Say your organization offers virtual training, including virtual instructor-led training (VILT). You have a way to deliver it, and there’s a clear roadmap regarding the curriculum. Unfortunately, as soon as you get past the basics, you realise that it’s not easy to deliver an effective virtual instructor-led training session. You’re still dealing with people and systems, which means that the likelihood of problems arising is just as high – if not higher – than it was for physical training.
The reality is, every training session comes with its own unique challenges. Consider implementing the suggestions below, and we’re confident your next virtual instructor-led training session will be more effective.
Find ways to personalize
Obviously with VILT, participants are not all in the one place. Taking this into account when designing the session can result in improved learning outcomes.
Start by taking note of where participants are located. Proceed to tailor training content to their respective languages and cultures. This can also include subtle details like the order in which names and titles are written in their country, or lab exercise instructions in different languages.
From here, focus on key elements in the training environment itself, by customising labels on form fields, buttons, and more. For example, different regions may accept varying responses for compliance reasons.
Personalization is largely about ensuring that the learner is operating in an environment that is in line with the version of the product they’ll eventually be using.
Encourage interaction during the virtual instructor-led training session
An effective virtual instructor-led training session is one where the training instructor delivers knowledge in a manner that isn’t entirely identical to what’s on learning materials like slides. Learn more about Heropa’s VILT platform.
Try to put content into context from the beginning. For instance, rather than starting by reading out an introductory slide bullet points word for word, begin by demonstrating with a real life scenario. Teach by showing, so participants can learn by doing.
For larger virtual classrooms, consider grouping participants with similar needs or competence levels, or region. Assign an assistant instructor to support each group, leaving the main instructor as the host.
Another great way to incorporate interactivity is by letting trainees contribute to the conversation by speaking to the group, to give their own view of the subject at hand. Where remote assistance is provided, ask participants to share learnings back to the group. Ultimately, training sessions shouldn’t simply be a regurgitation of learning materials.
Optimize system performance
System performance is perhaps the most common challenge faced by those running VILT. This is particularly difficult when running a single training session across multiple locations. System performance is a challenge because it’s usually the hardest thing to control. Internet speeds and hardware device quality varies widely among participants, and often results in poor application performance.
If this has been your experience, it might be time to look for a solution that reduces this likelihood. Providing access to training environments based on localised infrastructure gives participants the best chance of an uninterrupted experience. Participants can focus on what they are there to learn rather than be distracted or discouraged by connection issues.
Are you trying to get the most out of your VILT sessions? Take your training to the next level by speaking to us here.
