Ask Me Anything for Classes: How to Run a Live Q&A Like Outside’s Jenny McCoy

Start here: turn dead air and low participation into a live learning boost

Are your class discussions meeting the ceiling of student interest? Do students hesitate to ask questions in front of peers, or does your remote session feel like a monologue? You’re not alone. Teachers and student leaders face tight schedules, shrinking attention spans, and higher expectations for interactive learning. This guide shows how to run a powerful live Q&A (AMA) modeled on Outside’s January 20, 2026 live event with Moves columnist and NASM-certified trainer Jenny McCoy.

The big idea — why AMAs matter in 2026

AMAs (Ask Me Anything live Q&As) are not just trend content; they’re structured experiential learning. In 2026, hybrid classrooms and community learning are mainstream, and students expect instant, authentic access to experts. Outside’s Jenny McCoy AMA combined pre-submitted questions, real-time engagement, and expert credibility to create high-value learning moments. Use that template to amplify student voice, decode complex topics, and create resources you can reuse.

What changed in 2025–2026 that makes AMAs more powerful?

• AI-assisted moderation and summarization: Tools now filter, prioritize, and auto-summarize questions in real time.
• Built-in accessibility: Live captions, translations, and automated transcripts are standard and expected.
• Hybrid-first pedagogy: Students participate across platforms—classroom, Discord, Instagram Live, and learning management systems.
• Privacy and consent focus: Schools require clearer consent workflows for recordings since late-2025 regulations emphasized student data protections.

Quick blueprint: Run a Jenny McCoy–style live AMA in 90 days

Below is an inverted-pyramid plan: essentials first, then layered details. Use this at-a-glance to organize your next AMA.

1. Define the learning objective (what should students know or be able to do afterward?) — Day 0
2. Secure the expert (teacher, guest speaker, senior student) — Week 1–2
3. Choose the platform (Zoom, YouTube Live, Instagram Live, Discord, or campus LMS + stream) — Week 1
4. Promote & collect questions (Google Form or LMS for pre-asks; social posts for community invites) — Weeks 2–4
5. Plan format & roles (host, moderator, tech lead, note-taker) — Week 3
6. Run a rehearsal (test captions, polls, AI moderation) — 72 hours before
7. Go live (intro, main Q&A, closing, CTA) — Event day
8. Follow-up & repurpose (transcript, highlight clips, FAQ doc) — 24–72 hours after

Case study: What Jenny McCoy’s January 20, 2026 AMA did well

Outside’s live Q&A with Jenny McCoy is a concise model teachers can adapt:

• Pre-submitted questions: Encouraged deeper, research-backed queries from the audience—this reduces on-air awkwardness and raises quality.
• Clear time block: Scheduled for 2 P.M. ET, it respected attendees’ calendars and maximized live attendance.
• Cross-promotion: Outside used newsletter, site article, and social media to drive sign-ups.
• Expert credibility: Jenny’s NASM certification and Moves column lent authority, increasing trust and attendance.

Choose the right platform: pros and cons (2026 update)

Pick a platform that matches your audience size, interactivity needs, and privacy policies.

Zoom / Microsoft Teams

• Best for closed classroom sessions and breakout rooms.
• Built-in recording, captions, and LMS integrations.
• Requires sign-in for private events; aligns with school privacy policies.

YouTube Live / Vimeo

• Scales to large public audiences; good for archiving and SEO.
• Auto-captions available; moderation through chat filters.
• Public by default — careful with student privacy.

Instagram Live / TikTok Live

• Great for short, informal Q&As and building community engagement.
• Lower friction for student participation but limited moderation tools.

Discord / Slack

• Excellent for multi-channel community learning and threaded Q&A.
• Use bots for moderation and question upvoting.

Roles that make an AMA run smoothly

Assigning clear roles is the single most reliable way to prevent chaos. Even with small classes, distribute these tasks.

• Host / Moderator: Keeps flow, reads questions, and moves between topics.
• Tech Lead: Manages streaming, captions, and screen-sharing.
• Question Curator: Filters and prioritizes incoming questions, flags duplicates.
• Community Manager: Responds to chat, pins resources, and enforces conduct rules.
• Note-taker / Content Repurposer: Compiles highlights, writes the FAQ, and creates short clips.

Practical templates: Scripts, moderation guidelines, and CTAs

Use these copy-ready templates to save time and maintain professionalism.

Intro script (60–90 seconds)

Hi everyone — welcome to today’s live AMA. I’m [Host Name], and with me is [Expert Name]. Today’s goal is to answer your most practical questions about [topic]. We’ll start with pre-submitted questions, then take live ones from the chat. Remember: be respectful, keep questions concise, and use the “raise hand” feature if you want to speak. We’ll post a transcript and highlight clips after the session.

Moderator guidelines (short)

1. Filter out off-topic or duplicate questions; combine similar ones.
2. Prioritize questions that align with the session objective.
3. Enforce a 2-minute answer window for each live question unless extended by the host.
4. Use a timer and visual cue for the expert if speaking over time.

Closing CTA (30 seconds)

Thanks for joining. We’ll email the transcript, a top-10 FAQ based on today’s questions, and three short clips to share. If you want a deep dive workshop on this topic, sign up here [link]. Please fill out the 60-second feedback form — your responses help shape future AMAs.

Pre-event promotion and question collection — do these 7 things

Good promotion ensures you have both quantity and quality of questions. Follow this checklist.

1. Create a short landing page with date/time, guest bio, and a clear question submission form.
2. Use three promotional pushes: announcement (2–3 weeks out), reminder (72 hours), and final reminder (2 hours).
3. Offer incentives: digital badges, bonus resources, or entry into a raffle for submitting thoughtful questions.
4. Ask prompts to guide questions — examples: “What’s one winter training mistake?” or “How to balance running and lifting?”
5. Encourage pre-asks via classroom LMS and social channels — outside’s Jenny McCoy AMA accepted pre-submitted questions to raise quality.
6. Provide consent info for recording and reuse to comply with school policies.
7. Run a quick pre-event poll to set priorities (students vote on the top 3 topics to cover).

During the AMA: keep it engaging and evidence-based

AMAs can drift into chatty territory. Use these tactics to maintain learning value.

• Chunk content: Alternate between 5–7 minutes of expert answers and a 2-minute interactive poll or micro-activity.
• Use evidence prompts: Ask the expert for one citation, resource, or quick demo for every 2–3 answers.
• Apply AI tools: Run live summarization and generate a “Top 5 takeaways” banner midway through the event.
• Invite student voices: Rotate quick live questions from pre-selected students to model good inquiry.

Accessibility, privacy, and ethics — non-negotiables

In 2026, accessibility and privacy are not add-ons; they’re required. Build them into every AMA plan.

• Captions & transcripts: Enable live captions and auto-generate full transcripts within 24 hours.
• Consent forms: Provide opt-in/out for recording; get parental consent if minors might be identifiable.
• Safe spaces: Publish a code of conduct and quick escalation path for uncomfortable questions.
• Data minimization: Avoid unnecessary collection of personal data when accepting questions.

Repurpose and measure impact — multiply the value

An AMA’s true ROI appears in the days after. Convert live engagement into lasting learning assets.

Repurposing checklist

• Publish a short highlight reel (60–90 seconds) for social channels.
• Create an FAQ page from the top 20 pre-submitted and live questions.
• Convert the transcript into a lesson handout or short-read article for the LMS.
• Turn standout student questions into graded micro-assignments.

Key metrics to track

• Attendance rate: Ratio of registrants to live attendees.
• Engagement rate: Questions asked + chat messages per attendee.
• Retention: Minutes watched per attendee (for recorded sessions).
• Follow-up actions: FAQ downloads, resource clicks, workshop sign-ups.
• Learning impact: Pre/post quizzes, confidence self-assessments.

Common problems and ready fixes

Most AMAs fail for predictable reasons. Here are solutions that work in classrooms and campus communities.

• Low live questions: Use pre-submits and seed the chat with 5 starter questions.
• Off-topic drift: Use a curator to reframe or park off-topic questions into a follow-up forum.
• Technical issues: Have a backup device, wired internet, and a recorded welcome message if the host loses connection.
• Overlong answers: Use a visible timer and agree on maximum answer lengths during rehearsal.

Examples of prompts to stimulate thoughtful questions

Use these to prime students — tailored to Jenny McCoy’s fitness theme but easily adaptable.

• “Describe your biggest barrier to consistent winter training — what prevents you from exercising?”
• “Ask for a one-week beginner plan that fits a busy student schedule.”
• “What mistakes do beginners make when they start strength training?”
• “How do you balance endurance and strength work if you have limited time?”

Templates you can copy today

Copy-paste these into your LMS or email.

Question submission form text

Got a question for our guest? Submit a clear, 1–2 sentence question here. Example: “What’s a 20-minute routine I can do before class to boost energy?” We’ll prioritize questions that show effort and relevance to our learning goals.

Reminder post (72 hours)

Reminder: Live AMA with [Expert Name] this Friday at 2 P.M. ET. Submit your questions now and vote in our poll to pick the top topics. Link: [landing page]

Final checklist — 24 hours before go-live

• Confirm expert availability and share final agenda.
• Test captions, sound levels, and streaming settings.
• Prepare the curated question queue and highlight starter questions.
• Confirm roles and share the time-coded run sheet.
• Publish reminder to registrants with the participation link and consent details.

Why this matters: learning outcomes and community building

A well-run AMA does more than entertain. It models inquiry, builds trust between students and experts, and produces reusable learning artifacts. Outside’s Jenny McCoy session capitalized on credibility and timing—January is when many people renew fitness goals (YouGov’s 2026 poll found “exercise more” as the top New Year’s resolution). In a classroom, timing your AMA around student projects, exam prep, or term milestones multiplies its usefulness.

Your next steps — launch a low-risk pilot this month

Run a 30-minute pilot AMA in your next class to test logistics. Use a student expert if needed. Collect feedback, refine your moderation flow, and schedule a public guest AMA like the Jenny McCoy model once you’ve ironed out kinks.

Quick pilot script

1. Intro (1 minute)
2. Two pre-submitted questions (10 minutes)
3. Two live student questions (10 minutes)
4. One closing poll + CTA (4 minutes)
5. Wrap + next steps (1–2 minutes)

Closing: make AMAs a learning habit, not a one-off show

AMAs are replicable learning interventions when you plan with intent. Copy what worked for Jenny McCoy—pre-submitted questions, a clear time block, and strong promotion—then add classroom-specific scaffolding: consent forms, pre/post assessments, and repurposed materials for study guides. Over time you’ll build a library of expert answers and student-generated inquiries that raise the bar for participation and understanding.

“Use the live moment to spark curiosity. Use the follow-up to turn curiosity into mastery.”

Call to action

Ready to run your first AMA? Download our free 1-page AMA Planner and 24-hour checklist, or book a 30-minute consult to design a custom AMA for your class or campus. Start small, iterate fast, and watch engagement grow—then share your results with our community so we can learn together.

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