Preparation Guidelines

Plan Ahead

• Give your class a syllabus or meeting agenda. Prepare handouts early. The event facilitator must plan ahead to insure handouts and other materials arrive at receiving sites at least one day before the event.

Pay attention to logistics

• Determine if you plan to have handouts and evaluations. Develop methods to distribute materials to participants at distant sites. Develop methods for them to send materials to you or other participants. Other responsibilities of the person planning the meeting. - handouts, evaluations, or post something on the door.

Become proficient with the new teaching environment

• Be open to suggestions that may improve teaching effectiveness. Seek further assistance from the site coordinator at the local campus. Instructors should perform self-assessments by reviewing recorded presentations of themselves.
  

Develop contingency plans

• Technical problems will happen. Equipment may malfunction, the network may be down, or electricity may go off. A technician may be available to assist you with these problems. In any event, create a back-up plan in case these problems occur. Perhaps you will need to reschedule. Have an alternate lesson plan available at the receiving sites. Have a backup for your audiovisuals as well. For example, if the PowerPoint does not work, do you have individual paper slides you can use on the visual presenter.
  

Make others aware of added responsibilities

• Inform students or other participants about the additional tasks required to conduct an effective event. Inform them of the tips that will make them knowledgeable users of the network.
  

Work Closely with the Site Coordinator

• The site coordinator often receives inquiries about events on the network. They are responsible for coordination with all other sites. Inform the site coordinator of any changes to the events, especially changes in times or number of sites participating. Provide the site coordinator with promotional materials or other publications describing the event.
  

Preparing Audio/Visuals

• Click here for more detailed information.
• Audio visual equipment available include visual presenter (similar to an overhead projector, but you can just use plain paper), laptop computers for PowerPoint presentations or access to web sites, and VCR's. If you are using the visual presenter or preparing PowerPoint slides, use a landscape (horizontal 8 ½ x 11) format. Maintain a 1½-inch border around the entire sheet of paper.
• Lettering should be at least 18 points - 27 points.
• Keep any pictures simple and use few words.
• Colors to use: A background of light gray, blue or pastel with black lettering. If colored lettering is used, yellow letters work well with a variety of background colors, especially light gray or blue. Avoid combining highly contrasted colors