ATD Blog
The Secret to Breaking Down Resistance to Virtual Instructor-Led Training
Thu Aug 26 2021
Brought to you by
Content
Virtual instructor-led training (VILT) is easier to deploy, more cost effective, efficient, inclusive, and often produces better learning outcomes than traditional physical classroom training. It’s also better for the environment.
Virtual instructor-led training (VILT) is easier to deploy, more cost effective, efficient, inclusive, and often produces better learning outcomes than traditional physical classroom training. It’s also better for the environment.
Content
Yet VILT meets resistance from leaders, learners, and trainers because in the past the experience has been excruciating. Few people haven’t had the pleasure of sitting through agonizing VILT sessions. Death by voice over a PowerPoint delivered by a disengaged or clueless instructor has a bitter flavor.
Yet VILT meets resistance from leaders, learners, and trainers because in the past the experience has been excruciating. Few people haven’t had the pleasure of sitting through agonizing VILT sessions. Death by voice over a PowerPoint delivered by a disengaged or clueless instructor has a bitter flavor.
Content
The brutal truth is that with VILT, learner experience matters more than anything. Not the quality of the curriculum or content. Not the talent of the trainer. The experience.
The brutal truth is that with VILT, learner experience matters more than anything. Not the quality of the curriculum or content. Not the talent of the trainer. The experience.
Content
At Sales Gravy, we began our journey to deliver a better virtual learning experience with this basic acknowledgement:
At Sales Gravy, we began our journey to deliver a better virtual learning experience with this basic acknowledgement:
Content
In terms of emotional and social experience, nothing outweighs training and learning in a physical, dynamic classroom. Human interaction, collaboration, emotional connections, and social learning reach their apex in this environment.
In terms of emotional and social experience, nothing outweighs training and learning in a physical, dynamic classroom. Human interaction, collaboration, emotional connections, and social learning reach their apex in this environment.
Content
Therefore, to improve the virtual learning experience, our driving focus was to create as close a facsimile to in-classroom training as possible.
Therefore, to improve the virtual learning experience, our driving focus was to create as close a facsimile to in-classroom training as possible.
Content
First, consider your experience with traditional, old-school virtual training:
First, consider your experience with traditional, old-school virtual training:
Content
The primary visual focus are PowerPoint slides and screen shares (typically difficult to read on screen and heavy on bullet points).
The primary visual focus are PowerPoint slides and screen shares (typically difficult to read on screen and heavy on bullet points).
Content
The trainer rarely, if ever, shows their face on screen.
The trainer rarely, if ever, shows their face on screen.
Content
The participants rarely see each other and avoid being seen as much as possible.
The participants rarely see each other and avoid being seen as much as possible.
Content
The teaching modality is voice-over slides.
The teaching modality is voice-over slides.
Content
There is minimal interaction between the learners and the trainer and among the learners.
There is minimal interaction between the learners and the trainer and among the learners.
Content
Learners rarely interrupt when they have questions or disagreements.
Learners rarely interrupt when they have questions or disagreements.
Content
Because the trainer cannot see the participants, they are less likely to stop the presentation and ask questions that pull concerns to the surface based on a learner’s nonverbal expressions.
Because the trainer cannot see the participants, they are less likely to stop the presentation and ask questions that pull concerns to the surface based on a learner’s nonverbal expressions.
Content
Audio and video quality (if the trainer dares show their face) is poor.
Audio and video quality (if the trainer dares show their face) is poor.
Content
There is little on-screen movement or variety to keep learners engaged and visually involved.
There is little on-screen movement or variety to keep learners engaged and visually involved.
Content
Now, consider the elements of a dynamic physical classroom experience:
Now, consider the elements of a dynamic physical classroom experience:
Content
The visual focal point is the trainer.
The visual focal point is the trainer.
Content
Slides and visuals are in the background (typically projected on a screen).
Slides and visuals are in the background (typically projected on a screen).
Content
Participants can see the trainer’s facial expressions and body language as the trainer teaches, which provides context and additional meaning to words, language, and voice inflection.
Participants can see the trainer’s facial expressions and body language as the trainer teaches, which provides context and additional meaning to words, language, and voice inflection.
Content
The trainer’s movement, in front of the class and as they walk around and interact with students, keeps learners engaged.
The trainer’s movement, in front of the class and as they walk around and interact with students, keeps learners engaged.
Content
Learners can see each other and are more likely to form emotional bonds and feel part of a shared experience. Social learning is maximized.
Learners can see each other and are more likely to form emotional bonds and feel part of a shared experience. Social learning is maximized.
Content
Participants are more comfortable interrupting and asking questions when they don’t understand or disagree.
Participants are more comfortable interrupting and asking questions when they don’t understand or disagree.
Content
The trainer can see the participants’ body language and respond to unspoken questions, confusion, or disagreement and pull these issues to the surface for conversation.
The trainer can see the participants’ body language and respond to unspoken questions, confusion, or disagreement and pull these issues to the surface for conversation.
Content
Training delivery is dynamic, fluid, appropriately nonlinear, and interactive.
Training delivery is dynamic, fluid, appropriately nonlinear, and interactive.
Content
Learning is accomplished through breakouts, role-plays, interaction, conversation, laughter, and debate.
Learning is accomplished through breakouts, role-plays, interaction, conversation, laughter, and debate.
Content
Designing a new VILT experience that closely mimicked that of a physical classroom required us to rethink almost everything about how virtual training had been traditionally produced and delivered.
Designing a new VILT experience that closely mimicked that of a physical classroom required us to rethink almost everything about how virtual training had been traditionally produced and delivered.
Content
We reimagined the onscreen video experience and placed a premium on purpose-built virtual training sets along with production and switching technology to give the virtual classroom the look and feel of a live television experience.
We reimagined the onscreen video experience and placed a premium on purpose-built virtual training sets along with production and switching technology to give the virtual classroom the look and feel of a live television experience.
Content
We also focused on human elements that included getting trainer’s faces on screen and standing up as well as creating safe, interactive, engaging virtual classroom environments.
We also focused on human elements that included getting trainer’s faces on screen and standing up as well as creating safe, interactive, engaging virtual classroom environments.
Content
Finally, we tackled course design. We rebuilt visuals and media for onscreen consumption, resequenced curriculum elements to optimize learner engagement, optimized session length, integrated dynamic breakout rooms, and leveraged the learning management system to extend learning beyond the virtual classroom and improve communication.
Finally, we tackled course design. We rebuilt visuals and media for onscreen consumption, resequenced curriculum elements to optimize learner engagement, optimized session length, integrated dynamic breakout rooms, and leveraged the learning management system to extend learning beyond the virtual classroom and improve communication.
Content
It worked. The moment learners and their leaders entered our new virtual classroom sets you could see them mouthing “WOW!” We noticed:
It worked. The moment learners and their leaders entered our new virtual classroom sets you could see them mouthing “WOW!” We noticed:
Content
Participants were more engaged and showed up to class enthusiastic to learn.
Participants were more engaged and showed up to class enthusiastic to learn.
Content
Learning outcomes improved and outpaced physical classroom training.
Learning outcomes improved and outpaced physical classroom training.
Content
Trainers enjoyed their work and gained fulfillment from making an impact.
Trainers enjoyed their work and gained fulfillment from making an impact.
Content
Leaders booked more virtual training sessions.
Leaders booked more virtual training sessions.
Content
Organizations more readily blended and integrated VILT into learning and development initiatives.
Organizations more readily blended and integrated VILT into learning and development initiatives.
Content
The secret to gaining widespread acceptance for virtual training is delivering a legendary virtual learning experience. We created an experience that was so different from the low expectations that most people had for virtual training that it immediately changed perceptions and our VILT booking exploded.
The secret to gaining widespread acceptance for virtual training is delivering a legendary virtual learning experience. We created an experience that was so different from the low expectations that most people had for virtual training that it immediately changed perceptions and our VILT booking exploded.