Hey there, fellow live session hosts! We all know that keeping our audience engaged during virtual trainings isn't just a nice-to-have—it's crucial. The more involved they are, the more impactful your session will be. Especially when you're running a Design Thinking training on MS Teams, the challenge is keeping everyone on the edge of their seats, actively listening, and participating. Without engagement, your valuable insights might just slip through the cracks. Let's dive into how you can boost interaction and make it all stick using some cool StreamAlive tricks!

Turn on the Travel with Magic Maps

Let's kick things off with 'Magic Maps'. This is a real game-changer for getting attendees to connect right off the bat. Imagine starting your Design Thinking session by asking, "Where in the world are you joining us from today?" As they pop their locations into the MS Teams chat, Magic Maps brings it to life on a map in real-time. You can even throw in a fun question like, "What's a dream travel destination?" or "Where would you move if you could live anywhere for a year?" Not only does this get everyone chatting right away, but it also lays the groundwork for participants to learn a bit about each other, creating a global village feel right in your virtual room.

Gather Insights with Opinion Polls

Here’s where 'Opinion Polls' come into play. When discussing new design solutions or brainstorming new ideas, prompt your participants with open-ended questions, like "What problem would your ideal design solve?" or "Describe an innovative project you wish to develop." This not only encourages creative thinking but provides diverse insights from across the board. Participants will love seeing their views represented in real-time, adding a layer of personal investment.

Engage with Real-Time Power Polls

Nothing beats a good poll to gauge where your audience stands on a subject, and 'Power Polls' are exactly what you need. During a Design Thinking session, ask participants questions like, "Which stage of Design Thinking do you find most challenging?" or "What's your preferred design tool?" With results displayed in real-time, you can instantly pivot your focus to tackle tough spots or popular interests. This gives your participants a sense of value and suggests real-time shifts based on their needs and inputs.

Jazz It Up with the Winner Wheel

Ah, the joy of random selection! The 'Winner Wheel' is your perfect partner for adding a sense of surprise and excitement to your Design Thinking session. Imagine you’ve facilitated a brainstorming segment and want to reward participation. Just toss everyone's names who participated in the chat into the Winner Wheel and give it a spin. Or better yet, use it to choose who gets to present their design prototype first. Not only does this spur on quieter members to get involved, but it also keeps everyone on their toes, eagerly awaiting their turn or cheering on fellow participants.

Capture Creativity with Wonder Words

And finally, 'Wonder Words'—a simple wonder that's perfect for Design Thinking sessions. Let’s say you’re starting a session and want to set the mood. Ask for one-word responses to "What does design mean to you?" or "Name one word that sparks your creativity." As words float in and build up in the chat, you get a live word cloud highlighting dominant themes and terms. It’s an awesome visual reference and kickstarter for any discussion, and it wraps your session nicely with a shared understanding of key themes. Once it’s rolling, everyone feels a part of the conversation, which is exactly what great Design Thinking is about!

Decide with a Twist Using Choice Circle

Nothing beats a good poll to gauge where your audience stands on a subject, and 'Power Polls' are exactly what you need. During a Design Thinking session, ask participants questions like, "Which stage of Design Thinking do you find most challenging?" or "What's your preferred design tool?" With results displayed in real-time, you can instantly pivot your focus to tackle tough spots or popular interests. This gives your participants a sense of value and suggests real-time shifts based on their needs and inputs.