Virtual Instructor-Led Training (VILT)

Instructor-led training is the traditional form of training that occurs face-to-face in a classroom environment. The other popular type of training is online training. Online training are courses that are available to learners asynchronously through an online learning platform. Virtual instructor-led training (VILT) is a combination of sorts. When learners and trainers are in separate locations but need a live interaction.

Virtual instructor-led trainings are becoming increasingly popular in organizations because they share the time and cost benefits of online learning but also share the interaction benefits of instructor-led training. Virtual instructor-led training should not be treated as if they were one or the other, however. Engaging learners through a virtual instructor-led poses its unique problems.

Engaging Learners in a VILT

1. Get to know the features. Virtual instructor-led training is usually conducted within a meeting application such as GoToMeeting. Using the characteristics of these types of tools can help your course become more interactive. Some of the features offered include polling, giving learners annotation rights, and the ability to share PowerPoint decks.
2. Iron out technical glitches. Test out all your materials before the training begins. Make sure you know how to navigate the meeting application and all its features. When the training starts, have learners put themselves on mute (or put them on mute if the system allows). This will avoid any interference from all the different phones on the line.
3. Allow learners to collaborate. Include breakout rooms in the design of your lesson. Breakout rooms are a practical way to send learners into their own space to work together on a particular class. Have learners engage in a private discussion about a topic. They can even use the Internet to find more information. When all the small groups are ready, they are reunited in one room once again to discuss as a large group.
4. Open the training with an ice breaker activity. Ice breaker activities can set the mood for the practice. Choose a fun way for learners to get to know each other. For example, displaying a map and having learners annotate where they are from. You can have learners submit a picture of their favorite place in their home town and talk about it. You could also type out an open-ended question and have learners annotate the screen to share answers.
5. Training continues after the call ends. At the end of the training, share documents with learners, and follow up with learners to be sure they received them. Ask learners for feedback regarding the training. What did they find useful or engaging? Find out if the training helped them on the job, and if it did not, what could have been done differently?

Schedule a live demonstration of Trakstar Learn today.

To better integrate virtual instructor-led training into your organization, use a learning management system (LMS) like Learn. Request a demonstration of the Learn platform to see for yourself how easy the Learn LMS is to use.