6 Best Practices for Training in a Virtual World
The rise of virtual training in 2020 opened up a broader range of possibilities for both learners and organizations than ever before. While some corporate leaders initially thought of virtual classrooms as a poor substitute for in-person learning, there is good news on this front.
The influx of cloud-based learning strategies took modernization of virtual learning to a new level where designers could create learning solutions targeted to each individual’s needs. Modernization of virtual learning also provides opportunities for learning leaders to empower learners, instructors, mentors, and experts with tools to collaborate, engage, and practice new skills.
So, how can you make the most of this global shift toward a more virtual world? Here are six best practices.
Start with a feature-rich, modern platform
When it comes to digital learning, the success of your programs relies on the technology you use to support and deliver them. Whether you’re building programs using a learning management system (LMS) or utilizing multiple third-party tools like Teams, Zoom, and Blackboard to deliver your courses, choose a user-friendly platform that includes the features that best complement your goals.
Consider the user experience for learners when choosing a virtual learning platform. Do they need to learn on-the-go or during work hours via their mobile devices? How will they access the learning in the moment of need? What assets are needed that support all learning styles?
Think engagement first
You already know that learner engagement is essential for successful outcomes, but this is even more true with virtual learning. Consider how you can employ different features and tools, like the following, to enhance the learning experience:
Screen sharing
Status options
Virtual whiteboards
Polling
Annotating
Hand-raising
Breakout areas
Group chat or private chat
Gamification
Balance between synchronous and asynchronous learning
Both synchronous (in real-time) and asynchronous (self-paced) learning have their advantages, so incorporate both in your virtual training program to provide a complete and engaging experience. Try adding asynchronous learning modules in between live, synchronous sessions to increase learner retention.
Balancing these two types of learning, in a blended approach, can also ensure you’re meeting the needs of users with diverse learning styles. For example, asynchronous video stories or walkie-talkie technology like Voxer may cater to visual and auditory learners who are on the go, while synchronous methods like online coaching may best help kinesthetic learners.
When using a blend of these learning methods, set clear expectations with learners about deadlines for completing self-paced content. Follow up with learners post-course to get their feedback so you can improve your programs and find the ideal balance between synchronous and asynchronous learning for the future.
Go Micro
Both virtual instructor-led training (VILT) and eLearning can generate stronger outcomes when you break sessions up into smaller chunks. Consider how you can break up existing training courses into “bite-sized” micro-learning segments:
One-skill per course. Instead of teaching multiple skills, focus on concise courses that teach just one thing.
Cut the fluff. Check if any of your training programs are laden with unnecessary intros or filler. While repetition is important for retention, you may be better off investing in more hands-on opportunities or simulations to practice new skills rather than sticking to long lectures and presentations.
Change the format. Sometimes, shortening a course may be as simple as taking long blocks of text and converting them into a visual or auditory format. Keep videos and audio training short: 3-5 minutes each is ideal.
Incorporate Social Learning
Social learning theory states that learners absorb information best through “observation, imitation, and modeling.” This is why trade schools provide hands-on training, why people join clubs for activities like knitting and crafting, and why YouTube (with instructional videos on everything you could imagine) has two billion active users.
How can you incorporate social learning into virtual training programs? Your technology stack is important, but you don’t need complex or expensive solutions to provide demonstrations and get your learners interacting with one another. Use storytelling, real-world problem-solving activities, case studies, and both live and asynchronous video demonstrations or tutorials. Utilize games and competitions between learners or groups to increase motivation and provide a sense of both reward and community.
Measure and improve
Regardless of specifics, your virtual training programs offer you an opportunity to aggregate meaningful training data about learner progress. The more clarity you derive through the data you collect, the better you can adjust and improve your courses. Start by exploring the capabilities of your current tech tools. Some popular learning tools already have built-in analytics dashboards that can reveal user patterns across different demographics (though they may be limited in what they can measure). If data-driven decision making is going to play a major role in your organization in the near future, it’s worth investing in a customizable tool, like PowerBI that allows you to hand-pick data and build your own custom dashboards.
Conclusion
While in-person training will always be here to some extent, virtual training is quickly becoming a staple in the Learning and Development world and beyond. Virtual training offers learners more than just the flexibility to be educated from the comfort of their home office (and their pajamas). It also creates a media-rich experience that has the potential to engage a more diverse learner base while culling extremely valuable data about what’s actually happening before, during, and after your training courses.
We’re committed to supporting your virtual training journey with a robust plan of action. Drop me a note at learning@prime8consulting.com to share your thoughts about virtual learning and explore our solutions.
