I’m sure you’ve noticed this.
You’re on a video call, and two people start to speak at the same time. This leads to both people stopping, then with saying, “You go ahead.”
I want to mention a couple of things about this very common phenomenon. The first is: This is good! When a conversation is animated enough that people start stepping on each others’ voices, that means you’re approximating some semblance of real dialogue, even in this virtual space. The people are engaged and want to get their voices into the room. Yay!
The second is a tip for managing this situation. If you’re one of the people who spoke up, say the obligatory, “No, you go ahead,” then mute yourself and gesture for the other person to speak. These additional cues indicate that the other speaker should, indeed, go on with their thought, and you can chime in afterwards.
Our limited nonverbal cues can lead to more confusion and delay on video calls, so the more you can do to be crystal clear, the better.
Ignite CSP is partnering with JB Media for a two-workshop series called Break Through the Screen: How to Engage Your Students in a Virtual Classroom. As you might guess, this is geared toward teachers, and covers some aspects of structuring content for virtual learning as well as how to connect with students and deliver material online. Learn more and register here!
