When the meeting begins, do a quick technology check to ensure that everyone can communicate with each other. Adjust microphone volumes and remember to test any polling software that will be used to gather opinions. Whiteboards are a popular way to facilitate distant teams. There are currently several options available. Large wall-sized whiteboards can be connected to a computer and used to transport images over the Web, personal drawing tablets can be connected to a computer or shared graphic files allow several meeting members to modify a drawing that everyone can see simultaneously.
Many groupware products incorporate their own whiteboard facility.
Some include features that allow control over who has the right to modify a drawing. Record ideas, take notes and write action plans on it. The value of this, is that you allow team members to see the product of your meeting. When the meeting ends, draw attention to the items on the whiteboard and ensure that everyone agrees what needs to be done next. Top For ongoing projects that require detailed discussion and debate, a moderated discussion forum can be a useful tool to help geographically dispersed team members keep abreast of developments.