Doing an emotion check-in with ‘How are you feeling today?’ where participants have to choose one of the pictures on the screen. This is a great way to gauge emotional make-up of the group and see how you might want to support a particular participant

Getting to know you engagement, where learners can get to know each other. I might use prompts like name, pronouns preferred, where they are from, one fun fact about them, learner profile attribute they resonate with the most etc. 

Co-creating essential agreements with all the learners that will set the tone for the workshop

Co-create learning goals with the learners which will allow them to make connections with their learning. I like to use Split-Screen for this activity. 

Sending a pre-workshop survey to understand their contexts and what they already know to help me design the workshop sessions. 

Starting each session with a quick ‘tuning in’ activity where learners can create a mindmap or visual to show what they already know.

Using polls, exit tickets and other formative assessment strategies to understand where they are and give feedback as needed Eg: 3-2-1, Glow and Grow, #hashtag, headlines etc.

Using strategies like Concept-connection board (where big ideas of the workshop will be posted and learners can keep adding their connections during the workshop), learning journal that they maintain during the workshop which I can keep a check on, a parking lot to park any questions they might have.

Using simple strategies like green light, red light, yellow light to gauge where they are in their learning journey.

Padlet is my go-to tool for any virtual collaboration. It has excellent features like shelf, blank canvas, sandbox, timeline etc which I can use depending the objective of the session. Using 3-2-1 or 2 stars and a wish on padlet is convenient and easy.

Mentimeter is another tool that I use to create word clouds as a quick review or tuning in.

Google Slides/Docs/sheets are also great for putting together thoughts for a group. I like to use slides for Hexagonal Thinking Routine which can be used at the end of the session for reflection.

I use Wakelet to curate resources for a workshop and share the same with the learners and encourage them to share resources they find as well. Learners can comment and post their reflections on different resources/visuals shared.

Canva has great templates that are ready to use and easy to use for any collaborative engagements. Finding certain worksheet templates that encourage reflection amongst the learners.

Using breakout rooms during the zoom conference to encourage peer reflection and feedback throughout the inquiry will be helpful to allow everyone to have a voice. 

Using energizers and brain breaks during the workshop to reduce zoom fatigue and allow learners to move around.

Balancing workshop engagements like small group discussions, sketchnoting, reading, watching videos and quick reflections and reviews to keep the momentum of the workshop going.

Encouraging learners to turn their cameras off and turn off my own camera to get a drink of water or just walk around. 

Reading the ‘Screen’ (room) to pick on learner’s cues (disinterested, dull faces, inattention, longer time to reply etc) to help improve my own responsiveness. 

Finding out before the workshop (through pre-workshop survey) apps and platforms learners are familiar with.

Creating short instruction videos or a picture manual that show to navigate the platform or a certain new app I might be using 

Asking one of the learners (who is good with tech) to be my co-host and help me with tech support like screen sharing, engaging in the chat box etc 

If the workshop is in-school and learners are in one space on different devices (this is a highly common practice in India), I will encourage them to find someone who is intuitive with technology so they can find support at the right time.