Competent virtual facilitators have quite a few enviable skills.

They’ve been trained on the nuances of how to teach virtually and have mastered their virtual classroom platform. (Zoom, WebEx, Adobe Connect, etc.) They consider the principles of adult learning throughout every delivery. They manage the entire experience. And so much more!

The infographic associated with this post provides a pretty detailed list of the qualifications and responsibilities of a good virtual facilitator, in a “job posting” format. (Download here and feel free to adapt for your own use!)

Even though virtual classroom platforms have existed for over 20 years, many learners and learning professionals struggle to thrive in this environment.

One of the reasons is that the same technology "bells and whistles" that designers and facilitators use for engagement activities can distract and overwhelm our audiences.

Think back to the last webinar or virtual training session you attended. I’m willing to bet that you divided your attention between the event and other things like email, lunch, or a pressing project.

We don’t judge! Even the most committed learners and seasoned virtual classroom experts have a tendency to multitask in this learning environment. And for good reason – we all juggle an increasing number of competing priorities, and our organizations keep decreasing the amount of time available for learning.

The virtual classroom offers a flexible, dynamic learning environment for modern learning blends. We often think about questions such as:

• When can we most appropriately incorporate virtual classrooms into our instructional designs?
• How do we best leverage virtual classroom tools like chat, breakout rooms, and synchronized web browsing?
• What techniques can facilitators use to engage learners when we can’t see them face-to-face?

But one question often gets overlooked: How can the instructional team advocate for virtual learners?

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.

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.

First impressions are key to developing rapport with learners in any classroom, but especially in the virtual environment. Facilitators in the virtual classroom must grab the attention of the learner right away and keep it to be successful here.

When trainers fill their delivery with verbal crutches, learners get distracted and possibly annoyed.

Virtually There Session Recap

When thinking about designing or facilitating live online learning, what scares you the most? For many, the technology feels like an intimidating part of the equation.

• What if learners can’t navigate the environment?
• What if we lose audio in the middle of the Subject Matter Expert presenting key information?
• What if the slide deck fails to load within the platform?

What is there left to learn about designing, producing, and facilitating virtual learning? So much! This blog is the second in a series recapping the recent Virtual Classroom Panel hosted by eLearning Guild during their 2018 Learning Solutions Conference. Read the first post, What are the Biggest Virtual Classroom Tool Challenges? Experts Say…

With all the virtual tools in all the land, creating successful live online learning programs requires planning. How do we set people up for success in this training environment? What do we, as the people designing and facilitating the learning experience, need to do in order to create a really positive virtual experience?