ILT or vILT: The What is, Why Should and How, Of It

If you are at the point where you’re considering how to train your employees while they work from home, or have always felt the need to move to a more easily accessible learning option to classroom training, read this to help you make that choice.Below is a quick discussion on how to prepare for the transition from ILT to vILT.

The “What is”

ILT or Instructor-Led Training refers to traditional classroom training, imparted by an Instructor in a classroom setting. Training is delivered to a small or large group via lectures or presentations or a combination of mediums.
vILT or Virtual Instructor-Led Training refers to the virtualization of the classroom environment. This is most beneficial when the trainer and learners are not in the same geographical location. The instructor and learners engage on an online platform and training is imparted in a simulated classroom.

The “Why Should”

Wondering why you should consider the shift from one to the other? Well, it really depends on the unique needs of your organization. Largely it makes sense to move to vILT if you have a large, dispersed workforce to train regularly. Bringing everyone together in a classroom might prove to be a scheduling and cost nightmare. Given the current shutdown where it’s an impossibility, vILT can ensure uninterrupted training delivery. Here are 3 key things to consider when you’re weighing your options:

1. Ease of Use & Accessibility: A level of comfort with virtual tools is required for learners in the vILT environment which it isn’t in the classroom setting. However modern vILT tools are fairly user-friendly. vILT allows a much larger number of users, in diverse geographical locations to access training at the same time.But in a classroom setting, learners do not multi-task while in session. In a vILT setting, participants can be only partially engaged without the trainer’s knowledge; muting the session, signing in but not truly attending etc, can be some concerns. Creating engaging, short session with a blended vILT approach that also incorporates assessments, online collaboration with peers and other such methods can solve such problems.

2. Training Experience: vILT courses are typical shorter than ILT ones and can be converted into multiple media for delivery. With efficient content localization services now available, there is minimal loss in translation and user experience. This can up the engagement and retention quotient amongst participants. Shorter courses can reduce training lethargy that sets in with longer ones. But here one must understand the learning objective. If it is best met in a smaller group, where reactions must be observed to ascertain training effectiveness, ILT might be the better option. Also, non-verbal cues from learners, available in a classroom setting, enables the trainer to adjust his pace and delivery. This might be much harder to do on an online platform. Also, you’ll have to assess how your training content can be broken up into shorter modules as that is the effective delivery method for vILT.

3. Cost: In the short and long run, vILT is the economical choice. Even though there is the initial time and cost expense of converting training material from ILT to vILT, once done, it can be endlessly used without additional expense. It eliminates the need for participants and instructors to travel to a central location and at the expense of productive man hours on the job. Set against the backdrop of a large, dispersed workforce to be trained, it is a significant cost to the company given the multiple trainings it must incur. vILT also allows more participants per training and recording software allows the same training to be made available for all, at convenience.

The How, Of It

Once you’ve made the decision of moving from ILT to vILT, the following points will help you make the transition:

1. Evaluate the training based on objective. This will help you ascertain what, if anything, needs to remain in the ILT mode and what can be converted. This will further help break training into modules and decide what media and method can be used to keep it engaging.
2. Evaluate the platform. Training delivery is also subject to the platform you choose and based on the functionality it has. Whether you go with a robust LMS that broadens the spectrum of available media and method, or go with a limited functionality collaborative platform, depends on your training objectives, frequency and interactivities.
3. Choose the right blend. See which parts of your trainings can be broken into different formats to keep it engaging – live sessions, tests, videos, tutorials etc.
4. Ensure Instructor and learner preparedness. A switch to a tech-enabled learning environment may require you to train both on the use of the technology. Instructors might further need to be coached on delivery on the new platform.

For more in-depth information, do go through the links to see some other blogs and resources that can help you further in your decision-making process.