As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, schools are looking for ways to keep their faculty members connected and engaged. Virtual faculty meetings are a great way to do this, but they can also be a challenge to plan. Luckily, we have gathered a list of seven great virtual faculty meeting ideas!
7 Virtual Faculty Meeting Ideas to Make Meetings More Fun
Here are seven ideas to make your school’s faculty meetings more fun:
#1: Host a virtual happy hour
Before or after your meeting, host a virtual happy hour! This is a great way to socialize and relax with your colleagues. In addition, a virtual happy hour helps staff get to know each other and rewards them for their hard work.
#2: Play games
Games are a great way to break the ice and get people interacting. For example, try hosting a virtual scavenger hunt or trivia night. The games do not need to last the entire meeting, just enough for your staff to have fun.
#3: Have a themed meeting
Make your meeting more fun by having a theme. Ask everyone to dress up in their favorite decade’s clothing or have a Hawaiian-themed meeting complete with virtual leis. You do not have to do this every meeting; once a month is enough.
#4: Make it interactive
Keep your faculty engaged by making your meeting interactive. Use poll questions, Q&A sessions, and breakout rooms to keep people involved. Do not drone on and on about the topics; make it fun and get your staff involved.
#5: Encourage socializing
After you go over the agenda items, encourage your staff to socialize. This can be done by having a virtual coffee break or by giving everyone time to catch up with each other. Socializing is essential for building relationships and should be encouraged. You want your staff to get along and help each other out when needed.
#6: Host a guest speaker
Invite a guest speaker to your meeting. This can be someone from the community, a parent, or even a student. Guest speakers are a fun way to mix things up and learn about new topics.
#7: Have a contest
Contests are always a hit! Try having a best-dressed contest, an ugly sweater contest, or even a knowledge contest. The prize does not have to be anything big, just something to incentivize people to participate; gift cards are always a good way to go.
Online Zoom staff meetings don’t have to be boring. Hosting a staff meeting online can be fun with these seven tips.
Best Practices for Online Faculty Meetings
Now, here are the five best practices for online meetings for your school staff:
#1: Keep it short
Keep your faculty meetings to under an hour. This will help keep people engaged and prevent them from getting too bored. Going on too long can cause employees’ minds to wander or even fall asleep!
#2: Send out an agenda beforehand
Send out an agenda for the meeting beforehand, so people know what to expect. An agenda keeps the meeting on track and prevent side conversations. You do not need to follow the agenda 100%, but you should try your best.
#3: Make it optional
Not everyone needs to attend the meeting. If you have something that can be discussed via email or in a smaller group, do that instead. This keeps the meeting focused and prevents people from feeling like they have to attend. However, consider making the meeting mandatory if it is a very important issue.
#4: Take breaks
Take breaks throughout the meeting so people can stretch their legs, get a drink, or use the restroom. This will help keep people from getting too antsy and will allow them to focus when they return. If your meeting has to be longer than an hour, ensure adequate break time for all staff.
#5: Use video
When possible, use video instead of just audio. This helps people feel more connected and engaged. If you cannot use video, make sure to have good audio so people can hear what is being said. You do not need to force all of your staff to have their cameras on, but whoever is currently speaking should be able to be seen.
By following these best practices, you can help make your online faculty meetings more effective and enjoyable for everyone.
Online faculty meetings are a great way to keep your staff connected and informed. By using some of the ideas in this article, you can make your next meeting more fun and bearable for everyone. And by following the best practices, you can ensure that your meeting is productive and runs smoothly.
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