The need to deliver trainings online or create video lessons emerged radically for many educators during the COVID health crisis. The crisis left us with a better acceptance of such digital transmissions, making them more and more mainstream. Some may argue that a good presence online is not different at all from a good presence in real life settings, and the only difference is technology. Such a perspective would imply that we only need to upskill ourselves with technological knowledge and skills: what microphone to use, which online learning platform to use etc. However we believe that the dynamics of online activities or the quality of a recorded session may be quite different, implying new challenges on the dimensions we worked on in the project. The video lessons we present here revisit our six dimensions in the online context. We do not focus on the technological aspects, but on how the difference between on- and offline sessions concerning the use of space, movement, on our chances of creating connections, etc
An intro to presence in online trainings
One-on-one bilateral session of co-analysis
Stop & go & rhythms
This easy intro activity can be a good starter to help participants get relaxed and have fun in front of their screen. It’s an adaptation of the “stop & go” exercise, whose objective is to help put our attention on other people and their rhythm.
Waking up Body Parts
This is a warm-up activity that you can use to learn everybody’s name and to wake up different body-parts.
Inhabiting our online rectangle space
An intro activity inviting participants to get familiar with the window of rectangle space through which the others see us.
“This is the voice I’d like to use”
This activity gives you the chance to try out your different voices, and have a witness to give you feedback on the impact of your different voices
Hint: When we do the activity in a pair, we can record our test of the different voices and then see the recording together. Seeing / hearing oneself is a rare and strong learning opportunity
The French telephone online!
This activity gives visibility to the non-conscious movements that we all have. Sometimes referred to as “parasitic movements” they are always with us, outside of our awareness.
Hint: you can record the activity and then watch it together to see how the movements appear and get amplified.
Seeing the other and oneself: variations of the mirror game
The mirror game is a classical impro theatre activity, to help focus on movement, gestures and expressions. We’re presenting 3 variations to use online.
Hint: When done in pairs you can record your duo and then see it again, explore to what extent the mirroring was precise, when it was easier, when it was more difficult. You can also give special instructions to the mirrors: make the movements bigger than the subject, make “opposing” or “complementary” movements than the subject etc.
Or instruction to the subject: perform his/her morning ritual, preparation before going out or any other “theme”
Finding grounding in front of a camera
This activity gives an example on how we can get grounded even when we are in front of a camera / screen. You can lead it in any training session to help participants relax, catch their breath, feel connected.