Elevate Your Virtual Learning Delivery: Top 5 Best Practices for Virtual Instructor-Led Training

Imagine a world where virtual instructor-led training (VILT) isn’t just a placeholder for in-person events but a powerful tool that engages and educates learners, regardless of their location. That world is here, and it’s time for us to recognize the potential of VILT and implement best practices to elevate the virtual learning experience.

1. Design Engaging, Interactive Sessions

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One key to successful VILT is designing sessions that are both engaging and interactive. This means incorporating activities that encourage participation, such as polls, quizzes, and breakout rooms for group discussions. “The more participants are actively involved in the learning, the better they retain the information,” says a seasoned L&D professional. Using multimedia elements like videos, images, and even animated slides can also help capture and maintain attention, creating a more immersive experience for learners.

2. Establish Clear Communication and Expectations

Effective communication is essential in VILT, both before and during the training sessions. Prior to the event, be sure to provide attendees with clear instructions on how to access and navigate the virtual platform. During the session, establish expectations for participation and interaction, such as using the chat feature for questions or comments, and setting guidelines for microphone and camera usage. An L&D expert advises, “By setting the tone and expectations from the start, you’re more likely to create an environment where everyone feels comfortable and engaged.”

3. Utilize Breakout Rooms for Collaborative Learning

Another best practice for elevating VILT is to leverage breakout rooms for smaller group discussions and activities. This helps learners connect with each other on a more personal level, promoting collaboration and peer-to-peer learning. Following an activity, bring everyone back together and facilitate a group discussion to debrief and share insights. One L&D manager shares, “Our team has found that breakout rooms not only improve engagement, but also foster a sense of community among our remote learners.”

4. Provide Ongoing Support and Resources

To truly elevate the virtual learning experience, it’s important to offer ongoing support and resources for learners. This might include follow-up emails with additional materials, access to an online community for continued discussion, or even one-on-one coaching sessions. Providing these resources helps learners apply and reinforce what they’ve learned, leading to better outcomes overall. “Our commitment to learner success doesn’t end when the session is over,” says an L&D director.

5. How Learnexus Can Help

At Learnexus, we understand the importance of delivering high-quality VILT that engages and educates. That’s why we’ve built a marketplace of top-notch freelancers with extensive experience in Learning & Development, ready to help you create and deliver exceptional virtual learning experiences. With Learnexus, you can quickly and easily find and hire the right L&D professional to meet your unique needs, saving 47% in costs and streamlining the process with a single master services agreement. Elevate your virtual learning delivery today with Learnexus.