If you have ever used a webinar to train on a topic or present evaluation results, and you are anything like me, you have felt some discomfort in talking to a computer screen. Those missing nods of agreement, perplexed looks, or chuckles at my jokes leave me wondering if my words and ideas are being well received. But, recently, I was reminded that I am not the only one feeling a little unsure.

As an evaluation specialist for CFCA, an international non-profit, Skype and webinar platforms have become my new way of interacting between periodic travels to project sites. This summer I launched two separate 4-session webinar series, Program Evaluation 101 for development practitioners. The content echoed what I have covered in two-day, on-site workshops, but I learned a lot about how my delivery strategies must always adapt. Planning an engaging webinar is not just a way for me to solicit good discussion that eases my insecurities about the message coming across, it is necessary to truly help participants build the confidence they need to take their learning into their work.

Here are just a few of my lessons learned:

• Keep training cohorts small. 6 – 12 participants is a good window.
• Require homework… and be sure to offer feedback. Homework submitted through email is one of the best ways to assess whether participants are grasping the materials and the corresponding feedback is an important tool for participants to get confirmation that they are on the right track.
• Utilize the ‘Change Role’ feature of webinars. Ask participants to present examples from homework or applicable personal examples in short segments.
• Make it practical. Produce usable outputs for future work through groupwork or homework, i.e. put together an evaluation plan, create a program theory of change with stakeholders, or build draft data collection tools.
• Get creative about face time. Although video conference might not be a sustainable option for more than a few people, or for slow internet connections, consider video introductions or ask participants to submit a photo and short bio to be shared with the group.
• Follow-up with individual participants. After a significant learning experience online, schedule an individual Skype call with each participant where you can discuss pending questions, get feedback on the experience from his or her perspective, and identify next steps for applying new knowledge in local contexts.
• And if possible… skip Skype and do the follow-up in person. Nothing can replace the opportunity to chat in person about the ideas discussed during the webinars. I recently met with one cohort of 10 participants from the Philippines after a webinar series and the conversation was more productive than I could have imagined. I had planned to address in more depth a few topics and to facilitate an analysis exercise. We did that, but more importantly, the session dramatically changed the demeanor and the confidence of the participants. They concluded the session sharing that they had felt a little scared to apply their knowledge in their communities and unsure if they were getting the materials right because they couldn’t see my face when they made a comment in a webinar. After the in-person session, they were confident in their new skills (relieved that this evaluation thing was not as complicated as they once thought) and genuinely excited to begin implementing their evaluation plans!

Online learning environments are a growing and wonderful opportunity to train and build the capacity of partners and stakeholders, but the use of these environments needs continued exploration. What tips do you have for making the best of the web world for evaluation capacity building?