For those of you who are out there doing trainings and are not in the virtual world yet, come to the 21st century because virtual training is here to stay.
Virtual training is here and it is converting your traditional classroom and making it more available to those outside your headquarters and more available to those around the world.
So what are the changes in training you need to keep up with right now?
Here are 5 cutting edge tips for staying relevant in the training world today from Becky Pike Pluth:
- Realize the success virtual delivery is having:
All virtual training is really doing is providing flexibility within training. You can do just-in-time training live and know that we’re still able to create that passion in our learners and still foster those relationships as long as we’re doing virtual training really well.
- Utilize the neuroscience of the brain:
What we know right now is that the brain really needs to have both the creative side as well as the linear side. We also need the prefrontal cortex which, is the part of our brain that takes information in, processes it and decides what to do with it. With this, make sure you are easing into your training updates so your learners can adjust to the new way of training. It’s important you make sure it’s clear you’re providing the opportunity for them to learn and discover. As the virtual training platform is expanding, utilize it slowly but surely.
- Make your training accessible:
It’s important that your participants can access your training from anywhere. Ask yourself, is one person able to use their smart phone and another use a laptop but still get the same training? Since life as we know it is on-the-go now, the virtual classroom needs to follow that. No longer can you just expect everyone to sit at their counsel and listening and learn. You need to consider they might be in the car in between calls and that is the only window you might get so you have to take advantage of it and make sure the training is still accessible on-the-go.
- Skip the long webinars:
One thing we have to keep in mind when planning our sessions, people might not have a full hour and a half to give to you, maybe they only have 45 minutes especially during the work day. Consider starting your virtual training at 8:10 a.m. instead of 8:00 a.m. This gives them time to get out of their prior meeting. Then, try ending your training at 8:50am. This will allow people to get in and out and still hear the training.
- Consider the Global Audience:
If your company has gone global, we need to consider time zones in order to accommodate those who want to join the virtual training. Plus, always consider your platforms bandwidth. If you have learners all over the world or not that far like in rural Oklahoma, you need to make sure your platform can ebb and flow with the bandwidth. Becky Pike Pluth recommends skipping video, using minimal music and minimal sound so no matter the wi-fi speed, your learners can still be part of the training.
These are just a few ideas surrounding that virtual classroom. It’s important to keep up with the changes in the trainings today and be prepared for even more changes tomorrow. Stay on top of your training game with these 5 tips from The Bob Pike Group.
If you’re curious to learn more about how to utilize the neuroscience of the brain, get Becky Pike Pluth’s book, Creative Training: A Train-the-Trainer Field Guide. This book combines decades of her personal training experience with excellent brain research about how to train easily, successfully and effectively. Get the book today!
