A Model for Retention
Does this sound familiar?
You sign up for a course or workshop that promises to deliver exactly what you were looking for at the exact right time. You clear your calendar, pay for the program and eagerly await the answers you’ve been looking for.
The time comes, you sign in, excited to get the answers you need.
Flash forward 30 minutes. Your head is spinning. The host has been talking non stop for half an hour and you’re writing notes as fast as you can trying to keep up, but you know you’re missing things. The things you came for are buried deep within a mountain of content. Hopefully your notes will be good enough to help you remember the key information. You’re exhausted already and there’s still an hour to go.
Don’t be that virtual event host. Be the one who designs a virtual event with the audience experience in mind. An experience that assures people actually remember the content and can recall it when needed – a week, a month, or even a year later.
As a virtual event host you work hard to get butts in the virtual seats. If you’re like most people producing online programs, you have valuable knowledge and information to share. And your audience agrees – that’s why they have committed time to be with you.
How do you make sure they actually “get” what you want them to get?
Whether you are designing a course, workshop, retreat, training session or conference you always need to start with this question: What do I want attendees to know or be able to do differently when they leave?
When you have that answer I want you to consider this rule: No more than 3 key objectives in a 90 minute session.
If you can assure that your attendees walk away with clear knowledge, understanding and ability around these 3 key objectives would you feel you have succeeded?
The following model will help you achieve that success.
Deliver – Process – Internalize Model
For each key objective apply this model while designing your program.
Let’s walk through an example of what this might look.
Key Objective #1 – Leave with the ability to apply the Deliver – Process – Internalize model to a program design.
DELIVER CONTENT
- 5 minute opener demonstrating how information overload slows retention. (DELIVER)
- 10 minutes – walk through the model and explain each segment using graphics and white board. Give examples in each. (DELIVER)
FACILITATE PROCESSING OF INFORMATION
- Break into groups. Give each group with a different topic to design a 90 minute session around. Send to breakouts for 20 minutes to create their program design and prepare to share it with the full group when they return. (PROCESS)
- Each group presents their program design identifying each segment of the model. (10 minutes) (PROCESS)
ALLOW FOR INTERNALIZING TO RETAIN
- 5-7 minutes – Individually, participants identify an upcoming virtual program they are going to host. They write down 3 Key Objectives for that program. Then they map 1 objective using the process. (INTERNALIZE)
- Pair participants with a partner. In the chat, each person sends a private chat to their partner including their Program title, 3 Key Objectives and 1 content delivery method (INTERNALIZE)
When I introduce this model one of the first concerns or objections that comes up for event hosts is the amount of time allotted to teaching just one thing. It usually sounds like, “But there is so much information I need to cover and I want to make sure they know everything. I don’t have time to do all that.”
It’s a valid concern. And to that I would ask the following:
24 hours after your event, would you rather your audience remember 80% of your 3 key objectives, or 10% of 6 objectives? If your goal is to change behavior, thoughts or perspectives the first options is your best bet.
Get more tips on creating great virtual events Top 7 Pro Tips for Virtual Event Hosts
