Virtual Learning Reflections 2
Back in July I wrote a blog after running my first virtual training programme (https://www.garudax.id/pulse/virtual-learning-reflections-william-shorten/) and having done a few since I thought it would be worthwhile to give an update on what I have learnt since.
- Co-animation/co-facilitation is a real positive giving presenters and learners a rest, as well as a different perspective/voice/tone etc. Having the second pair of eyes, ears and hands, especially when one of you has the slide deck on their screen open is a great support and ensures things don't get missed - it can bring a new meaning to multi-tasking.
- Building on this is opportunity to utlise the chat function (on either Zoom or MS Teams) as a way of summarising, sharing different perspectives and providing new links to complement the subject is valued by participants. Furthermore for audiences who are being trained in a foreign language, who may have difficulty following all discussions, it provides a real time update of what is being said.
- Less is more. In the first sessions following the switch to online programmes there was a tendency to try to replicate the face to face approach and to try to utilise as much of the existing content as possible. Over time I have seen as a trainer, and learner, the advantage of reducing the amount of slides and focusing discussions on one or two key themes. Slides are brought in to support the speaker, rather than the other way round.
- As a trainer there has always been a need to adjust, however in a face-to-face setting there are other things to be able to utilise while you struggle with a problem. In the virtual world there is much less, especially if the issue is related to the technology. There is even more need therefore to be able to be agile and to be prepared to adjust in the moment.
- Try to introduce the learning in different ways. What new and innovative methods can you utilise? What can be used to make the training more ' sticky' to create a learning experience with more 'affective context' to make it memorable for the participants? Hopefully you don't have to go as far as playing a client for a hairdressing salon!
The virtual learning experience continues to grow as trainers and learners become more comfortable with it and more prepared to experiment. Nothing will replicate the opportunity that the face-to-face environment provides, however what was seen at the outset as a sizeable gap is quickly diminishing.
What else have you learnt and what innovations can you share?
Thanks William Shorten for sharing your experience on virtual learning. I appreciate your insights specifically #3 "less is more" as we should focus more on discussion and use the slide as tool and not a mean. Curious to see how this will influence habits when people will be back face-to-face.
Great update William. We are all learning to deal with where we find ourselves. New joys and new stresses alike... Thanks for sharing what you've observed.
thank you William Shorten, "less is more" is very relevant for any form of training especially virtual training. as Pareto would say 80% of the important stuff can be delivered in 20% of the scheduled time.
This is fantastic, Will. Thank you for sharing. I’ve definitely found that a more creative, engaging and sharing space works well virtually. Less is more, for sure. Thank you, William Shorten 😊
I think training and development is about to enter a golden era. Digital business requires so many new skills. As the global economy transforms, the C-Suite will invest heavily in scalable solutions.