Implement online moderation
During synchronous online sessions, moderation on the online platform ensures engagement with the online audience. The role of an online facilitator or moderator helps bridge the in-room proceedings and the online audience.
This moderation can be difficult for a presenter to manage alone. Using an online moderator will allow the presenter to focus on the session they are leading while the online moderator will maintain their focus on the online students.
Presenters should liaise with the online moderator prior to the session to ensure both understand the proceedings and how they will communicate with each other. Providing them with a running sheet of the stages of your session and the time duration for each stage will be very useful.
The online moderator could be:
A member of the teaching team | |
A casual staff member | |
A student volunteer from the face-to-face audience in the room |
Moderation options
Determine the moderation options available to you and discuss with the moderator your preferences for moderating and managing questions that are asked online by students.
Answer in the chatThe Moderator answers questions in the chat as they come in. The answers may need to be checked by the presenter after the session. If online students ask any important questions, the question and the answer may need to be communicated to the face-to-face students. This may be done in real time or the relevant questions and answers may be shared online after the session in a forum. Best suited for Teaching team member as a moderator |
Answer aloudThe moderator answers questions aloud as they come in. This would require the presenter to be on their computer to read the question and/ or convey the comments to the whole student group. Best suited for Lecturer/presenter as a moderator |
Have scheduled Q&A throughout sessionThe presenter responds at scheduled Q&A times during the class. For example, time may be set aside after specific topics to allow a Q&A session. The Moderator flags any questions from the online students. The lecturer responds in the lecture, allowing the whole group to hear the answer. Remember, there may be a delay for online students. Best suited for Lecturer/presenter, Teaching team member or Student as a moderator |
Set aside one Q&A time at the endThe lecturer sets aside 10 minutes at the end of the lecture for Q&A. The Moderator flags any questions from the online students, these may be collated into a shared document and the last 10 minutes serve as a wrap-up to the lesson with all remaining questions answered. The lecturer may read the questions from the shared document and answer or the moderator may read all relevant questions aloud as the lecturer answers them. Best suited for Lecturer/presenter, Teaching team member or Student as a moderator |