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 Our learners perceive traditional training as outdated and ineffective.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.

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.

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.

Mobile learning’s on the rise, and for good reason.

Mobile technology, once a luxury, has become commonplace in our lives. We bank, read, socially interact, and more from a device that fits in the palm of our hand.

The Jetsons imagined a similar future, but did corporate training?

Are you interested in a work from home opportunity? Are you computer literate and a detail-oriented person? Do you have experience supporting WebEx Training Center, Adobe Connect, or any other virtual classroom platform? InSync Training wants to learn more about you! 

The modern learning landscape presents a unique set of challenges. Never before have learners had greater access to information, a greater drive to discover answers for themselves, or a greater number of demands on their time.

Formal training no longer provides the end-all-be-all solution for our organizations. While it has an important place in the instructional design line-up, it represents just one of many options we need to include in our blends.

By better understanding our audience, identifying a training solution, and transitioning to something new and innovative, we can improve the learning experience within our organizations.

In honor of International Women’s Day, InSync team members shared insights about working for a WBENC-certified Women’s Business Enterprise.

From Jennifer Hofmann, Founder & President

Over the years, InSync has grown to have more than 75 team members. And right now, more than 65 of them are women.

We didn’t start out to build a team of mostly women, that’s the way it turned out.

It turns out, InSync especially appeals to women. They tell me that they like the flexibility of being able to create literally their own schedules. Some work during the day, some work very early morning, and some work overnight. This gives them the flexibility to take care of other things in their lives like children or parents.

It also provides the opportunity to work at home while maintaining a professional resume. The women especially appreciate the ability to identify ways to take care of everything they need in their lives.

In the live online learning environment, instructional teams often struggle to truly connect with learners. We don't have the benefit of greeting our online learners with a smile as they enter our virtual space. So how do we create an inviting, warm, inclusive learning environment? From experience, it really comes down to our tone of voice and our words.

As virtual facilitators and producers, we have to be cognizant of our tone and our words. Our words are often the only part of us that our learners experience. When preparing for a session, ask yourself, “How empathetic and open am I to really hearing what participants have to say?” “Do my learners tune out because my tone of voice seems disinterested or unyielding?” If you answered “yes” to either question, make a conscious effort to inject warmth and authenticity into your voice. It’s a small step that makes a big difference.

BYTE session recap 

As we all know, visual learning aids are wildly popular. Learners respond to, and remember, colorful images related to the content being presented. Infographics in particular have gained popularity in learning programs in the past few years. Karin Rex, a nationally known facilitator specializing in soft and technical skills, recently joined our BYTE presenter ranks with her wildly popular session, Harnessing the Power of Infographics as Teaching Tools.

Referencing this BYTE content, this blog post defines infographics, highlights how they can help us learn, and the five composition elements you need to include in successful infographics for the purpose of learning. 

To review all of the examples, recommendations, and guiding principles Karin shared during her BYTE event, access the recording here.

BYTE Session Recap

As a follow-up to her informative session Engaging Modern Learners: When to Push and When to Pull, Jennifer Hofmann recently shared Pulling Learners to Your Content: How to Make it Work with our BYTE session attendees. Over the course of this engaging live online event, Jennifer and participants brainstormed on how to leverage social collaborative Pull learning during the various moments of learning need. This blog will share the highlights from their collaborative efforts.

To learn more about microlearning, and a more detailed review of social collaborative tools, access Jennifer’s full BYTE session recording here.