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Online Training Best Practices - MS Teams & Webex

As 2021 begins, let's reflect & share a few best practices from our online odyssey..

In April 2020, as the University migrated many services to an online setting, our embarked on a new adventure - delivering courses online via twoIT Services: and .

Both platforms have since experienced a huge uptake and new features are constantly being rolled out as the “Big Three” (Teams, Webex & Zoom) compete globally.Now as we are starting up 2021, we would like to reflect on our digital journey and share a few best practices.

As always, there rarely is a single best way to do something. We put together the following list based on experience and feedback from various stakeholders.

Feel free to use these strategies and .

Note thatthis article has an online training focus; howeverthese best practicescan also be applied to meetingsor presentation settings.

Happy New Year
and all the best in 2021!

Online Delivery Best Practices 7 key items

Using 2 monitors:
A real advantage.

When delivering a training session,it is highly recommended to use 2 monitors (the laptop screen -referred to here as screen 1- and a connected external monitor -referred to here as screen 2 - "the training screen"):

  • The Browser and PowerPoint are delivered via screen 2;
  • The chat session and participant lists are moved over to screen 1.

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Recommended setup: Share the "Teaching screen" (screen 2) and monitor screen 1
Recommended setup: Share the "Teaching screen" (screen 2) and monitor screen 1 in Webex. A similar setup can be achieved in MS Teams.

In this setup, it is recommended to only share screen 2 ("the training screen")with participants.

Use the following method to share screen 2 in Cisco Webex:

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Sharing your "Teaching Screen" in Webex. The same feature is available in MS Teams.
Sharing your "Teaching Screen" in Webex. The same feature is available in MS Teams.

If you do not have access to another monitor, refer to the "Single screen setup" section.

Alternative setup - sharingan App

If you do not have access to another monitor, consider sharing an application instead of sharing your screen. You may for instance only share your PowerPoint application and Browser.

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Sharing a specific application in MS Teams. The same feature is available in Webex.
Sharing a specific application in MS Teams. The same feature is available in Webex.

Sharing multimedia with your audience

If a YouTube video needs to be shared during the presentation you would need to re-share screen 2 using the “Optimize for motion and video” option. The “share your computer audio” box should also be checked.

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Sharing a YouTube video in Webex. The same feature is available in MS Teams.
Sharing a YouTube video in Webex. The same feature is available in MS Teams.

Note that using this option consumes more bandwidth hence once you have finished sharing your video you should switch back to the default share option.

Internet Quality

Participants connect to the training sessions using various Internet access options (cable, DSL, wireless, etc.). The quality of the Internet connection on their end can affect the session’s overall experience. These factors are largely out of our control.

However, we can provide some Internet access tips in our invitations.

I tend to add the following references in my invites:

Internet connection quality:

Be sure to have a good Internet connection. If using home WiFi, reduce the number of simultaneous users and be sure to be located within proximity of your home router.

Refer to the following article for additional support:

Note that running the SM VPN can diminish your bandwidth and connection speed. If it’s not required in your training context, consider turning it off during the session.

Audio Setup

Some participants will occasionally have trouble accessing the session’s audio feed. If a participant does not have a laptop for instance, they may not have a Mic connected to their home computer.

This problem can easily be addressed by pointing out that they can join by “calling-in”. Each Webex invite, for instance, includes toll-free numbers that participants can call. They would then enter the meeting code to access the audio feed via their cell phone or landline.

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A "call-in" from landline or cell phone option is available in Webex. A similar feature exists in MS Teams.
A "call-in" from landline or cell phone option is available in Webex. A similar feature exists in MS Teams.

Hardware considerations

Using the default Mic on the laptop is not optimal. It will work but the sound quality is likely to be poor as if the speaker levels are high, it can create echo or other interference. Ideally participants should have a proper headset (with built-in noise cancellation) connected to their laptops.

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A sample stereo USB headset. Using a headset can greatly improve your audio experience.
A sample stereo USB headset. Using a headset can greatly improve your audio experience.

Hands-on Exercises

To simplify the online delivery process, try to build the exercises into your PowerPoint as much as possible. You then only need to worry about sharing the Browser and the PowerPoint.

Monitoring the Chat and Participant List

While delivering the session, you should always have the class chat session open. Some participants might not be willing to share their Mics but will interact with you via the chat session.

You should also monitor the participant list: Webcams (if they're on) for none verbal feedback; raised hands and/or feedback gestures.

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Monitoring chat and participant reactions in Webex. Similar features are available in MS Teams.
Monitoring chat and participant reactions in Webex. Similar features are available in MS Teams.


Raising your hand

Participants can easily "raise their hand" in a virtual setting. This feature mimics the classroom student concept we are all used to.

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"Raise your hand" feature in MS Teams. A similar feature is available in Webex.
"Raise your hand" feature in MS Teams. A similar feature is available in Webex.

For advanced features such as Polling, refer to the Advanced Interactions & Resourcessection.

Using the Built-in Laser Pointer

The little known PowerPoint laser pointer can be used to successfully mimic the use of a traditional laser pointer in the classroom.

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Office 365 PowerPoint Laser Pointer.
Office 365 PowerPoint Laser Pointer.


Using the Zoom Feature

Emphasize important elements within your presentation by adding a to crucial slides.

This feature could for instance be used to enhance thevisibility of an element within a process map image.

Webex Polling

The Webex polling feature can be used to elicit a response from your audience. In a SM website development session, for instance, it could be used to gather training requirements at the beginning of the session.

Possible polling questions:

  • Does your site need to be bilingual?
  • Which feature are you most interested in?

It could also be used in a formative evaluation context in the form of a mini-quiz to test comprehension.

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Webex Polling Feature.
Webex Polling Feature.


MS Teams participant screen-share

If your group is relatively small or if you are doing a one-on-one consultation, you can request the participant to share their screen with you.

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MS Teams screen share: allows two users to control a computer or application. Webex has a similar feature.
MS Teams screen share: allows two users to control a computer or application. Webex has a similar feature.


Upcoming features..

Microsoft and Cisco are continuously upgrading their products. New features are rolled out to various organizations including SM. SM evaluates these features and customizes the offerings where needed.

Webex and more recently MS Teams added the useful feature which allows you to "break out" participants into sub-groups. This is meant to mimic an in-class situation where the instructor divides up the class into groups of students that are to work together on a given project during the lecture and in between classes.

Keep an eye out for being rolled out in 2021..

Additional Resources

  1. MS Teams
  2. Cisco Webex
  3. Zoom
    Zoom is the official remote teaching tool for SM academic courses.

    For an in-depth coverage of Zoom, refer to the website.

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