July 2020 - 14

Zoom Boom
Bridge classes go viral

W

hen the coronavirus came,
bridge clubs shut down, the
bridge-cruise industry sank,
and in-person classes and seminars
were canceled.
The hunger for bridge learning didn't
wane, however. On the contrary, it burgeoned as people trapped indoors with
time to kill looked for a new challenge
or outlets for improving their game.
Bridge teachers quickly adapted. If
their students couldn't come to them,
they would take their classes to the
masses. Teachers and their invaluable
technical assistants discovered the interactive videoconferencing magic that
is Zoom or GoToWebinar, and armed
with PowerPoint handouts and BBO
teaching tables, they rushed headlong
into the world of online learning.
Many online teaching resources are
listed on the ACBL website - more and
more every day - ranging from private
BBO coaching to small-group play to
webinars. Go to acbl.org and click on
the Learn tab, then Online Learning
Opportunities on the left-hand menu.
Here's how four popular teachers
ramped up their response to the quarantine call for more bridge.

Larry Cohen

If you think
that Larry
Cohen can't
possibly be as
good a teacher
as he is/was a
player (that is to
say first-round
Hall-of-Fame
quality), think
again. Because, wow! He funnels all
the expertise and poise and humor that
made him a champion into what he
loves best: teaching.

14 Bridge Bulletin July 2020

BY SUE MUNDAY

On April 30, Cohen and crew aired
their first "Bridge Made Simple" webinar. Cohen uses Zoom; students can
attend the live event - which allows the
interactive chat and Q&A features. A
follow-up email to session attendees
includes a link to the class for reviewing and class handouts.
Targeted to intermediate players,
Cohen's sell-out Zoom classes devote
an hour to a topic, followed by discussion of four deals. "The interactive
features of Zoom are eye-opening," he
says. "I can see what the players 'vote'
when I ask. The downside is that I can't
see their faces or hear them laugh."
Cohen runs a smooth ship. He has
bridge assistants to help field questions and technical handlers to handle
technical stuff, leaving him free to do
what only he can do.
On June 1, Larry added a new
series: "Celebrity Mondays." His
guest list includes
David Bird, "Jeopardy
James" Holzhauer,
Zia Mahmood and
Jeff Meckstroth -
90 minutes with an
extended Q&A.
In addition to being a popular Bridge
Bulletin columnist,
Michael Berkowitz is a member of
Larry's teaching team. On Friday afternoons, May 1 through June 5, Michael
invited advanced beginners and intermediate players into the 21st century
with a comprehensive series on 2/1.
Topics highlighted the use of a semiforcing notrump, responding with
invitational hands, the 2♣ response
and game-forcing auctions, opener's
rebid and slam bidding.
Episodes of "Bridge Made Simple"
are available for $15 each. "Celebrity

Mondays" and Berkowitz's 2/1 classes
are $10 each. You'll find them - as well
as announcements of upcoming events
- at larryco.com.

Donna
Compton

Donna
Compton has
enjoyed tremendous success in her
teaching career.
As a world and national champion,
American Bridge Teachers' Association Master Teacher and owner of the
Bridge Academy of North Dallas, she
relates to her students on every level.
"For the past six years, I have taught
in-person at my club and in workshops
around the country," says Compton. "I
have been teaching online since 2014,
beginning with live webinars and then
editing the webinars and turning them
into videos for resale."
Compton says that the coronavirus
pandemic brought her two worlds together, joining her in-person students
and her online students.
"I am enjoying online teaching more
and more every day. I find myself trying out new ways of making the online
experience more 'real-life,' and I am
having fun experimenting with new
ways to present the materials. I have
expanded my student base to Europe
and Asia. It's been fun learning their
methods and discussing the pros and
cons of the differences."
She uses GoToWebinar to host the
lessons and a combination of PowerPoint and BBO tables.
"I have a five-year curriculum,"
Compton says. "My topics start with
an introduction, then four courses of
fundamental topics, five intermediate
http://www.larryco.com http://www.acbl.org
July 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of July 2020
