Tracks

Themes

Session types

Criteria for session hosts and presenters

To host a session or deliver a presentation please ensure you have met the following criteria:

• Gender balance among speakers.
• Highly interactive and engaging formats. See also Virtually Amazing meeting design and facilitation techniques.
• Climate:Red Summit tech tools and considerations.
• Content is delivered in either English, Spanish, French or Arabic.
• Where possible, sessions include cultural elements reflecting topic, presenters, geographic focus, etc.
  
• Don’t forget to check our Climate:Red Summit tech tools and considerations.

To submit your session or presentation proposal, please ensure you meet the above criteria and then complete the application form:

Collaborative Tools to be used by workshop hosts

Before choosing any particular set of tools to host your virtual workshops, you should consider various factors in your planning so that you can make it as successful as possible.

What are you trying to get out of the workshop?

• Change of perception
• Insights into a particular problem/area
• Feedback on existing work or approaches?

What tools do you need to do this? 

• Real-time communication – audio / video
• Real time documentation – text /diagrams
• Collaborative brainstorming – formatted documents / templates

Who are your audience?

• What are the language skills involved?
• Is everyone technology literate?
• Remote participation can be hard, activities that would take 10 mins in real life may take longer virtually.
• Create an agenda and be open with your participants about what your aims and goals for the session are.

Core tools to facilitate a workshop

There are two key tools required for a successful workshop. 

• Communication channel – audio / video
• Platform for activities – text / diagrams/ illustrations / audio / voting

Communication channels

Zoom (recommended) (https://zoom.us/) – This is a peer-to-peer video conferencing platform. As part of the conference the IFRC are able to create your own session / room for your workshop.

• Allows for video or audio conversations with multiple guests
• Can share screens / slides / audio
• Allows small group work
• Has an interpretation function
• Has mobile app
• Can join in mobile or browser

Alternatives to Zoom

Join.me – Collaborate instantly with free screen sharing, unlimited audio, and ridiculously simple video conferencing 

https://www.join.me

Mentimeter – An interactive presentation platform with features that enable you to prepare, present and analyze presentations.

https://www.mentimeter.com

Live streaming a tour or activity

Twitter Live –  Users can broadcast live, with comments and show support through likes. 

https://media.twitter.com/en_us/articles/best-practice/2018/go-live-on-twitter.html

Facebook Live – Broadcast live to friends or public. 

https://www.facebook.com/facebookmedia/solutions/facebook-live

• Suitable for mobile devices
• Audio is only one way from the host.
• Viewers can give reactions, chat and comment in the stream.

Youtube Live – Broadcast live event, premieres or streaming sessions

• Requires installed software “OBS” on machine.
• Can only be done from laptop / desktop.
• Audio is only one way from the host.

Twitch.TV 

• Stream live content from multiple sources. Camera / screen.
• Requires installed software “OBS” on machine.
• Can only be done from laptop / desktop.

uStream  

• Stream live content from multiple sources. Camera / screen.
• Requires installed software “OBS” on machine.
• Can only be done from laptop / desktop.

Collaborative Whiteboards/Workspaces

Mural (https://www.mural.co/) – A collaborative whiteboard area. Mural allows facilitators to run workshops or design sprints through customisable templates or a blank canvas.

• Multiple guests can draw and write simultaneously
• Multiple facilitators.
• No sign-up account required for participants
• Facilitates both named and anonymous guests.
• Best used on desktop but has an IOS app for mobile devices. Works in a browser on mobile but has a small field of view.

Miro (https://miro.com/) – An alternative collaborative whiteboard area similar to Mural.

• Multiple guests can draw, add post-its and re-arrange content.
• No Sign-up required for participants.
• You can view a Miro board anonymously but you have to sign in to make changes.

Excalidraw (https://excalidraw.com/)

Collaborative Note Taking, Writing

Google Docs –  This is a collaborative text editing document.

• Multiple guests work on the same text file
• Create activities ahead of time for your workshop participants to fill in
• Facilitates both named and anonymous guests.

A document can become chaotic to work in with over 10 people.

Padlet (https://en-gb.padlet.com/) –
Collaborative documents, boards, maps and more.

Etherpad (https://etherpad.org/)

Collaborative Planning, Decision Making

Trello (https://trello.com/ )

Collaborative working, list/items based.

Loomio (https://www.loomio.org/ ) 

Collaborative working, decisions based.

Slido (https://www.sli.do/ )

Run polls and quizzes in parallel with your session. Crowdsource questions from sessions audience (audience submit questions, vote on which questions get asked).

Q&A – Scribo.io 

Technological Considerations

The tools outlined above may not be suitable for what you are trying to achieve. That’s fine and we are happy for you to host using any tool you like. Be aware however of some of the technological considerations below:

International Access

• Can the tool be accessed in the countries of potential participants, including your own?

Simple or Single Sign On

• We want attending the conference to be as easy as possible
• We want to use as few tools as possible so that those attending the conference don’t have to create numerous accounts for all the tools used
• This can be mitigated with tools that allow anonymous collaboration (like Google Apps)

Mobile devices

• How does this tool work on a mobile device?
• Do your participants need to use a laptop or desktop computer?
• Do they have to install an App?

Bandwidth issues

• Does this tool require a good internet connection?
• As a host you may want a wired connection to ensure a reliable internet.

Session Hosts Handbook

(only available in English)

What you will find in the handbook:

• A session host checklist with essential dates
• A planning guide to get you started
• A session design guide
• Tips for effective facilitation and session planning
• A list of resources.

We will be updating this handbook. Do check back for more information. Please feel free to leave a comment with a question.