Engaging your Learners in VILT's

Video conferencing has been an ever-present factor in working with remote teams going back well over a decade now, but the pandemic was the real catalyst to making most users comfortable working with their camera on, even if there were etiquette issues that certain users needed to learn to handle.

As working with your webcam on has become the norm for team meetings, and not something we have to beg users to do, if you are working in the Learning and Development space, it can still be an issue that some instructors must deal with, and it is why it is important for all Virtual Led Instruction to always require learners to work with their cameras on.

But why?

When the webcam is on, the instructor has visual queues on how the learners are progressing. We can see if individuals are paying attention to the course. One issue for instructors is, are they effectively transferring the information to the learners? Are learners understanding the topic and learning it at the level its intended. Without seeing your learners faces, you might not notice if they are checked out, scrolling their phones, or doing other tasks instead of paying attention.

When speaking with Managers and Senior Leaders, this is a real concern. It is why they have voiced their preference for in person classrooms, especially if the course material is vital to the success of the business. They cannot afford to let individuals attend a course and not pay attention. In their opinion, training is important, it is not a vacation, it is part of their work and will help them improve in their job tasks.

So, with this, instructors, you must make sure that you keep the learners engaged with your content. You can start by getting your audience to introduce themselves at the beginning of the class, and asking them what their goals are. Make sure you write down their goals, and then deliver on their goals if they match what is being covered. We can use live polling such as the tools found inside of video conferencing software, or other other sources such as Mentimeter. Ask participants to answer questions live, and see the results. You can also use case-studies, and group individuals into teams, and have them present their findings. Other engagements can include creating games for learners to play that match the topic.

Keeping the class engaged is an important role for the instructor as much as delivering the material. Start by adding check in points while developing your course materials. Make sure you know exactly when you are planning to use them, and how they will be used. If you are using technology, test it before the class. Add it to your instructor guides as well, in case you need to have a substitute instructor teach the course. The better you prepare for your class, you are setting everyone up for success.