How to Engage Participants in Online/Virtual Setup?

As trainers we are aware about the various learning styles. They are primarily divided in to three - Visual, Auditory (Aural) and Kinesthetic (Tactile), or V-A-K for short. The VAK Learning Styles Model was developed by psychologists in the 1920s to classify the most common ways in which people learn. Each individual typically has a dominant learning style. According to the model, most of us prefer to learn in one of three ways: visual, auditory or kinesthetic (although, in practice, we generally "mix and match" these three styles).

Visual: a visually-dominant learner absorbs and retains learning and information better when it is presented in the form of pictures, infographics, diagrams and charts.

Auditory: an auditory-dominant learner prefers listening to what is being presented. S/he responds best to voices. They are comfortable learning through an engaging lecture or a group discussion. 

Kinesthetic: a kinesthetic-dominant learner prefers a physical experience. S/he likes a "hands-on" approach and responds well to being able to touch or feel an object or learning prop.

There is also a variation on the acronym, developed by New Zealand-based teacher Neil D. Fleming, called VARK?, or visual, auditory, reading/writing, and kinesthetic.

Reading/Writing: a reading-or-writing-dominant learner uses repetition of words and writing. 

Of course there is an overlap with visual and auditory styles, as words and writing can be both, but, commonly, a person who prefers to learn this way remembers or organises things best in their mind by taking down notes.

Trainers, Facilitators, Coaches, Educators, Faculty-members, Instructors, executives, or anyone for that matter who engages with others online/virtually, all need to keep in mind that their audience is going to have a combination of V-A-K Learners. We know it is difficult to keep the leaners focussed during an online/virtual session. Moving from offline to online how do we engage our V-A-K learners and maximise their new ROTI (Return on Time Invested)? Time of essence for everyone. Attention spans during online/virtual sessions is dwindling each passing day. So then how can we convey more and effectively in a shorter duration? What worked as an effective classroom/offline trainer/facilitator may not guarantee effectiveness as an online/virtual trainer/facilitator, or coach, or educator, or faculty, or leader/manager. 

Here are some tips to make our online/virtual sessions more engaging, impactful and effective for all learners.

Few tips to virtually engage Visual Learners:

- Use of visual aids. This can benefit most other learners too

- Using the language of visual learners such a ‘let us see….’, ‘can you picture this….’, ‘have a look at….’, etc.

- Use of pictures, colours and animation

- Adding metaphor to create an impactful visual connection

Few Tips to virtually engage Auditory Learners:

- Encouraging small-group or peer discussions on a topic

- Using sounds and voice modulation

- Having the leaners read out some part of the content aloud

- Introducing various acronyms to explain a topic

- Hearing their own voice by repeating something back to trainer/facilitator is also helpful

Few Tips to virtually engage Kinesthetic Learners:

- Engage them in a virtual role-plays

- Have them bring things from their surroundings

- Have then draw or create something physically such as origami

- Induce body movements during the session

- Use the language to convey bodily sensations such as ‘it was very warm to touch’, ‘I felt the cool breeze in my hair’, ‘today it is particularly humid’, etc.

As a trainer/facilitator or someone leading a session, we need to remain mindful of our own preferred learning style. Why is this important? The reason is quite simple; a visual trainer/facilitator also tends to use more ‘visual’ methodologies/processes during the session. An auditory trainer/facilitator could end up being based towards ‘auditory’ methodologies/processes and the same applies to trainer/facilitator who has kinesthetic-dominant learning style. Our dominant learning style should not end up being our dominant teaching/training/facilitation style.

What are some of the other things you do in your sessions for engage your participants? Would be happy to hear from you. Comment here, or feel free to connect at [email protected].

In addition, in my online masterclass (Train The Virtual Trainer) for trainers, facilitators, coaches, educators and executives, we cover various more, and interesting ways to engage our mixed bag of participants to ensure impactful and effective Return-on-Time-Invested (ROTI). Experiencing my L-E-A-D framework, the participants of my masterclass discover ways and methods to use technology platforms and tools for seamless online/virtual delivery of sessions. They unravel the secrets of delivering exceptionally impactful and engaging online/virtual sessions. To know more visit: https://bit.ly/TTVT4 .