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Building Better Virtual Events

Want to attend more than one COMPASS workshop? You can now purchase a class pass to save up to $50 per workshop! Learn more here.

Learn tools and strategies to help your virtual events meet your communication goals.

Many of us have experienced disappointing virtual events—from technological friction to poor meeting design, these events can suffer from many pitfalls. However, we know that with proper planning and design, virtual events can be engaging, inclusive spaces that can connect people across the globe. COMPASS has extensive experience designing professional, productive events that keep participants engaged and minimize tech disruptions. This COMPASS workshop will help you meet your virtual event goals by learning tools to strategically design, prepare for, and execute virtual events.

In this 3-hour, interactive virtual workshop, you’ll learn how to make virtual platforms, like Zoom and Mural, work for you. We’ll explore how to use strategic agenda design, meeting management techniques, and technological tools to help you create memorable, engaging virtual events. Our time together includes content presentation, group activities, facilitated group discussion, and time to discuss specific questions you might have.

By registering for this workshop, you are committing to active participation in the workshop, for the benefit of both yourself and the group. Please also plan to use a webcam whenever possible during discussion and breakout room portions of the workshop. Due to the progression of materials presented and the paired exercises, we cannot admit participants who are more than 15 minutes late.

Who could benefit from this workshop?

This workshop is open to anyone who would like to build their comfort and skill with delivering virtual events. Given our mission at COMPASS, the majority of participants who have been involved with our workshops are professional researchers, scientists, and science users whose work focuses on the environment, and many of our examples draw from this work. However, this workshop is suitable for anyone seeking to become more fluent in virtual event design and delivery.

Previous completion of a Message Box workshop with COMPASS is not required, but the trainers will reference and encourage the use of the Message Box as part of workshop design. For more information on the Message Box, click here.

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Tickets

Want to attend more than one COMPASS workshop? You can now purchase a class pass to save up to $50 per workshop! Learn more here.

FAQs – Virtual Workshops

I need to arrive late/leave early. Is that ok?

We are unable to admit participants who arrive more than 15 minutes late due to the progression of material presented. You will not receive a refund if you are more than 15 minutes late. If you unexpectedly need to leave the workshop during a portion of the event or early, we cannot guarantee we will be able to readmit you to the workshop, depending on how long you are gone. Part of the magic of our workshops is the peer feedback and peer-to-peer learning that takes place. To ensure that is possible, we need everyone to be present for the full workshop.

My webcam doesn’t work. Can I still attend?

A functional webcam is highly recommend, but you can still attend as long as you are able to verbally participate in group discussion and paired exercises in breakout rooms.

Can I call in to the workshop?

This workshop includes visual content viewed via Zoom screen sharing and browser-based content, so we do not recommend that you solely call in to the workshop.

Will the workshop be recorded?

No. For the privacy and comfort of all participants, this workshop will not be recorded.

Will there be other dates or opportunities to join a COMPASS virtual workshop?

Yes! To stay up to date on our virtual offerings, sign up for our newsletter.

What does it mean to be waitlisted?

We create a waitlist for workshops that reach capacity so that we can offer spots as they become available. If there is a cancellation and a spot becomes available, we will open up registration for the first person on the waitlist and then work our way down the list as other spots become available. We will contact you directly to let you know if a spot has opened for you.

What is your refund policy?

If you have to cancel up to 7 days before the start of the event, you will receive an automatic full refund minus the Eventbrite processing fee if paid through Eventbrite. If you cancel within 7 days of the event, you will receive a 50% refund. If you cancel within 24 hours of the event, you will not be eligible to receive a refund. If you cancel within 24 hours, have technological issues during the workshop, or unexpectedly need to leave the workshop early, we will determine on a case-by-case basis whether or not you can receive credit for a future workshop.

Can I transfer my ticket to another person if I can no longer attend the event?

Yes! Participants are allowed to transfer their registration up to 24 hours in advance of the event. There is no charge to transfer registration, unless there is a price difference between the tickets.

Can I purchase tickets for other people?

Yes! You will need to have the names and email addresses of the people for whom you are purchasing tickets. To complete the purchase, you may enter “N/A” for the additional questions in the order form. Once the tickets are purchased, an order confirmation will be sent to the purchaser and to each participant. The participants can then retroactively fill out the additional questions in the order form.

Still have questions?

Contact us at trainings@COMPASSscicomm.org and we’ll do our best to answer them!

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