Every Journey Begins With A Small Step...Or 3
The decision to start virtual training is an important milestone in the history of every organization. There is a new realm of endless possibilities to explore. Of course, this can be overwhelming, even for the most seasoned L&D professionals.
Here are some easy steps you can take to get started. They will help you lay down a solid foundation on your scheme and start your virtual training in the most effective way.
Identify The Building Blocks Of Your Course
It’s important to start with an inventory of everything you’re going to use in creating your training. The content itself is an obvious starting point—slide decks, PDFs, workbooks, product documentation.
Now, shine a light on concepts and principles, not facts and formulas.
Ask a series of whys—commonly referred to as the 5 Whys—keep answering the questions to drive at the heart of the content to reach the first principle of any complex concept you cover. Be ruthless about eliminating anything unrelated to the core concept or that can be looked up by a quick search. Learners will only remember a handful of things, so take the time to clarify the top 3-5 takeaways you want them to leave with.
Finally, pinpoint the level of prior knowledge of your learners and anchor your content to this. Armed with this information, you’re now ready to map out your approach.
ACTION STEPS
- Start with an inventory of everything you’re going to use in creating your training.
- The content itself: slide decks, PDFs, workbooks, product documentation.
- The top 3-5 takeaways or first principles you want learners to take with them.
- The prior knowledge of your learners to anchor your content to.
- Armed with this information, you’re now ready to map out your approach. Click
below for a template to help you map out your virtual training.
Outline Sections That Each Has A Distinct Learning Objective
One of the best things you can do when you start your virtual training program is to organize your content by scaffolding it around learning objectives framed from the perspective of the learner. What do you want them to be able to do differently after completing each section?
Your existing material may already have learning objectives, but for an online learning course, it is important to separate content into sections that each only has one learning objective. This will help you pick your delivery format and media in the next step.
ACTION STEPS
- Organize your content by scaffolding it around learning objectives framed from the perspective of the learner (What do you want them to be able to do differently after completing each section?)
- Separate content into sections that only have one learning objective
- Group these sections into modules for better organization
Pick Your Media, Delivery Format, And Tone
When you start your virtual training program, it is vital for each lesson to pick your delivery format and media.
Media
Are you looking to capture attention or increase motivation? Do you have a complex topic and need ways to manage cognitive load?
In Instructional Design, there is a concept known as the "blended approach." The principle here is that no single solution can meet all the learning needs of your audience. Instead, use a combination of multimedia to transfer the knowledge you’re looking to transfer.
Use video to capture attention and explain complex topics. Use live Zoom-based sessions to interact with your audience and provide them with opportunities to practice the concepts you teach. Supplement your own content by including curated material from outside sources.
ACTION STEPS
For each lesson, pick your delivery format and media.
- Recorded video
- Examples: animations or live-action micro-videos.
- Great for: managing cognitive load and motivation.
- Live video conference
- Examples: webinars or workshops run on software like Zoom or Teams.
- Great for: capturing attention and interaction.
- Print media
- Examples: PDFs, infographics, workbooks, and study guides.
- Great for: concentrated study, factual information.
- Curation
- Examples: any version of the above not created by you.
- Great for: attention, motivation, and curiosity!
Delivery Format
If you’re creating videos for your virtual training, it helps to choose the type of video you’re going to create upfront. This way you can plan the resources and design them around the chosen format.
ACTION STEPS
For videos, choose from one of the 5 formats common in training videos:
- Talking head
What you see in news broadcasts. - Interview
One person is visible at a time in a conversation. - Conversation
Both people are on screen, like in a talk show. - Presenter
Most often used in educational content and works best with visual aids. - Action
Primarily narrator-driven, with visuals shown as support. Animated videos and documentaries are excellent examples of this.
Tone
The tone or mood of the virtual training is heavily influenced by the presenter’s voice and body language, no matter what format you choose. Your choice of tone affects your scripting, so it is important to be clear on them during this step. If you are going to feature an expert in your training, consider what brings out the best in the person presenting the video.
ACTION STEPS
Consider the tone from the perspective of the learner.
- Do you want your training to come across as formal or informal?
- Collaborative or instructional?
- Authoritative or exploratory?
What's Next?
The eBook 5 Steps For A Flawless Virtual Training is the go-to guide that will help you start and develop your virtual training program. This eBook is for anyone who is passionate about creating meaningful custom virtual learning experiences. Your culture matters. Your corporate values set you apart. Your virtual training should reflect that.