8 Tips to Improve your Virtual Training Experience

Due to the pandemic, many training facilitators had to make some changes to their training, and during the pre-pandemic period, many of us taught a full schedule of instructor-led courses. However, because of lockdowns and stay-at-home orders, most in-person trainings were cancelled and postponed.

Travel restrictions, budget cuts, and the transition of the workforce to remote work have led many companies to rethink how they continue to meet the training needs of their employees. It now appears that digital learning, specifically virtual training, has become the most widely used form of training.

If you are new to online training, you will find that moving from traditional to virtual classes is not a huge event. However, there are some distinct differences.

There are plenty of books, online tutorials, and blogs for trainers who are looking for tips to hone their virtual coaching skills. In this article, we are going to share with you 8 tips to improve your virtual coaching experience.

1. Set the ground rules for sharing:

Just like in a traditional classroom, setting ground rules helps anticipate participation in class. Some ground rules include: resist distractions, close your office door, mute your phone if you encounter any background noise, close any other applications on your computer, raise your hand virtually if you have a question or comment and contribute to the discussions by writing in the chat area and answering polls.

Ask for the participants' consent because they may not know what to expect. For example, ask your group: "Does everyone agree to be fully engaged and involved during the session?"

2. Master the work on a training programme:

Not all virtual training programs are created equal. A powerful program includes tools and features such as content sharing "PowerPoint slideshows", chat, polls, annotation tools, virtual whiteboard, raise hand, agree and disagree button, sub-chat rooms, and application sharing.

You need to understand both the capabilities and limitations of your software. In most cases, the more tools you have available, the more engaging your course will be. However, if you are limited by the tools, you will need to identify some alternative solutions and activities for interaction and engagement.

3. Create an emergency plan:

In the virtual classroom, you will use more technology than in the traditional classroom. With such a heavy reliance on technology, things can and will go wrong. So, plan to address these obstacles and identify some contingencies and alternative solutions.

Consider having a session producer or facilitator who can help with all the details and technical issues. Also, have a second computer on your desk to check back on periodically, so you can see what the participants are watching at any time.

Skilled virtual training facilitators don't magically avoid all problems, but they prepare themselves to deal with them if they arise.That's why you always have to put an alternative.

4. Divide the text of the written speech:

Don't include the entire text on your slides, but keep it for your lesson plan. The text on the slides of the virtual class should focus on the main tasks or ideas "one idea per slide". If necessary, create downloadable handouts or post-course work aids for additional or good-to-know information.

5. Motivate to participate:

A well-designed virtual classroom session will keep your learners engaged every three to five minutes. There will be great opportunities for your learners to participate using the different classroom tools. It is important that you give them specific guidance on using these tools. Participants should be encouraged and reminded to participate, especially in the online environment. Tell them at the beginning that everyone must participate.

6. Ask questions and wait for responses:

When you ask learners a question, how do you want them to answer it? Do you want them to answer you verbally? Or do you want them to raise their hand virtually? Or do you want them to write their answer in the chat room? With so many options available, it's a good idea to be precise with your instructions. For example, you can have everyone respond to the following question in a chat board, and you can address participants by name when only one person should respond.

7. Invest in the power of your voice:

Effective use of your voice is critical to your success as a virtual training facilitator. Pay close attention to volume, tone, speed, and overall voice. Speak fast enough so that learners do not get bored, yet slow enough that they can follow you successfully.

It is best practice to say no more than 150 words per minute, and remember that in the virtual class non-verbal communication is minimal, so it is very important to use verbal communication skills as effectively as possible.

8. Invest in feedback in improvement:

Success in online training depends on development. Accept your mistakes and consider them an opportunity to learn, grow, and develop. Ask for feedback from learners on the following elements of your presentation, discussion style, tone of voice, choice of words, rate of speech, and clarity of activity instructions. Another option is to get feedback from a trusted colleague or manager who has noted the performance of your virtual class. You can also participate in virtual exercises whenever possible. It's a great way to see what works and what doesn't.

Virtual training opens up a whole new world in the field of learning and development. If you are new to virtual training, start with it while you are fully aware of what you offer. Learn as much as you can, ask, hone your skills, and practice.

There is a beautiful quote by American football coach Vince Lombardi “Practice does not make things perfect, but perfect practice helps you achieve perfection.”