As we deal with more demands on our time and new generations join the workforce, engaging learners and helping them become successful at their jobs becomes more and more challenging.

When trying to create training that sticks, expert Lou Russell overcomes modern workforce obstacles by focusing on three elements: fun, fast, and flexible. In fact, her approach to facilitation acknowledges that, “The brains that we have are not geared toward multitasking, and as we are trying to juggle a lot of things, we change – for me, I change topics every fifteen minutes or every hour.”

What does creativity have to do with corporate training? Jenny Holt answers this question and challenges the idea that serious learning only happens within scholarly activities.

Art may not seem like an obvious thing to introduce into your training sessions, but the benefits are tangible. Companies that foster creativity are three and a half times more likely to achieve revenue growth of 10% or more than their peers, a study by Adobe and Forrester found. When you participate in art-related tasks, dopamine, a feel-good chemical, is released in the brain —  this alone will create happy, motivated learners. Moreover, art has plenty of other mental benefits which can improve your team's’ ability to retain information, concentrate, and solve problems.  

When we think of corporate learning, rarely do “fun and games” come to mind. More often than not, compliance training pops into our heads, characterized by endless slide decks, droning SMEs-turned-facilitators, and uncomfortable days spent in a classroom. Folks, training has a reputation problem. Our learners perceive traditional training as outdated and ineffective.

But, blended learning provides an opportunity to change minds. Designers can select unique, engaging treatments for each learning objective. Facilitators transition from a “sage on the stage” to a “guide on the side.” Learners regain control over their learning experiences and prioritize the skills they most need to build.

Gamification and game-based learning, when used appropriately within a blend, supports all the key actors in modern learning.

It was a dark and stormy Tuesday, and all across the globe seasoned virtual classroom facilitators faced a malicious monster: a modern classroom meltdown. “What happened?” you inquire.

Well, the things that go bump in the night during training programs seem innocuous enough, but they send shivers down the spines of training practitioners and scare modern learners from engaging in future programs.

Two particularly terrifying tales may have you preparing for your next training session a little more seriously.

To be or not to be in the virtual classroom – that is the question, right?

Well, to find the answer for your training, take this quick quiz.

Virtually There Session Recap

Many teams now include dispersed members. Whether your team includes employees in different buildings within the same region, or you lead a virtual team where everyone works from home, if you contribute to a global organization with groups on different continents, learning experiences can often prove to be tricky with limited face-to-face interaction.

Experienced designers and facilitators recognize the power of social learning to overcome the challenges commonplace for today’s workforce. Daila Boufford, Manager of Learning Design for Ansrsource, knows first-hand how thoughtful design which includes social learning can combat learner disengagement and improve overall team cohesion.

What steps can you take to ensure social learning success? Daila recommends three approaches.

Happy Virtual Classroom Producer Day!

Today marks our second annual celebration of the behind-the-scenes wizards who ensure our live online sessions go off without a hitch. They possess unparalleled superpowers – guiding learners through technical challenges, supporting facilitators as they deliver content, and helping achieve business goals in the modern classroom.

Ask your senior leadership what they believe most impacts the business’ performance, and you’ll likely get a variety of answers. “Corporate culture!” one might say. Perhaps operational efficiency or improved training come to mind.

Expert Marjorie Derven believes that one oft-overlooked initiative can make all the difference: Diversity & Inclusion (D&I).

Flipping the classroom marks a big step towards truly modern learning. Organizations, for a variety of reasons, have transitioned face-to-face training content to the virtual classroom. The process, complicated by the very nature of including technology in learning, can become even more difficult without the right instructional support.

In the two decades that InSync has designed, delivered, and supported virtual training, one factor has proven essential for success: the virtual classroom producer.

A hallmark of our approach, we encourage all teams hoping to incorporate live online sessions into the blend to seriously consider investing in this invaluable resource.

This month, guest contributor Jenny Holt explores the helpfulness of technology in supporting both virtual learners and virtual teams.

Studies show that conversation between colleagues boosts performance by 20%, but this can be challenging to make the most of when remote teams are increasingly split across the globe.

Training is an area of business where communication is absolutely key - the prevalence of remote and virtual teams places even more responsibility on the virtual trainer to bring teams together regularly and enable meaningful interaction between members. There are various aspects of technology that can be used effectively to make the training experience more streamlined, while also boosting overall team performance in the process.