Virtual training empowers organizations to create a flexible, effective learning environment to upskill and reskill employees. And this learning trend is on the rise. According to recent reports, 80 percent of training in 2020 was delivered partly or entirely online across industries. When done correctly, virtual training provides many benefits for users and organizations and can help you create a learning culture and empower your employees for continued success. Show
What is Virtual Instructor-Led Training?Virtual instructor-led training (VILT) occurs in a virtual or simulated environment or when the instructor and learner are in different places. These virtual learning environments simulate the traditional classroom, and users can access them anytime. There are three types of virtual courses:
Read more: Synchronous vs. Asynchronous Learning What is the difference between virtual instructor-led training and instructor-led training?Instructor-led training (ILT) is the type of learning you’re most familiar with. ILT is formal and takes place in a classroom. Instructor-led training advantages:
Challenges:
Virtual instructor-led training (VILT), also called eLearning, takes place online, anywhere in the world, as long as learners are on any internet-connected device. Virtual instructor-led training advantages include:
Disadvantages:
Benefits of virtual instructor-led trainingVILT offers various benefits for trainers and learners. For trainersReach a larger audienceVirtual training helps companies extend their courses to learners who want to access them from a distance. Therefore, it helps the company reach a larger audience. Increase capacityVirtual learning also allows the company to offer instruction to more participants without the limitations of a classroom. It also connects people who may not have been able to connect before. Reduce costsVirtual training lowers travel and lodging costs for instructors and students. While the instruction itself is not free, other costs are involved, like materials and development costs, which can lower the overall dollars spent. Save timeVITL is usually delivered in short sessions, which means less time away from the office and higher productivity. Employees staying at their desks to complete learning tasks will get more done than physically attending a class. Increase course profitabilityBy reducing the cost of staffing and travel budgets, while training more employees with applicable skills, you can see higher ROI for your L&D program. For learnersFlexibilityFlexibility is a top benefit for learners. Some 81 percent of executives claim to be changing their workplace policies to offer greater flexibility to their workforce. With asynchronous courses, students can enjoy a flexible schedule that fits their time and location. In addition, they can search through available course materials and choose what they want to learn. Better knowledge retentionLearning models show that active learning, where students are engaged in the process and interact with the material, is more effective for retention. Online learning is interactive and fun. When students feel engaged with the lesson, it makes the material “sticky” and helps them retain more information. InclusivityAn online learning environment is inclusive and equitable for all types of students. For example, course content is accessible for learners with physical impairments that can cause reading, seeing, or hearing challenges. It also allows people with learning differences to take extra time to process materials and take extra quiz time. Tips and best practices for effective virtual trainingCreate an engaging environmentWhether running a one-off workshop or building a customer education program, learning should be a fun, interactive experience. Here are some ways to turn static learning into engaging experiences:
Learn more: More Doing, Less Telling: Creative Ways to Build Engagement in Training Workshops and Courses Build short, incremental modulesStudies show that our typical attention span is between 10 and 15 seconds. Therefore, create modules that are easy to consume and stress-free to keep people engaged. You must format content to meet different learning styles to have a high completion rate and satisfaction score. Kristi Thurston, Learning Solutions Manager at Kustomer, a customer service CRM, takes advantage of formatting to keep learners engaged. In the company’s L&D program, lessons are between 3 to 5 minutes long. If a lesson ran longer than 10 minutes, they’d break it into a new section.
Guidelines to follow when building your courses:
Foster collaborationAbout 91 percent of L&D pros feel that teams who learn new skills together are more successful. So create a dedicated channel in your company Slack account (or whatever communication tool you use) and encourage people to discuss courses. Participants can share knowledge and support each other when needed. There is usually some type of chat built into most web meeting applications. Invite students to share their experiences, comment on the presentation, and brainstorm. You can incorporate this throughout your training or schedule a specific time. It’s relaxed and can make training more enjoyable. Individuals who use social features watch up to 30x more learning content than those who don’t. Gather feedbackUser feedback is critical to understanding the organizational impact of learning and the overall classroom experience. LinkedIn’s 2022 Learning Report found the two top measurement methods are:
With online training software, you can easily gather feedback through built-in surveys and understand what parts of your program need improvement and which successfully achieve your goals. Tools for virtual instructor-led trainingTechnology makes life easier, even for digital learners. Effective learning technology can simplify training, save time, and guide learners toward their goals. In addition, the right technology will help you run classes seamlessly and easily. Let’s look at the tools you need to thrive. Learning management system (LMS)A learning platform helps deliver training virtually. It enables an organization to host, organize, and distribute materials to learners. A learning platform will help you create engaging blended learning classes, plus:
Video conferencing toolFace-to-face communication is essential, even when you can’t meet in person. It’s also necessary to train employees effectively when they work remotely. Look for a video conferencing tool that integrates with your learning platform. For example, WorkRamp integrates with Zoom to support live training sessions. Learners can access the training within your system and log into Zoom to attend class. It also helps you track webinar registrations and attendance. Interactive whiteboardAn interactive whiteboard, aka a “smartboard,” is a display board that reacts to user input from a device. These interactive whiteboards replace traditional chalkboards and let instructors show images, presentations, and videos to an entire class simultaneously. You can use a free whiteboard like Jamboard by Google in your virtual classroom. Benefits of a learning management system for virtual instructor-led trainingRecent trends show that learning platforms are growing in popularity, expecting to reach a $37.9 billion market by 2025. And for a good reason: A learning platform supports and improves virtual learning in many ways. With a learning platform, you can:
Overall, a learning platform helps you deliver training to employees, customers, partners, and students—in one place. It’s easy for instructors to use and centralize all training content into one platform so you can scale with confidence.
Why WorkRamp for virtual instructor-led trainingA learning platform is critical to running virtual instructor-led training successfully. With WorkRamp, you can create robust training programs tailored to individual learner needs and customize and launch new training with just one click. With WorkRamp’s advanced reporting options, you can determine the revenue impact of your training investments and monitor employee performance. This way, you can create a growth engine for your organization that encourages learning and drives ROI in the long run. Want to learn more about how to use WorkRamp to create effective virtual instructor-led training? Contact us to schedule a free demo.Which of the following is the training and development method that uses online technology based instruction as the mode of instruction?Blended learning is an educational methodology that blends online or digital components with face-to-face instruction. Including technology in education helps set students up for success later in life, because computers and other connected devices are so integral to communication and business today.
What is referred to an organized program of study designed to meet complex learning effective?curriculum. A _____ refers to an organized program of study designed to meet a complex learning objective. a. course.
Which of the following situations are online learning or e learning typically more effective than faceOnline learning is better than face-to-face classroom learning when learners are able to practice the learning content and receive feedback.
What type of system serves as a technology platform that can automate the administration development and delivery of a business's training program?A learning management system is a software-based or SaaS platform that supports the administration, automation, and delivery of educational courses, training programs, or learning and development programs.
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