Tips For Effective VILT Delivery
If you are looking for a successful Virtual Instructor-Led Training delivery, you have to focus on your instructors. Most importantly, it is vital to choose the right trainers so that your VILT transition can reach your business goals.
Plenty of studies have indicated that learners find it easier to concentrate on training courses that are based on multimedia. Yet, an effective eLearning tool is not enough if you don’t have the right assets for the job. Your learners’ engagement can and will increase even more when there’s communication—that is, between your trainers and your learners. VILT is a channel that offers two-way communication.
Choose Effective And Experienced Virtual Instructors For Your VILT
The skills of online instructors are vital to the learning process. Similar to face-to-face instructors, online instructors need a strong foundation in content, instruction, and assessment. In addition, they need experience in other specific areas, such as grasping the ins and outs of specific training tools. It is very important for instructors to completely understand the virtual training tools they use. A thorough grasp of the training tool will improve the students’ learning experience and make instructors more effective at transferring knowledge to students.
Being Tech-Savvy Is Key When Moving To VILT
In a VILT class, the virtual instructor needs to be able to juggle multiple technologies, such as the technology they are teaching, their own computer as well as questions their students may have about their own computers. Because of this, it is essential that instructors are comfortable with technology, so that they can seamlessly juggle multiple tech-related responsibilities.
Being Able To Effectively Communicate And Establish An Online Presence
Virtual instructors need to be intentional about creating a presence in their online courses to minimize the feeling of distance that inevitably comes with virtual learning. This online presence can be established by the way virtual instructors guide students through the learning process, the instructor’s specific personality and teaching style, and the connections instructors make with students (understanding the student’s specific learning objectives). In addition, effective communication helps to encourage a strong and healthy teaching environment.
Understanding How To Use Collaboration And Web Conferencing Tools Is Vital For An Effective VILT
Thanks to modern technologies, individuals can communicate with each other easily via web conferencing tools. These tools not only allow for collaboration with students but allow students to collaborate and communicate with one another. These tools are an integral part of teaching virtual classes. Hence, a virtual instructor with a firm understanding of them will deliver more effective online courses.
Being productive in a remote environment is key. Most virtual instructors are themselves remote employees, meaning they often work from home. This allows instructors to provide online instruction in a comfortable setting and gives them autonomy over their schedules. Because of this, virtual instructors must be self-motivated and able to stay productive outside of a “traditional” office setting. And with so many tools available to help individuals connect visually and vocally, there’s no reason that a lack of face time should detract an online instructor from being productive while working in a remote environment.
In addition to these specific skills, online instructors should also be able to help learners develop a deep understanding of content in a virtual environment and understand how students learn online (by being an online student themselves), being able to empathize with students while in a virtual training environment is crucial.
How To Properly Train VILT Instructors For The Virtual Classroom
We’ve reached the most important phase of all. Your VILT instructors are the core of your virtual training. Because teaching in the virtual classroom requires specific skills, it is very important to properly train your instructors. A successful training plan includes several steps.
First off, focus on teaching instructors how to use the VILT product. Ensuring they have a deep understanding of the environment and all tools is important. Tip: Once you’ve selected your virtual training software, contact the vendor’s customer success department to get a complete tutorial of their tool.
Helping instructors develop their presentation skills is of the utmost importance. For example, prior to an instructor “going live,” have them teach you or your team—and, record their presentation. Then provide constructive feedback to improve their online delivery skills. Optimization is key to every successful training strategy.
Encourage instructors to be more energetic and extroverted since they are not in the same classroom as students. This is difficult because being introverted/extroverted is often a personal characteristic. If possible, select instructors that already exhibit an extroverted personality for your online instructor positions.
Extra Steps To Increase Your Virtual Instructors’ Effectiveness
Another tip that might help is guiding instructors on how to change activities every 7 to 10 minutes (moving between lectures, demonstrations, virtual training labs, and Q&A). The best way to achieve this is to get the instructors comfortable with the virtual training software. If they are comfortable with the software they’re using, they are more likely to switch the class between lectures, labs, demonstrations, and Q&A.
Supporting instructors in trying new techniques and letting go of old habits is a must. After all, this is what you plan to accomplish. Leave traditional training methods behind. For example, in-person instructors are accustomed to seeing students’ facial expressions to judge class engagement. In virtual training, instructors have to get accustomed to using virtual training software to survey the class’s engagement level. Typically, this is achieved by using an "engagement monitor" or asking the students to update their statuses with emoticons.
Provide numerous opportunities to practice, practice, practice. It’s recommended that your instructor give at least three practice classes (to colleagues or family members) before going live. After each practice class, have the mock students provide the instructor with feedback.
Have new instructors attend online courses (as students) given by your most experienced instructors. This will give them valuable insights into how your best instructors manage their online classes, navigate through the curriculum and keep students engaged. This might give your new instructors ideas on how they could teach their own online course better.
Final Thoughts
No one ever said that effective training delivery was easy. However, taking the right steps can lead you to it. If you think about it, the benefits of online training are endless. The reason is simple: it gives you continuous and valuable training with less effort. By utilizing real-time, two-way communication you can create engaging online courses with ease.
Do you need more insights to help you decide if your organization is ready to move from in-person training delivery to Virtual Instructor-Led Training? This eBook VILT: Why Virtual Class Readiness Matters For Your L&D Team can help you reach a conclusion.