VIRTUAL INSTRUCTOR-LED TRAINING

Virtual instructor-led training will continue to be the future of learning and development even in a post-pandemic world.

Instructor-led training (ILT) has always provided learners with a personalized touch. They fostered community synergy and provided real-time facilitator input. Trainee participation and retention increases significantly due to the engagement in group activities.

But what happens when you can’t get everyone together in the same room? You go virtual.

Businesses and educational institutions all over the world have recently gone online. What began as an immediate reaction to COVID-19 is now recognized as the new standard.

What is Virtual Instructor-Led Training (VILT)?

Virtual Instructor-Led Training (VILT) is training that connects trainees with an instructor online. It is conducted in a virtual environment when the instructor and learners are in different locations. The classes take place through web application meeting tools such as Google Meet, Microsoft teams, Zoom, and GoToMeeting.

While VILT is designed to replicate the format of a traditional classroom, learners praise its adaptability. Any learner may benefit from this type of digital learning experience. Converting your ILT to VILT to ensure your employees continue to learn regardless of their circumstances promotes just-in-time learning. Just-in-time learning is viewed highly by employees.

ILT to VILT Conversion

Online training allows participants to learn whenever and wherever they choose. It also makes learning available to all clients, staff, and partners. Yet, some training departments view the shift from in-person training to virtual challenging.

This may be due to the need to explain how virtual classrooms operate, the cost savings, and its benefits to key stakeholders. Then there’s redesigning the class content and selecting the platform to deliver through.

In reality, the transition to virtual training is straightforward but should be conducted by an e-learning expert.

How to create an effective VILT program

A training course that relies on the instructor’s ability to engage learners without any thought or preparation will fail. A successful VILT program includes engaging content, interactive videos, and images to maintain high learner interaction levels. Ensure you create a successful program with these four guidelines:

  1. Define the Objectives: Since VILT is a more modernized or advanced variant of ILT, it is critical to approach it objectively. The goal-setting stage must consider the type of training you want to provide and the desired outcome. Well-thought-out goals offer your training structure and direction, resulting in your program thriving.
  2. Technology and eLearning Vendor Selection: Since VILT is often held over a virtual network, it is critical that you choose the appropriate platform technology and partner. VILT should help to simplify rather than complicate the training process. As a consequence, it is recommended to work with an easy-to-use platform. Additionally, technological problems are commonplace. It is crucial to ensure that your technology partner is available to assist in such situations.
  3. Amount of Instructional Media: Any online training must incorporate media such as videos, images, and activities such as polls and quizzes to engage learners. For a larger audience to attend sessions consistently, the learning experience must surpass regular classes. Hence it is critical to decide the amount of media required to boost the VILT program.
  4. Each Program Section Must be Planned: Each section must follow the principles of engagement, adding value and testing learner abilities such as polls, discussions, and scenario-based questions. Videos extend the learner’s attention span. By including downloadable segments, the learner takes away helpful information. Getting this mix correct is very important for learners.

Why Organizations Should Implement VILT

Virtual Instructor-Led Training has a range of advantages for an organization:

  1. Cost-Effectiveness – Virtual Instructor-Led Training is affordable for both learners and organizations. VILT lets learners and instructors save money on travel expenses. Online resources help to reduce the cost of manufacturing hard copy materials for classroom training.
  2. Creates an Immersive Learning Experience – Another benefit is it enables learners to have an immersive learning experience. It provides hands-on training and exposure to new skills and knowledge. Learners need only to return to the e-Learning site to exercise newly learned skills.
  3. Easy Customization – Your organization may need to communicate some relevant information on a job in a short amount of time. The quickest way for you to do this is by the use of virtual communication. You can do this by customizing your VILT to meet your needs and provide the necessary training to all employees through a single medium.
  4. The Ability to Track and Measure Success – It has always been difficult to monitor and assess the impact of conventional classroom training on learners. By integrating eLearning and ILT, on the other hand, you can track and calculate your progress. You can adapt and refine your training as appropriate to ensure it delivers superior learning.
  5. Continuous Learning Experience – Additionally, Virtual Instructor-Led Training provides learners with a continuous learning experience. Thus, organizations benefit from VILT’s provision of critical tools and resources and encourage employees to learn more.
  6. Blends With Different Learning Styles – Individuals have unique learning styles and interests that work best for them. It can be challenging to accommodate diverse learning styles in classroom Instructor-Led Training. With VILT, employees can quickly gain new skills and expertise.

Creating Memorable and Impactful Training With Alchemist Learning

Alchemist Learning follows a four-step process for creating new courses or converting existing ones into engaging and interactive learning programs.

Analyze existing framework
A crucial first step is to establish what can be used, re-used, transformed, or made. Understanding the target audience is also critical to the program’s success. Several of our clients perform their own content and audience research. This brief checklist will assist you in getting started. If your goals, material, or organization require a more detailed approach, contact us for assistance.

Design virtual delivery
This step involves developing a blueprint for the VILT program that includes all its components. We examine learning goals and develop a comprehensive learning plan to address them effectively.
This is designed to maximize the learning synergies between the various components of the program. If you are familiar with the practice of blended learning with adults, you can develop a simple blended learning program.

Develop, deliver and evaluate
We can develop an intuitive virtual program map using your current infrastructure. Virtual learning assets must be arranged clearly and concisely. You can choose from a learning platform, a learning hub, or a web application to seamlessly deliver the virtual learning program. Evaluate the program by using ranking systems or social learning components such as discussion or input boards. There are several methods for getting learner feedback and assessing courses’ progress.

Apply change management
Change management’s goal is to persuade the target audience to support the learning program itself. The design of the program recognizes elements that encounter opposition from your audience. Unfortunately, adult learners are resistant to change to some extent. Virtual change management efforts must include two-way human interaction, social learning, and emotional motivation.

Virtual Instructor-Led Training is the Future

VILT is one of the fastest-growing learning modalities. L&D stakeholders increasingly rely on virtual as the preferred mode to inform, interact, and empower employees.

For companies ready to take the next step and up their employee learning experience, contact us.