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There are a huge number of casters who are not used to teaching in front of a class, or in an environment where the class is actively engaging with the material. This is because pre-recorded material has been at the forefront of digital education until now as ‘live’ classes and lessons are becoming more popular and possibly even more effective. 

So, how do casters and content creators get prepared, excited, and skilled at engaging in real-time with their audience? Let’s get into it. 

Unless you’ve been enrolled in secondary education recently where you likely attended lectures via zoom, interacting with learned material in real-time is an amazing way to obtain skills conveniently and at a fast rate, but it can also be an overwhelming concept for both teachers and students. Let’s start with the basics. The best thing you can do as a caster before jumping into a live cast with attendees is to be prepared and have your material organized so it is easily understood. The more organized you and your material are, the more seamless your live cast will be. 

Slow Down 

Next, it’s important to note that you may have live sessions with viewers of all different skill levels. Ensuring everyone understands what’s your reviewing and creating will be crucial in the success of your students and the overall success of your casts. Every time you have gone over something that is a pivotal piece of instruction, know that it will require you to take a few extra minutes to check and make sure that everyone is on the same page. 

Follow up 

Following up your casts with further instruction or information will be a make or break in attracting returning viewers to your live sessions. This means having links, pdf’s or a list of helpful resources. This isn’t homework for your audience, but rather a helping hand to ensure they’re applying their knowledge in a functional way in order for it to stick. Follow-up documents may not be required for every cast, but it doesn’t hurt to add them when possible. 

Consistency 

Try to keep a consistent schedule of when you will be hosting your live casts and allow your attendees to base their schedule around you. The more consistent you are, the more likely it is that you will get returning learners and therefore be able to build and grow your community. 

Update Your Skills

The more you learn, the more you can share with your audience. Take any opportunity you can to update and upgrade your skillset to be able to do the same for your following. This just means learning new tips and tricks that are helpful and applicable to your teachings and specialties. 

Teach All Different Skill Levels

To optimize the strength and size of your community, you need to be teaching and engaging those of all different skill sets. Think of it this way, if you are simply casting to experienced-level coders, it is unlikely you will be able to reach or communicate with beginner-level coders and therefore be unsuccessful in growing your community. Casting to those of different skill levels also helps you be able to practice adjusting and re-designing your casting strategy which ultimately helps you become a better content creator. 

Making a Lasting Impression 

Finally, to make a lasting impression on your community or peers, you need to be open to feedback and willing to pivot when needed. If you’re receiving feedback that suggests slowing down your casting process or speaking more clearly, it’s critical that you listen and not take it personally. Understanding that these reviews are not criticisms, but rather the input and suggestions from those who want you to succeed will help you to be better in the long run and eventually see more success in your professional career.