Virtual training is simply training that is offered over the internet. It allows universal training, regardless of your employees’ locations. That is one of the reasons that it has become so popular. The other reason, of course, is that it is easy on the budget. No travel expenses, logistical challenges, or conference room rentals and meal planning. Virtual training is effective, economical, and versatile.
So why isn’t everybody using it? The main reason that virtual training has been unsuccessful in the past is that it can easily become boring, allows for too many distractions, or inhibits engagement.
By providing your virtual training with engaging content, enhancing the learning environment, and facilitating effective communication, you can combine employees with training that offers consistent and effective training at a fraction of the cost of traditional training sessions.
Engaging Virtual Training Content
If you have tried virtual training in the past and felt it was not providing what you need in a training program, it may be because employees did not find it engaging. if the training is boring, it becomes less effective and employees will not willingly engage. As a virtual trainer, you can not engage with your audience with eye-to-eye contact, and participants may begin to feel that they are receiving a lecture rather than training. To avoid this, at appropriate, regular interviews, stop for questions. Without making participants feel like they are being tested, ask what they think about the topic just covered or if they have had experience with the situation before.
Though you are training through technology, humanize the experience by greeting each participant as they join the session, asking for feedback, and asking open-ended questions that require more than just yes or no answers. Use participants’ names to further personalize the experience.
Enhancing the Virtual Learning Environment
It can be easy to get distracted when participating in a virtual learning environment. Participants may be at their desks at work, at home, or in a hotel. With employees working remotely or with large companies with several locations, participants can face distractions such as work announcements and meetings, and interruptions from other technology such as their phone or other devices.
Though you may not have complete control over distractions, you can provide virtual learning that is engaging, educational, and, yes, even enjoyable. In addition to personalizing the training, keep the participants engaged by offering different modes of communication to enhance their learning experience. Try alternating between videos, slide presentations, and Q&A sessions. Offer information in a format that is conversational and easy to understand. Give examples. Tell a joke. Keep them listening.
Facilitating Effective Communication
Effective communication means that not only are your participants listening, they are also interacting, and you are listening. Depending on the size of your training session and the logistics, you may be able to promote discussions among groups within your larger training group. When respondents feel comfortable, they tend to ask questions and contribute opinions.
Often, by presenting scenarios, participants must use their training to find solutions to problems. Use examples to promote understanding. Ask questions to facilitate effective communication between yourself and the participants and among the participants.
Implementing Best Practices for Optimal Virtual Training Outcomes
Implementing best practices for optimal virtual training outcomes starts with the trainer. The facilitator or virtual training must work to engage the participants while keeping them focused and interested. They must be tech-savvy enough to work with different modes of media presentation and skilled in all phases of training and effective communication.
Miller Tanner Associates has created an innovative approach to virtual training that offers the optimal outcomes for your organization. With our years of experience, MTA knows the exact approach to finding what works and tailoring that program to fit your needs. Contact us today to find out how we can make your virtual training successful.
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