feature to brainstorm as a team, or have participants type in takeaways from your session as a closing. As a trainer, always ask yourself, how might I do this in a different way? That question will challenge you to step out of your comfort zone, get creative and solve the training needs of your virtual, in-person, and hybrid audiences. Apply that question as you explore virtual tools to make your training programs more collaborative and creative.