Technology is a powerful force in our lives. It can simplify a process, save valuable time, and breathe life into our commentary. It can also make us want to rip our hair out, question our sanity, and force us to crawl in bed and pull the covers over our heads. In this course, we are going to explore which technology is worth learning and how it can help you in every stage of your profession. From getting hired to preparing for a tour, to leading a tour, and everything in-between, we will help you step by step. This comprehensive course will revolution how you use technology and forever change how you tour direct.
Course Curriculum
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1. Course Overview- The Technology Advantage: How technology can revolutionize your tour directing.
Making technology work for you is a learned skill. While the learning curve may be steeper for some than others, everyone can learn and benefit from utilizing technology as a tour director.
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2. Technology Fundamentals: How to get started at any technology skill level.
Learn basic terminology, equipment, and how different types of technology relate to our jobs as tour directors. Once laid, this foundation will serve as a starting point from which the entire course will build.
- Overview: The Big Picture
- What Devices Do You Need?
- What Cords and Adapters Do You Need?
- Caring for Your Devices
- Working Seamlessly Between Your Devices
- Software & Apps You Need to Learn
- Organizing Apps for Easy Access
- Internet Browsers and Helpful Websites
- Additional Learning Opportunities
- Technology Fundamentals Review Quiz
- Final Thoughts
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3. Getting Hired: How to find and land tour job opportunities.
Learn how to promote yourself, connect with tour operators, and get work.
- Overview: Guiding Principles in the Getting Hired Process
- Personal Promotion: E-mail and Social Media
- Start Organized- Stay Organized
- Crafting an Engaging Resume and Cover Letter
- Producing a Resume Introduction Video
- Finding Tour Operators
- Applying for Work: Tracking Contacts with Companies
- Creating and Sharing an “Availability Calendar”
- Giving a Memorable Video Interview
- Accepting a Contract
- Getting Hired Review Quiz
- Final Thoughts
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4. Planning a Tour: Overview
Learn how to organize, route, research, and gather commentary, harnessing the power of technology.
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5. Planning a Tour: Routing with Google Maps
Learn how to utilize Google Maps, Google My Maps, & Google Earth to plan for a tour so you look like you have been there many times.
- Overview Google Maps, Google My Maps, & Google Earth
- Getting Set Up with Google Maps
- Directions
- Finding Places/ Exploring an Area
- Traffic
- Using Satellite View
- Street View
- Information about Places
- Personalizing your Maps: Saved Places List
- Personalizing your Maps: Private Labels
- Personalizing your Maps: Personal Reviews
- Even More Useful Features
- Google MyMaps
- Google Earth
- Final Thoughts
- Routing Review Quiz
- Protected: *Bonus- My Personal Google Maps Lists
- Evaluation
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6. Planning a Tour: Unleashing the Power of Video, Music, Photos, and Presentations
Learn how to choose media content, create presentations, build your video and music libraries, and know the technical aspect of connecting your devices to the coach screens.
- Introduction
- Choosing Content
- Employing Photos
- Presentations: Choosing a Presentation Program
- Presentations: Creating Presentations- Layout/ Style Tips
- Presentations: Presentation/Slide Ideas
- Utilizing Videos
- Mastering Music
- Apps for Coach Screens
- Connecting to Coach Screens: Hardware Needed
- Connecting to Coach Screens: Device Selection and Tips
- Starter Tips
- Media on Tour: Helpful versus Harmful Quiz
- Protected: *Bonus My Personal YouTube Playlist
- Using Media Review Quiz
- Final Thoughts
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7. Planning a Tour: Organizing Your Tour Content
Learn how to to organize & edit tour content (commentary, itinerary, photos, maps, music, videos, games, handouts, presentations, etc.) and make it available and synced on all your devices, online or offline.
- Intro
- General Organizational Tips
- Step #1: Choosing a System That Works for You
- Step #2: Setting Up Your System
- Notes Must Be Specific- About One Topic or Place
- How to lay out your individual notes
- Plan the Structure: Keep it Simple and Consistent
- Naming Notes and Notebooks
- Overwhelmed? Let’s get practical
- Step #3 Using Your System
- Create and Update as You Go
- “@inbox” Folder
- Utilize Links and Tags
- Make Notebooks Available Offline
- Annotate Photos and PDFs
- Transfer Files From Your Computer
- Input Methods For Placing Content into Evernote
- Insert Files Into Your Notes
- What Not to Put In Your Note System
- Learn Sort/Search Functions
- Organizing Tour Content Review Quiz
- Evaluation
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8. Planning a Tour: Additional Considerations
Learn how to connect with guests, plan for international/cruise/rail tours and prepare your personal life for being on the road.
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9. On Tour: How to simplify and enhance your daily tasks while impressing your guests and get higher tour ratings.
Learn how to use the technology onboard the coach, connecting with the passengers, work with your tour operator, and deal with unexpected things that pop up.
- Coach: Welcome Onboard
- Coach: Technology Check When First Boarding
- Coach: Microphone
- Coach: DVD Player
- Coach: Radio/CD/Bluetooth
- Coach: Wi-Fi
- Coach: Power Supply
- Coach: Connections for Audio and Video
- Coach: *Spotlight on Prevost Coaches
- Coach: Technology Organization
- Guests: Learning Names
- Guests: Building Community
- Guests: Communication
- Being Seen and Heard on Tour
- Working with Your Tour Operator On Tour
- Dealing with the Unexpected: Planning on the Fly
- Personal Technology Tips On Tour
- On Tour Review Quiz
- Final Thoughts
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10. Wrapping Up Your Tour: How to save time doing end of tour paperwork while preparing for your next tour.
Learn how to harness technology to simplify the paperwork that needs to be completed post-tour.
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11. Next Steps/ Conclusion: Where do you go from here?
Create an action plan for prioritizing what tech to work on first and getting the ball rolling.