I don’t know about you, but prior to the coronavirus outbreak, I would not have been ready to quickly transition instructor-led training to online instruction. Even though I have worked in a large classroom that would allow for socially distance learning, I would not expect participants to travel or gather during quarantines, risking their health during a global pandemic. Not only have my corporate training counterparts addressed the challenges presented by expectations and realities, I see many friends and neighbors who work at all levels of public education working diligently and creatively to help students learn from home and online.
I have collected a few ideas that may help you plan and prepare as you re-design training to present your content in a virtual classroom setting.
- As always, it is important that your training include interactivity. Time and again, it has been proven this can improve engagement and retention, and now, you’re having to compete with the distractions that sometimes occur when a person is working and learning from home.
- Why not present scenarios and then use a survey feature in your webinar or training platform to solicit feedback from participants on how they would respond to the situation?
- Be sure you are using the online meeting platform’s interactive features. Is there a chat function? Is there an annotation feature that would allow participants or presenters to write and draw on the screen for everyone to see? How can you make those features work for you?
- Why not use roleplay? This will not only allow participants to practice their new skills, it can be an entertaining way to hold learners’ attention.
- As an example, I previous presented progressive discipline training with one participant in the role of supervisor and another participant playing the employee whose performance is lacking. You could easily send the details regarding each role to volunteers via chat functions or email when you’re training in a virtual space.
- Instead of table or group discussions, utilize the break-out group or room features in your online meeting platform.
- Do not require participants to be on camera, unless appearing is vital while he or she presents. First, some people may be camera shy, and others simply may not want to share while working from home.
- If available, you might want to enlist someone to help “drive” the training session. This person can manage break-out rooms, respond to chat questions, monitor survey responses, and take care of logistics and other concerns. This will allow you to focus on your presentation.
- Allow times for breaks. Like the classroom experience, your participants will need time to go to the restroom, refill their coffee, respond to calls or emails, or even check in on other family members who are working and learning from home.
- Don’t forget ice-breakers and chit-chat. I always enjoyed the conversations that happened between classroom sessions and have noticed those conversations continue to build relationships and camaraderie in an online space. Just be sure you don’t allow this to take over; stay on schedule.
- If your typical ice-breaker may be difficult to facilitate in a virtual space, why not have a show-and-tell? Invite (but do not require) participants to share a unique knick-knack, picture, or other object in their home that they can easily bring to their desk. It is a great get-to-know-you activity, and your participants may enjoy sharing a favorite vacation picture, a special collectible, or even introducing a pet who rests near their home office.
- A great conversation starter I’ve been hearing a lot lately asks others about what podcast, movies, series, or other media they’ve been streaming during quarantine. Your colleagues may will excited to share how they are spending time during socially distancing, and you (or another person within the session) may find your next favorite podcast or show!
As mentioned, I’m not sure those of us who were not already conducting virtual training were ready to convert our instructor-led pieces so suddenly, and I hope we can use this as a lesson to be prepared for almost anything. While I expect we will all continue to learn more about virtual training and its best practices, I highly anticipate the day we can return to the classroom spaces. Whether you use Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google platforms, or another system, I hope you find these suggestions helpful. If there is an idea you would like to share, be sure to leave a comment!