While challenges of 2020 have caused a lot of stress and uncertainty, they have also provided ample opportunities to learn, grow, and adapt. One way that businesses have pivoted their learning and development experiences to solve for more remote workforces, fewer opportunities to gather in groups, and budget changes has been to transition their instructor-led training (ILT) to virtual instructor-led training, allowing for training to still be facilitated by a knowledgeable instructor but in a virtual environment instead of an on-site classroom.
Here's how organizations are successfully handling these changes and moving toward a more flexible and adaptive future.
ILT to vILT Conversion Best Practices
- Decide on a rollout strategy: If you’ve decided to start converting your instructor-led training courses to a virtual format, the most successful way to do so is in stages. Undertaking a rollout for an entire training strategy that takes curriculum from one format to another is a big undertaking; rushing can end up setting you back completely if you’re not careful about testing your platforms and addressing errors. Strategic planning lets you execute and troubleshoot one course or class before rolling out more, which will lead to a better learner experience and more widespread adoption of vILT.
- Create and test your feedback channels: Interactivity, engagement, and learner feedback are the reasons most cited for organizations choosing instructor-led training sessions. Finding ways to successfully replicate this in vILT is key. Most vILT platforms include options like polls, virtual whiteboards to brainstorm, live interactive chat features that offer the ability for participants to ask and answer questions, and even breakout rooms, so smaller groups within the larger class can work together and collaborate. During your ILT to vILT transition, you’ll want to decide which features make sense for which courses and how they can best be written into course blueprints and scripts. Then make sure you take your software and platforms for a test run to make sure that everything works the way you want before you ever bring a class in to experience it.
- Choose the right moderator and facilitator: While the courses may be virtual, they still need to be instructor-led. Having an online moderator to work with an instructor helps keep the virtual experience flowing smoothly so that the instructor can focus on teaching and the moderator can help handle administrative communication. It’s also important to find an instructor that has experience or training for virtual classes. In vILT, there are new tech components that are different from teaching in front of a class in person, as well as a different pacing that’s important to get right to create an immersive, engaging, and effective experience.
- Curate and cull your content: Transitioning your ILT content to a vILT format is a great opportunity to assess the content and curriculum you’ve been using and either refresh it for the new course delivery method or remove it from the curriculum. Have you received feedback in previous classes or after sessions that certain parts were boring or confusing? Do you recognize that there are certain elements that won’t translate to an online format? Does something just not apply to your industry anymore in this new normal? Consider removing or changing these parts before finalizing your vILT syllabus.
- Prepare learners for success: You can help students hit the ground running in their new virtual environments by sending out information ahead of the class that includes a guide for the learning platform: how to use various tools, who to contact if there are technical issues, and other relevant information for first-time virtual participants.
If you want more information regarding if vILT is the right learning solution for you, or have more questions about transitioning your instructor-led training to a virtual format, we can help. Schedule a complimentary consultation with our team today to discuss your learning and development goals.