At Mozilla Festival, our monthly Virtual Gatherings are on our Discord server. They build year-round momentum from our exciting global and regional convenings. Virtual Gatherings can take on a variety of formats from discussions, workshops, watch parties to Q&A sessions, art exhibitions and film screenings. They are a way for you to showcase your work and topics you’re interested in.
If you have led a virtual session at Mozilla Festival before, this will sound familiar. For those new to the festival, rest assured, you'll find all the resources you need to guide you through the process of facilitating Virtual Gatherings.
Getting Started
You'll meet with the MozFest team to understand what to expect and how best to prepare for your session. Here's a snapshot of best practices to kickstart your planning:
Welcome Participants
Create an engaging, friendly atmosphere from the get-go. A warm welcome can help participants feel at ease and stimulate conversation even before the session officially starts.
Structuring Your Session
- Introduction and Overview: Begin with introductions. Share who you are, outline what the session will cover and the agenda ahead. This will help set clear expectations.
- Session Content: Share the main content of your session. You can incorporate interactive elements like Q&A’s, Breakout rooms, or other participatory activities to help people deepen their understanding of the session content, collaborate, and get to know one another.
Stay Connected
Wrap up your session by providing ways to stay in touch. Sharing resources, your contact information, or social platforms invites ongoing engagement with your work. This will help participants follow up and engage with your work after the session.
Navigating Discord
If Discord is new to you, don't worry—we've got a concise guide to help you make the most of its features for a seamless virtual session. Our guide, Discord 101, is a brief walkthrough on how you can navigate the platform, utilise its voice, video, and screen-sharing features, and leverage the various tools Discord offers to create a great experience.
Your Chance To Get Involved At MozFest
We're always on the lookout for amazing voices to spotlight within the MozFest community - join us to facilitate a MozFest Virtual Gathering!