Tools for Effective Work with Online Groups

Course Objective

Development of practical training and facilitation competencies for professionals conducting online group psychological sessions, support groups, psycho-educational events, trainings, round tables, and other group activities.

The course helps participants confidently work with online groups, create a psychologically safe space, maintain participant attention and engagement, adapt exercises for different age categories, manage group dynamics, and effectively respond to difficult situations and technical challenges.

A special focus of the program is the practical application of skills and the formation of a personal set of ready-to-use tools for future work.

Who is this course for

The program is designed for:

• social workers and other NGO professionals
• specialists conducting group sessions, trainings, psycho-educational events, and support groups
• professionals moderating online meetings, round tables, and discussions
• specialists who want to improve the quality and effectiveness of their online facilitation
• psychologists

Format

5 online sessions × 2 hours

The program is built with a focus on practical learning:

• 30% — structured theoretical material

• 70% — practical exercises, case studies, simulations, and feedback

Mandatory completion of homework assignments and tests

Practical course results

Upon completion of the training, participants will be able to:

• confidently conduct online group sessions and facilitate groups;
• use the main features of Zoom and Google Meet;
• use breakout rooms, chat, reactions, screen sharing, and online whiteboards;
• create a psychologically safe space online;
• maintain contact and emotional presence through the screen;
• use tools for activation and attention retention;
• manage group dynamics;
• work with passivity, resistance, and difficult participants;
• adapt exercises for children, teenagers, and adults;
• safely conduct online activities with children and teenagers;
• respond to technical and organizational difficulties;
• professionally close psychologically intense online sessions;
• independently design interactive online exercises and mini-sessions.

Practical Trainer's Toolkit

Within the program, participants create their own Online Trainer Toolkit, which they can use after completing the training:

• online training preparation checklist;
• technical preparation checklist;
• online session script template;
• group opening script;
• closing and stabilization script;
• bank of interactive exercises;
• set of energizers and activators;
• online whiteboard templates;
• presentation templates;
• algorithms for working with difficult participants;
• algorithms for responding to technical difficulties;
• exercise adaptation matrix for children, teens, and adults;
• list of typical risks and ways to minimize them;
• trainer session self-evaluation template.

Learning Methodology

The program provides a practice-oriented learning format where participants constantly move from acquiring a new tool to its direct application.

30% — theory and demonstration of tools

70% — practice:

• individual assignments;
• work in pairs and small groups;
• role-play simulations;
• practical exercises;
• case analysis;
• modeling of difficult situations;
• mini-facilitations;
• mutual feedback;
• reflection and self-evaluation.

The final element of the program is the participants conducting their own mini-sessions using the acquired tools and receiving professional feedback.

What will a graduate of the course receive?

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Program