Before Your Workshop

We want you to feel comfortable and have fun during the workshop. This is a one-day course with a very tight timebox, so you will need to do some prep work in advance. Preparation is critical. By doing a little bit of work upfront we can save a great deal of time discussing the mechanics and move onto deeper problems.

Time Commitment

Plan for approximately one hour of total pre-course preparation time. Allow closer to two if Scrum is new to you and you are working through the foundational material as well.

1. Pre-reading

Required Reading

New to Scrum?

There is no formal prerequisite for this course, but the workshop assumes you know roughly how Scrum fits together. If you are new to it, or want a refresher, work through these as well:

Seriously, please prepare beforehand. This simple advice has been repeated by many previous participants, and you will get more out of the course if you follow it.

Then shoot me an email, sharing a little about yourself and what you are hoping to get out of the day.

2. Virtual Classroom Tech

IGNORE THIS SECTION if you are attending in-person training

For our virtual workshops we will be using a combination of online tools to deliver the training. You will need to prepare well in advance of the course start date, and pre-test all of these tools, to ensure that you are able to fully participate in the entire course as soon as it starts.

Need solid internet. Webcam and mic ready. Handle Zoom and Mural at once. Corporate Firewall? If blocked, switch to a personal setup. Please do not use a VPN. It doesn’t end well. On a single laptop monitor, seeing Zoom and Mural at the same time can be challenging. If you can, a second monitor makes a big difference.

We use the following online tools as our classroom. You can access all of them without creating any account or giving your email address.

Mural Tool

Mural is the virtual whiteboard where the majority of course activity will occur. It’s easy to use, but it’s important that you take a few minutes and familiarize yourself IN ADVANCE of your training with its tools and features.

  • PRIOR TO THE COURSE START DATE go to the “Get to Know the Mural Tool”
  • Click on “View as a visitor”. You do not need to create an account or give your email address.
  • Review and practice with the different tools well before the workshop start date.

Zoom

You didn’t come to training to stare at a whiteboard. You came to learn about, and discuss, how Kanban makes your Scrum better. For that, we’ll need to use Zoom so you can see and hear Mark and your fellow attendees, just like in a classroom.

Prepare by having the Zoom app installed, and using the test feature to ensure you have audio and video working: https://zoom.us/test

Zoom comes in two flavours, a web app and desktop app. Most people who have technical problems in the training tried to use the web app.

To meet the certification requirements, you will need to be visible on camera in the Zoom Conference room during the entire class.

Real names must be used when logging in to Zoom.

Test your connection to Zoom well in advance of the course in case there are conflicts. Know how to use the Mute/Unmute and Chat features.

Zoom Emergency Contact

If something goes horribly wrong and you can’t connect to the course in Zoom while it’s in session, and you’ve tried everything else possible to solve the problem, text Mark right away and let him know: (613) 862-2538. Also send a brief text message with your name and then connect to the Zoom classroom by phone until connection is restored.

3. Preparation Checklist

When you have completed all preparation, please email us at contact@agilepainrelief.com and tell us, so we know that you, and your local system, are fully prepared for start of class.

All Participants

  • Read the Kanban Guide
  • Review the foundational Scrum material, if Scrum is new to you
  • Introduce yourself, and share what you are hoping to get out of the day

Virtual Workshops Only

  • Know how to navigate within Mural and create basic elements (draw, sticky notes, etc)
  • Connect to Zoom Conference tool and test audio and video using webcam, earbuds/headphones, and mic

FAQs

Do I have to be on camera the whole time? [Virtual workshops only]

Yes, it is a requirement of the certifying bodies we work under. We will take breaks so you will have opportunities to step away.

What if I miss class time?

Please let me know as soon as possible what is happening and why so I can help adapt to meet your needs. We’re an empathetic team, however empathy is easier when you know what is happening.

I’ll look forward to seeing you in class!

~ Mark