Dear Friends,

Welcome to our online course! We’re excited to have you join us as we work together to strengthen your skills in representing survivors of human trafficking. This course is designed to provide a comprehensive learning experience, blending practical skills with essential knowledge.

Our trainings aren’t like typical webinars. We’ve consulted with education experts to design this course so that it’s informative and immediately applicable to your work. While some parts of the training may feel more intensive than traditional webinars, we hope you’ll trust us through the process. Our goal is to equip you with the confidence and independence to navigate cases involving survivors of trafficking.

We’re always here to support you, but we also want you to feel empowered to handle these challenges on your own. This training is part of that journey.

This tech guide will walk you through the process of accessing and using the necessary technology, as well as some helpful etiquette tips for our online sessions.

If you have any questions at any point, feel free to reach out to us at [email protected].  We're here to help you every step of the way.

 Warm regards,

CAST’s Training and Technical Assistance Team

Materials for the Training

All course materials are available in the CAST Canvas Classroom. You should have received the link to access the classroom in your acceptance email. If you have not received it, please contact us at [email protected] for assistance.

 Once you log into the Canvas Classroom, you’ll find:

• Course Readings & Resources: All required readings and supplementary resources needed to complete the training.

• How-To Videos: Step-by-step videos that guide you through using the Canvas platform, submitting assignments, and navigating the course.

• Assignments & Deadlines: A list of tasks to complete, along with due dates and submission instructions.

• Zoom Information: Links and details for joining live sessions via Zoom.

5 Rules for CAST’s Tech Etiquette

To ensure smooth, respectful, and engaging participation in our virtual sessions, please follow these 5 simple rules for tech etiquette: 

1. Prepare Ahead of Time Before the live sessions, take time to review the How-To guides provided in this packet. Familiarizing yourself with the technology in advance will help you focus during the live training. Our presenters will have limited capacity to address technical issues during the sessions, so preparation is key!

2. Use Your Camera During Breakout Sessions We understand that video fatigue is real, but turning on your camera during breakout sessions helps build a sense of community. While it’s not required to keep your camera on throughout the entire course, we strongly encourage using it during interactive portions to foster connection with fellow participants.

3. Rejoin Quickly if You Lose Connection Technical glitches happen, and that's okay! If you get disconnected from the session, log back in. There’s no need to worry—return to the session when you can.

4. Utilize the Chat Box Feel free to use the chat box to communicate with other participants and ask questions during the session. This is a great way to stay engaged and contribute to the discussion.

5. Participate Actively Your participation is key to making the most of this course! We’ve designed the course with interactive features like polls, quizzes, and breakout groups to keep you involved. The more you engage, the more you'll gain from the learning experience.

How to Use Canvas

Using Zoom

In most CAST courses, Zoom information is typically found within the Canvas course itself. Participants should check the Canvas course for Zoom details and should not expect a separate email with this information. Be sure to access the relevant section or module in Canvas to find the Zoom details and join the live sessions.

Accessing the Otter.ai Transcripts

Using Peardeck

Pear Deck is a fun tool integrated with PowerPoint that lets us interact with activities like polls, open-ended questions, and drag-and-drop games. You can use it on your phone or computer browser. We love Pear Deck because it lets everyone participate anonymously, so you can share your thoughts without worrying about judgment. Plus, your answers are kept anonymous from both the other participants and the trainers!