Online training or Virtual Instructor Led Training (VILT) has gained tremendous popularity for its cost reducing advantages and the ability to accommodate large audiences across geographical boundaries. However, here’s yet another learning technology that has been abused and poorly utilized to maximize learning opportunities. In most instances, VILT is delivered as a passive learning experience where learners watch the instructor move a cursor on a screen and blabber for hours without any interaction. Why not just make a video and publish it on YouTube then? I mean, it’s truly the same effect in my opinion. There’s a way to deliver highly engaging learning experiences through virtual online training while making it less “virtual” and this is what this post is all about. We’ll explore the difference between a webinar and a VILT as well as a few tips for exceptional delivery of presentations in this format.
Why Virtual?
It’s very simple, VILTs save you a ton of money in preparation costs, logistics and materials. An average traditional face-to-face training event is limited by its geographical location, room size, travel costs ($3000 on average per person) and it only happens once. VILTs are global because they are delivered through the Internet, hosts up to 100 users on a basic software license and would probably only cost you the virtual room software monthly fee $50-$100 per month.
Synchronous vs Asynchronous
Synchronous and asynchronous are just fancy words describing how the VILT happens at the learner level. For example, the former means “at the same time” while the latter means the opposite. Therefore, synchronous is a live online event while asynchronous is a recorded session of such an event. In terms of interaction and learner engagement, VILTs should always be synchronous and have an asynchronous version for learners to revisit and review.
VILT Strategies
To effectively plan and deliver an awesome learning experience in VILT format, you should think about the same things you would think about for a face-to-face training. Here are some must-haves for your VILT session:
A Virtual Room
The virtual room is a cyberspace usually provided by a software application. There are dozens of software applications available, but in my experience GoToTraining and Adobe Connect are the best solutions to run VILTs and engage the audience. Why? These applications allow you to store your lesson plans, learning materials, use webcams to see your users, use instant messaging and use many built-in digital visual aids.
Communication Tools
Enable webcam viewing, instant messaging chats, a notes panel and polling features to engage your learners in participation. If you are using Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoiP) or computer speakers and mics; then ensure to mute participant mics to avoid interruptions or background noises i.e. barking dogs, parrotts, etc.
Have a Techie by Your Side
Ensure you have technical support readily available to assist users with technical difficulties or lacking technical aptitude. You don’t want to interrupt your learning session and disrupt the experience of others because of unforeseen technical issues with a few users. If you can’t afford this, then provide your users with instructional and troubleshooting job aids so they can resolve these issues autonomously.
Have a Moderator
In most cases, you would be able to handle up to 10 users if you are presenting and communicating through chat (instant messaging). For anything above that, I recommend having an assistant that can serve as moderator for your chat thread. This is a good interactive strategy that can help you stay on top of the commentary and questions being asked on chats.
Questions & Answers Slides
Having a Q&A slide deck helps you in keeping a structured format for questions to challenge the audience. The advantage of having the questions on slides is that all users can see the question in case they missed it when you said it.
Practice Files
Traditional face-to-face training is highly enriched when users have a participant guide with exercises and note writing space. The same opportunity should be offered through a VILT setting so you can easily refer to exercises by page number.
Conclusion
In closing, even though the VILT format has been very popular, it’s the same popularity that has caused its misused and less than desirable learning experiences. You can make your VILT less “virtual” by integrating many of the same strategies used to deliver effective face-to-face training sessions. What truly changes is the “training room”, the number of trainers or facilitators per number of attendees and the communication media. However, by implementing the strategies in this post you should be able to create a lasting learning experience with a multimedia approach similar to the “real” thing.
