Virtual Instructor-Led Training

Virtual instructor-led training, sometimes referred to as ‘VILT training’ for short, is a training or educational regimen that takes place in a virtual environment, as opposed to a physical classroom, for example. Because there is an instructor present, education or training occurs in real-time as learners tune in from various locations by accessing a single video conferencing solution, like GoToMeeting or Zoom. Once the VILT session begins, the instructor can freely go through the lecture, lesson plan, or workshop model – whatever it may be – and users can chime in to ask questions or engage with any interactivity components of the lesson plan or training module.

Virtual instructor-led training examples may include webinars, live online, virtual training, and more. Remote learning applications can go by many different names depending on the industry and relevant applications, but they all exist to fulfill a common purpose – the dissemination of important knowledge, information, or training materials to a remote audience. A business could implement a virtual instructor-led training program to help onboard new hires, for instance. Or, if your organization needs to update its software or customer relationship management (CRM) platform, your company can utilize virtual training sessions to train employees and get everyone up to speed on the new systems.

Of course, businesses could choose to provide in-person training for these scenarios, too, but virtual training offers so much more flexibility and affordability – especially for organizations that have employees all over the country or all around the world. Increasingly, more businesses are allowing employees to work remotely and so it could be expected that virtual training solutions will continue to increase in popularity in the coming years as more technological advancements are made and greater features and capabilities are developed and implemented. 

There have been numerous advancements in virtual classrooms and remote training technology since the invention of the Internet. However, many remote-learning technologies saw huge advancements in capabilities and functionalities amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. As many businesses and organizations had to adapt to lockdowns and quarantines, remote training opportunities became a clear and obvious method of maintaining productivity even in remote settings. 

Virtual training programs can allow businesses to save money and resources, reduce training times for employees, and businesses that implement more virtual training opportunities for employees generally see higher employee retention. Additionally, businesses can choose to provide employees with ongoing access to training and educational resources to help employees develop their professional skills.

Virtual training solutions such as these can provide numerous benefits to businesses and employees alike. Businesses can utilize virtual training to not only train their employees but to upskill or even reskill those employees as businesses continue to find ways to adapt to improvements in technology and changing market demands and trends. Employees can also benefit greatly from virtual training solutions by improving their skill sets and advancing their careers. Virtual training is also plainly more flexible and convenient than most in-person training scenarios, which will be a vital asset as more businesses hire remote workers and allow workers to commit to a hybrid work schedule. 

Benefits of Virtual Instructor-Led Training

Doubtlessly, many people still remember the benefits of virtual training during Covid-19 outbreaks and quarantine lockdowns; indeed, the pandemic accelerated many virtual learning and training applications and thrust them into the limelight as viable solutions to help keep work and the economy going. Since then, virtual training has become commonplace in many larger businesses and higher education institutions. In a fast-paced world full of obstacles and challenges that come in many forms, virtual training allows companies and employees alike to make the most of their limited resources.

There are numerous benefits of virtual instructor-led training for businesses, employees, and their customers as well. Virtual training applications allow learners the opportunity to not only save time, but a VILT session can potentially be more accessible and inclusive by allowing users to revisit training materials or recordings of sessions. Virtual instructor-led training can also be customized to provide learners with different modules that cater to unique learning styles – giving users a better chance to retain and absorb material at their own pace in a method that works for them. 

Here are some of the advantages and disadvantages of virtual learning:

Advantages of virtual training – For businesses, virtual training checks a lot of boxes. It is generally affordable, and certainly more affordable than most in-person alternatives, and virtual training can allow for greater flexibility as well. Organizations can also leverage virtual training or learning to provide numerous opportunities for their employees. Virtual training can be used to train new hires, retrain existing employees, or provide supplemental learning opportunities so that employees can improve and enhance their skill sets.  For employees, virtual training saves time because it’s generally less intensive than in-person or classroom training settings, and employees can attend virtual training sessions to help improve their skills and potentially advance their careers as well.

Disadvantages of virtual training – Some learners simply prefer an in-person or classroom setting, and virtual training technology in its current state lacks the capabilities to replicate the in-person atmosphere adequately. Additionally, virtual training can only be successful if all users are connected to the Internet or a wireless data network. In the event of an internet outage or some other type of service interruption, users may not be able to connect or complete any assignments or surveys related to the training or learning materials. 

Additionally, some virtual training methods are better than others, and it certainly helps to have a skilled and experienced virtual training instructor who knows how to engage audiences and impart knowledge to them in a succinct and easy-to-understand manner. However, users can take a few steps to ensure that their virtual training sessions are effective and worthwhile. 

Firstly, it’s vital to create an engaging learning environment. This can help you keep your attention focused on the training materials and not on things in your immediate surroundings (like pets, television noise, music, posters, etc.). By turning your mobile device off or on silent, and muting other applications and desktop notifications, you can ensure that your attention remains firmly within the realm of the virtual training session. 

Virtual Instructor-Led Training Meaning

There are so many unique ways to utilize virtual instructor-led training, meaning your organization can implement VILTs for several different reasons. Virtual IT training labs can help your business onboard new hires much more quickly and efficiently than in-person training methods, especially if your business relies at least partly on remote workers. Virtual training can also provide key support to your most valued team members; when employees are happier and able to have access to VILT solutions that can help them improve their skills, they are more likely to be productive and successful at their jobs. 

Businesses can make the most of virtual instructor-led training initiatives by assessing existing business practices and by consulting employees and listening to employee feedback. What types of training sessions are your employees interested in? Are there aspects of their workflow that could be improved, or are there skills they would like to develop in order to do their jobs more efficiently or effectively? In other words, what do your employees need in order to improve productivity or the quality of their work? By engaging with questions like these, an organization can get a better sense of how to implement a virtual instructor-led training program more effectively. And once a solution has been implemented, the company can go back and ask for additional feedback to find out what employees liked, what they didn’t, and what was successful versus what wasn’t. 

Other virtual training labs can offer training for both employees and clients alike, depending on your organization’s needs. Virtual training labs offer greater accessibility to more individuals, and instructor-led training exercises still have an instructor present. If a user has a question about the training material, they are free to chime in and ask the instructor to receive an immediate answer instead of having to look up the answer on their own time or forgetting the material entirely. 

Facilitating virtual training opportunities for new hires can help streamline the onboarding process while ensuring that new employees all receive the same training materials and instructions. Providing employees with supplementary training opportunities to enhance their skills can both increase productivity and workflow efficiency and decrease employee turnover rates simultaneously. Employees are generally less likely to look for work elsewhere if they feel their current employer values the work they contribute and invests in their development as employees by providing regular supplemental training sessions and career advancement opportunities. 

What VILT means for your company is largely up to how you decide to implement virtual training. More organizations are relying on remote workers to help their businesses succeed in the modern world, and it’s likely that remote and hybrid work schedules are going to be here for the foreseeable future. Companies that learn to leverage virtual instructor-led training solutions effectively will likely be in a better position than their competitors who do not. By utilizing virtual training solutions for your company, you can better prepare for impending industry changes and economic uncertainty.

Learn more about how Skytap can support your virtual training.