If your organization is like most, you have a wealth of classroom courses that you would like to convert to virtual instruction. While this is clearly possible, it does take some effort. This blog entry and the two that follow will help you along your way.
I recommend that you initially sit down with your instruction and assets (e.g., handouts, Web links, and media) and determine the quality of your classroom materials. Are they serviceable? If not, you may as well start from scratch. If they are, begin by creating an instructional plan that clearly identifies what you intend to do, when you intend to do it, and what tools you will use. You might want to create your plan by filling out a Virtual Instruction Planning Form. Below is one element of a completed plan that you could use as a place to begin.
Virtual Instruction Planning Form
| Element |
Strategy |
Tools |
Assets |
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| Present information |
1.Discuss what strategies participants have found useful in the past.
2. Take notes and clarify, enhance, or add to participants’ comments to reflect the recommended steps for calming irate callers.
3. Distribute and summarize the techniques that your department would like your customer service agents to use. |
1. Audio/chat/polling
2.Whiteboard |
Document: Steps in calming irate participants |
Below is a blank copy of the full Virtual Instruction Planning Form that you can use. Be sure to complete each row, since each represents one of the elements of successful virtual instruction.
Virtual Instruction Planning Form
| Element |
Strategy |
Tools |
Assets |
| Preparation and administration |
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| Gain attention and establish relevance |
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Introduce yourself and others
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| Identify objectives and set expectations |
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| Present information |
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| Conduct demonstrations |
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| Ask and answer questions |
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| Initiate and manage discussions |
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| Promote interaction |
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| Utilize assessments and evaluations |
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| End with a bang |
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Customizing or creating virtual instruction is more demanding than putting together face-to-face training. In a face-to-face class, you have a great deal of social presence by virtue of your being physically in the same room. Simply put, social presence is the degree to which each person is able to command the attention of others when they are communicating. Most people become trainers because they have a high degree of social presence. Many worry that their charisma will not translate into the virtual environment, and that is a very reasonable fear.
One way to make up for the lack of social presence in virtual instruction is to have great materials, so that you do not have to wing it and rely upon your charm. Having an outstanding presentation with valuable handouts takes the pressure off you. With high-quality materials, you don’t have to perform with no net and rely upon your charm. Since this is not a book on creating blockbuster presentations, I won’t give you my opinions on how you can come across as a magnetic force of nature in the personality department. Rather, I will simply provide you with guidelines for translating your successful face-to-face instruction into huge virtual successes.
Put Your Instruction on a Diet
Virtual audiences will not tolerate a long instructional segment. I was shocked to learn that most major television national news stories are only 2 to 2.5 minutes long, with 30 seconds being allotted for local pieces. Strive to make your virtual instruction modules about 45 to 60 minutes long. By the way, do not make your modules less than 20 minutes. Attendees tend to feel than anything less than 20 minutes is trivial and not worth their time.
Analyze Your Audience
Since you will not be able to make judgments on the fly, you will need to thoroughly analyze the people who will be attending your instruction beforehand. Will the size of your audience be changing? You need to know that so that you can adjust your instruction accordingly. You can incorporate more audio, flexibility, and collaboration with smaller audiences than you can with larger ones. With larger audiences, you commonly need to restrict attendees’ ability to speak and to share chats with the rest of the group.
One way or another, you need to determine how many participants will attend, who they are, how the instruction is relevant to them, and their history with regard to the topic. Also, be very clear about what you would like attendees to do as a result of your instruction, such as buy a product or fix a software glitch. Regardless, focus your instruction primarily on what is most important to them, so that you can achieve the goal that is important to you.
Kindly share your ideas. I look forward to hearing from you.
I you would like to continue this discussion, please contact me using the “Contact Us” tab on my website http://www.fttraining.com/
