Virtual training is the training done in a virtual or simulated environment where the learners and trainer are in different locations but through a virtual medium. Virtual training is designed to simulate a traditional classroom.
Because of the pandemic, every company was forced to shift its training to virtual. Forced into lockdown made more people stick to the online mode of work which helped virtual training get unprecedented attention. Thanks to virtual classroom platforms and high-speed internet which made the transition easy and smooth.
Virtual training best practices:
1)Greet and engage with learners:
As soon as the learners enter the call, try to greet them and ask for any doubts from the previous session. This will make them engage more with the trainer and break the ice if the classes are in the initial stage and everyone is almost a stranger to each other.
Try to start the session 10 minutes early for a quick Q&A and ask for feedback and check the progress of projects if assigned to anyone.
2)Set the rules:
A fixed set of rules and regulations which apply to all the people involved should be set. Some rules like:
Not allowed into the class after fixed timings.
No disturbance during the class.
Q&A only after the class.
Some other things like turning on the camera to create more engagement and to avoid learners from deviations can be incorporated. But rules like this are subjective and depend on the comfort of learners and trainers.
3)Ask Questions in between:
It’s hard to feel the presence of the trainer in a virtual set-up, so ask more questions in between to engage and elongate the attention span of learners. Ask questions related to the topic to understand the degree of understanding and how attentive the learners are.
4)Use Videos and animations:
Use interactive elements, videos, and animations for a better understanding of the topic and anything visual can keep learners more engaged.
Include multiple-choice questions at the end of the slide and ask the learners to answer the questions in the class itself.
5)Create social media groups:
Create different groups based on the tasks assigned which allows them to interact with each other and come out with the best solution possible. Select a representative for each group and get feedback regarding the performance and involvement of each person.
6)Do the basics:
Before starting the session ask the learners to comment in the chat or raise their hand(via an icon) in case they have anything important to say and check the audio and video clarity is good. Ask the learners to mute their mic to avoid unwanted noise and use headphones for better audio clarity. Give occasional breaks to avoid a lapse in concentration.
7)Create more engagement:
Keeping the learners engaging should be one of the primary motives of any training program. Use anecdotes depending on the subject been taught and engage the learners. There’s no certain formula for this, use real-life examples and scenarios depending on the subject you are dealing with.
Conclusion:
A successful virtual training session is tuff to pull off considering the complications. But with adequate preparation and proper communication between the trainer and learners, it can be successful. Try to be or prompt and keep it as interactive as possible. So, these are some of virtual classroom training best practices.
