14/05/2021
Top Tips For Keeping Your Participants Engaged In An Online Class
How well do you score when teaching to a camera?
Do a test video and use the following checklist to see how well you score out of 10:
Energy levels – does it capture your attention or would you be distracted to do something else in five minutes?
Vocal energy and enthusiasm – would you fall asleep listening to yourself or does it captivate your attention?
Eye contact – this is REALLY challenging, as you have to focus on the camera rather than the image of you at least 80% of the time.
Are your demonstrations clear, so that people can understand what you are doing? Moving around and showing different angles makes a more dynamic experience.
Are you scripted or natural? Does your verbal communication sound like something that is being read from a board or is it like you are having a real conversation with your class?
When teaching in a one-way stream like Facebook Live, you need to assume that some people don’t know every exercise name or move. Do you break down your movements and choreography in a way that most people would be able to follow it in their homes?
Are you doing your own workout? A lot of instructors come up to the camera and yell encouraging words but are not actually doing anything. Some people stop moving the second you do. Yes, teaching to camera is physical.
Learning to teach effectively to camera will not only improve your teaching skills for online workouts but also help you become a better instructor when (and if) you go back to teaching live classes.