1. Virtual Trainer Best Practices
Presented by Sandy Masters
Introduction – Who am I? Why am I here? With your help – what I hope to achieve.

2. Beginning with the end
The elements of fun are the same for
everyone . . . The underlying concept is
engagement. In other words, if you are
really into it, that’s fun.
Roger C. Shank
Lessons in learning,
e-Learning, and Training
Taking the stairs video (2 min.)

3. Workshop Design:
 Blended learning approach
 Process vs. content expert
 Facilitation – extract “wisdom of the
group”

4. Warm-
Warm-up Exercise - Thiagi
Best Practice: Improve the
use of visuals in your virtual
classroom.

5. Survey – Interesting Data
What can the instructor do to enhance your learning during
the workshop?
 Share tips & experiences
 Have time to practice
 Follow structure and keep chunks smaller
 Breakout sessions, surveys
 Don't lecture, provide ample opportunity for interaction
 Active participation thru whiteboards, polling questions, and
interaction. GRIPI's are always important.
 Understand we are all on different levels of understanding when
it comes to virtual learning and technology. We will have a mix
of trainers and instructional designers in the room.
 Keep me engaged
 Show me tips and tricks to make facilitating virtually easier.
Anything would be helpful actually.
 Make sure there are warm cookies and milk!

6. Survey (cont.)
When learning about the tools and techniques
used in the virtual classroom, I have these
concerns:
 Technology (learning, using, break-downs)
 Time to learn, support for my learning, and
delay between this workshop and being able to
use virtual classroom
 Transferring F2F teaching skills to virtual
classroom
 Students not having basic computer skills;
multi-tasking

8. Pre-
Pre-Work Review
 View 60 minute recorded webinar
 Identify specific tools and techniques
that are used to engage the audience
 Bring your list with you to our first
session for discussion.
 Did anyone take notes on the
10 common errors and 10 tactics?
 Break into groups of five

9. Course Objectives
 Design effective virtual classroom
exercises using web conference
interactivity tools
 Engage learner attention and
participation in online learning
 Repurpose traditional classroom
exercises for collaborative online learning
 Describe best practices for online
facilitation

10. Let’s Play a GAME

11. How is Virtual Training different
from in person ILT?
 How is it the same?
 Video from LearnTrends Virtual Conf.
44:18 –
47:29
TBD w/
George
Siemens

12. When to go Virtual?
 Follow ADDIE model
 Look at the Educational Objectives
 Geographically dispersed
 Content unstable
 Occasional course over time
 Need for real time expert
 Collaboration enhances learning
 Exercise – Virtual Classroom readiness
checklist

13. Pre-
Pre-event planning & design
 Exercise: Leader Guide
 Course Title
 Course Description
 Objective
 Target Audience
 We will work on creating the
collaborative exercise later

14. Invitations/reminders

15. Creating collaborative exercises
 The trainer must be ready to facilitate
 The participant must understand how to
contribute
 The exercises must be well planned and have
achievable outcomes

16. Participants guides
 Your welcome letter is an example of a
participant guide
 Helps participants understand
directions and preparation for the
virtual classroom
 Avoid sending PowerPoints that
duplicate your presentation

17. Practice
 Actual virtual class time = Plan on
spending the same amount of time on
your dry run.

18. Know the technology tools
 Polling / quizzes
 Chat / Q&A
 (e.g. use: solicits learner input/benefit: actively engages learners in
discussion)
 Desktop sharing / Annotation
 Whiteboard
 Audio
 Desktop sharing / Video
Exercise: Identify uses
and benefits of each

20. Adapting the visual experience

21. PowerPoint / Sources for Images
http://jakes.editme.com/onehourppt
E-zine:
http://www.thinkoutsidetheslide.com/

22. Building interactivity into virtual
training
Exercise –
With your team design an
interactivity using one
of the tools discussed
Make sure the
interactivity supports the
learning objective

23. Maximizing learner engagement
 Video – Jennifer Hoffman
 Example of engagement exercise
 Notice the role of the producer/assistant in the
recording

24. Using a producer / teaching partner
Factors:
 Logistical: Availability & Budget
 Technical: Does VT platform support
assistant role?
 Instructional: Do the design and desired
outcomes require an assistant?
 Personal: I don’t use one in ILT, why do I
need one now?

25. Additional resources for further
study
 Certification programs
 ASTD
 InSync Training
 NetSpeed Learning
 Free Webinars Link
 Books/E-zines

26. Closing, follow-up
follow-
 This in not the end!
 Sign up for iLinc account and play
 Download quick guides
 Watch iLinc training videos
 Set date/time for virtual presentation
 Please, please, please call me with
questions and concerns – I will be
happy to help you get an “A”!

28. Thank you and have a wonderful
holiday season!