Hey there, session warriors! We all know tuning into online training sessions isn’t always at the top of everyone's bucket list, especially when it’s a long cross-departmental one. But through the magic of interaction, you can transform your MS Teams sessions from mundane to engaging. Keeping the audience engaged not only makes the training more enjoyable but also ensures that attendees retain the information better. Engaged attendees mean higher participation, more lively discussions, and a truly impactful live session.

Populating the Global Vibe with Magic Maps

Magic Maps is your go-to feature for breaking the ice right off the bat. Ask your attendees where they're joining from. It's simple and gets people talking. You could ask them to share a place they would like to visit once the world is more open, or even the city where they attended their last on-site work meeting. Each entry lights up the global map with real-time locations, bringing a sense of community right from the start. It lays the foundation for participants to feel they are part of something bigger – a widespread network of learners ready to dive into cross-departmental training, no matter where they are on the map.

Gain Insight with Open-Ended Opinion Polls

Opinion Polls are your gateway to understanding deeper insights from your audience. Open the floor with questions about recent changes in policy or processes and see what comes back. These polls give everyone a chance to put their ideas into the mix, helping to surface opinions you might not have considered. Given the cross-departmental nature of the training, this is crucial as it ensures that views from all company areas are captured, enhancing the training's reach and relevance.

Power Polls to Measure Knowledge Assimilation

Introducing Power Polls to keep a finger on the training pulse. These live polls let you test attendees' understanding of the material in an engaging way. Ask them a question related to a recent topic, such as which strategy they think best applies to their department. It's also useful for feedback on the session's pace and content, helping you tailor future sessions. A quick poll is not just a measure of understanding, but also a great way to break up the session and keep everyone on their toes.

Getting the Chat Talking with Winner Wheel

Everybody loves a bit of risk and excitement. Use the Winner Wheel to create some buzz among your team by randomly picking participants to contribute. For instance, after discussing a section of the training, you could spin the wheel to pick someone to share their thoughts, or perhaps reward the most interacted employee of the session. This not only encourages people to stay active in the chat but also ensures that everyone gets a chance to have their voice heard and to contribute, which makes them more attentive and eager.

Capture Expressions with Wonder Words

Wonder Words lets your audience's thoughts float graphically in real-time. Kickoff a session asking for a single word that describes their experience with cross-departmental collaboration. As participants type their thoughts, watch the popular words grow on the screen. This offers a visually appealing and insightful overview of what the audience is feeling. You can also end sessions by asking for one word to describe how they felt about the training or what they learned. Seeing their words come to life solidifies a sense of connection and engagement, reinforcing the session’s key points.

Decision-Making Made Fun with Choice Circle

Introducing Power Polls to keep a finger on the training pulse. These live polls let you test attendees' understanding of the material in an engaging way. Ask them a question related to a recent topic, such as which strategy they think best applies to their department. It's also useful for feedback on the session's pace and content, helping you tailor future sessions. A quick poll is not just a measure of understanding, but also a great way to break up the session and keep everyone on their toes.