Whenever Jean-Paul Bayley and I are facilitating one of our legendary (!) virtual classes, workshops or interactive sessions, I have my iPad connected to the session as a backup device to significantly improve the quality of our virtual facilitation.
Here are 6 surprising functions that my iPad delivers:
1. It's a backup device.
While my main device is connected via a wifi connection, the iPad connects via a 5G connection. If I lose connectivity in one, I can quickly jump to the other device without any disruption.
2. I never have to ask “do you see my screen?”
I have my iPad right next to my main screen showing me what the participants see.
3. It monitors the main room
When we have people working in breakout rooms, JP and I can visit the breakout with my main device and leave the iPad monitoring the main lobby.
4. It's an annotation tool
If I have a need to annotate on a Mural, Miro or Powerpoint, I can grab my iPad and use the Apple Pencil to do any sketching or drawing (either using the annotation tool in Zoom or directly in Mural or Miro).
5. It's a digital flipchart
If I need a blank “flipchart” to draw something on, I can use my iPad and Apple Freeform to draw whatever I need.
6. It's a alignment tool during simulations
When JP and I teach Flight Levels, Kanban or Metrics, we often facilitate simulations such as TWiG in 2 groups. When we do that, I facilitate one group from my main device and my iPad join the group that JP is facilitating, that way I can see how far each group is progressing and allows JP and I to keep aligned.
In the image, you can see my device in the central cell of the virtual Training from the BACK of the Room (TBR-VE) class JP and I are running at the moment. Ah! That's a seventh function: A bit of branding 🙂
Do you use a backup device? If you do, what other functions does it fulfil for you?
If you don't, I invite you to give it a try and check if you get similar benefits.