If you can dial a phone, change stations on your television, and warm your coffee in the microwave oven, you can use a videoconference system. There are five basic steps:

• Dial the far site's number. Like a phone call, each videoconference unit has a "video number." When you place a call, the remote location will have someone present to "answer" the call or they will have set their system to "auto-answer."
• Conduct a simple "audio" test: Say "hello" to whomever is at the far site and make certain you can both hear each other. Adjust the volume as necessary.
• Interact naturally. Engage participants at the far site the same way you engage with participants sitting with you. Look at the television screen and talk in a natural voice. NOTE: There may be a split second delay between when you speak and when the far site(s) respond. Most people do not notice this until they tell a joke... laughter typically comes a split second after they thought it bombed.
• Supplement the meeting with visual information. Many peripheral devices are available. A document camera can be used to show a drawing, chart or documents. There are also VCR, Computer-to-video converters, slide to video converters and a White Board which can be used to spruce up your meeting.
• When you are finished, hang up.

For more details, go to Steps to Schedule and Set-up a Videoconference.

• PERFORMANCE
  Most successful videoconferences occur when presenters/leaders engage participants with their energy, presence, vocal variety, facial expression…
• PRESENTATION
  Effective presentations are tightly organized, have visual variety and impact.
• INTERACTION
  Keep the audience involved and the meeting active…overcome couch potato conditioning

  Everyone can learn them, and with practice, use them effectively.