However, traditional corporate ILT isn’t ideal in all scenarios. As the coronavirus outbreak forced businesses all across the country to shutter their doors and embrace the work-from-home approach, in-person training isn’t an option.
Luckily, there is an alternative available. With virtual ILT (vILT), companies can offer the same instructional experience regardless of whether everyone can be in the same physical space. If you want to convert corporate ILT to vILT, here are some tips that can help.
Invest in the Right Equipment
Much of the vILT experience is like traditional in-person training. The instructor gives a live lecture, sharing critical information with the participants.
The primary difference is the delivery mechanism. vILT is web-based. The instructor is still speaking live but is relying on equipment like microphones and webcams when speaking to the learners.
Subpar equipment mars the experience. For example, without a high-quality microphone, the instructor’s voice doesn’t come through clearly. This could make it harder for participants to hear what is being said, inhibiting the knowledge exchange.
Similarly, if the webcam is low-end, the image may be blurry. Not only can this keep students from being able to see the instructor as well, but it also prevents them from viewing supporting materials with ease. If the instructor typically relies on visuals, such as posters or whiteboard diagrams, that further harms the experience.
If you want to keep your learners engaged, invest in the right equipment. Ensure that the instructor has access to a high-quality microphone and webcam. Ideally, you also want to give everyone access to web conferencing software with screen-sharing capabilities, as this allows the instructor to create a virtual whiteboard or presentation, substituting for any in-person visual elements they would typically use.
Adjust the Content as Needed
In some cases, converting ILT to vILT requires more than just making the session available online. At times, you may need to adjust the content itself.
With the vILT approach, learners are typically away from the office when they participate. They may encounter distractions that don’t occur in a classroom or may struggle with engagement, especially if any group participation sections have to be cut due to the change in format.
Before you take an ILT course and present it as-is virtually, consider whether it should be shortened or lengthened. If a substantial amount of the core material can’t be converted to a vILT format, it’s possible that the content needs to be expanded to ensure that it provides value. If the content may be hard to digest in a single vILT session, then breaking it up into multiple modules might be a better approach.
Are You Looking for L&D Talent Who Can Help Convert Your ILT to vILT?
Ultimately, most ILT courses can be updated to accommodate the vILT approach. If you need to make the switch, the professionals at Clarity can help you find the right L&D talent to make it happen. We have over 25 years of experience in the L&D field and can make identifying the L&D candidates you need as simple as possible. Contact us to find out more about our comprehensive services, and see how our L&D expertise can benefit you.
