Dress Professionally

We want you to feel comfortable and confident.

Choose an outfit that you would wear to an in-person meeting. Solid, bolder colours are ideal. Avoid patterns, stripes, and white, red or the colour of your background.

Check your Background

Pick your presentation spot carefully, ensuring you won’t be interrupted by family, pets, etc.

Make sure to remove any clutter, add a plant or position in front of your bookshelf.

Digital etiquette

Let the learners know what is expected of them beforehand. Do their cameras need to be on/off? Will there be a chat function or Q&A? Are you recording the session? Set the tone for what they should expect; for example, will you be calling on the learners to answer questions, as well as what you would like them to do, for example, raising their (virtual) hand to talk?

Work your angles

The camera should be at eye level and facing directly at you. A laptop or monitor stand can be helpful to bring your camera to the correct height.

Use a Mirror to Monitor Yourself

Since you can’t always see yourself on screen or there isn’t room to see yourself, your presentation, and your audience simultaneously, you may want to put a mirror in front of you.  This will allow you to see how you’re coming across; with no feedback from real people, it is easy to lose the energy; seeing yourself in the mirror can remind you to smile and add that energy.

Slow down

It is easier for the virtual audience to miss out; make sure to speak slowly and clearly. It is more difficult for participants to process speech over a virtual presentation, where it’s harder to watch the presenter’s face for vocal and body language cues. Quick speech can also get garbled over shaky internet connections, so slow down and be clear. It’s also essential to keep the mic away from your mouth; breathing sounds can be distracting.

Lighting is key

No fancy lighting equipment is needed; even a bedside table lamp can do the trick. Use natural light if you have it. Make sure the light source is in front of you, behind the camera, so you can avoid being backlit.

Microphone

The best audio will come from an external microphone, whether it is connected to your computer, using a wired headset or earbuds with a mic, or wireless earbuds with a microphone, such as AirPods.