Continued from previous page The virtual producer supports both the facilitator and the participants before, during and after training sessions to ensure smooth delivery. Some of the key responsibilities include: Setting up meetings. Disseminating relevant training materials ahead of the session. (Photo from Freepik.com) Opening the meeting and uploading presentations. Performing audio checks with participants prior to the start of the session. Managing the audio quality throughout the session by ensuring that noisy backgrounds are muted. Drawing the attention to the facilitator of any raised hands or comments in the chat. Managing the breakout rooms, including setting up and time-keeping. Capturing important information on whiteboards. Preparing and launching polls Recording the training session, while minimizing “dead air” in the final product. Providing post-session support by distributing the recording and slides to attendees. SKILLS NECESSARY FOR VIRTUAL PRODUCTION The dynamic nature of the online environment presents unique challenges that are not present in faceto-face delivery. In addition to the inability to read body language, both members of the facilitation team and participants sometimes face connectivity issues and audio challenges. Key skills which are required for successful virtual production include: Technical competence – Technical glitches are inevitable on virtual platforms. This can be very frustrating for all involved, especially the online learner. The virtual producer is therefore required to have strong knowledge of the platform being used, thus enabling him or her to troubleshoot any problems that may occur. At times, this involves finding creative solutions. For example, during a breakout session where participants were paired and one participant’s microphone was not working, the solution was to facilitate the pair’s participation via a WhatsApp call. The ability to stay calm under pressure – There are many moving parts happening simultaneously in the online space which must constantly be monitored. Sometimes this happens in high-stake productions – for example when collaborating with other organisations. When mishaps occur, the producer must maintain a calm disposition to manage the environment to minimise the effect of disruptions during the session. Good communication and interpersonal skills – The producer remains in constant communication with the facilitator throughout the session. In addition to monitoring the chats, he or she helps to keep the facilitator on track to ensure that the sessions start and finish on time, while still meeting the session objectives. The producer also supports participants who are experiencing challenges. In these situations, the virtual producer works with the learner individually to get them back online in a timely manner. In the meantime, the facilitator continues to deliver training to the other participants. This team approach supports all learners in getting the most from the online experience. Facilitation skills – If the facilitator experiences audio challenges or gets disconnected, the virtual producer will be required to keep the participants engaged until the facilitator is reconnected. In some instances, the virtual producer may also be required to deliver some of the training content. Clearly, having a competent producer as part of the delivery team is essential for the delivery of highquality training sessions. The presence during online training sessions provides the facilitation team with the security that the technical side is taken care of, allowing them the freedom to focus on delivering the content and engaging presentation. 27
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