What do we mean by Virtual and Digital Learning?

As COVID-19 hit there was an instant impact on face-to-face meetings and training, resulting in a sudden shift and acceleration towards venturing to the virtual world.

Is this the way forward? And how do we adapt?

As a business, it was crucial that we continued to deliver training to all colleagues, be it around health and safety, COVID restrictions, or development of our colleagues to lead them through this time of change.

In addition to eLearning which we are all familiar with, we would like to introduce and share with you the training delivery element of Virtual Learning which we refer to as Live Online Learning, so that we can focus in on what it is and the benefits of it.

 

 

It is important to make the distinction between Live Online Learning and Webinars, as they often understood to be the same, when they are not.

What do we mean by Virtual and Digital Learning?

- Webinars are events designed to distribute information or raise awareness to a large audience with minimal interaction.

- Live Online Learning is interactive tailored learning with a small audience of up to 12 providing performance-based outcomes.

 

Misconceptions of Live Online Learning

• No interaction

• You can’t learn outside the classroom

• You can’t test understanding

• You can’t ask questions

• People can easily not engage and do something else while listening

 

Reality and benefits of Live Online Learning

• Faster Pace

• Shorter sessions

• No travelling

• Interactive

• Everyone does participate

• You will come away learning the same as in the classroom

• Accommodates flexibility for colleagues

• Opportunity to share with other learners

• Still connected with the group

• Cost-saving

• Time-saving – reduced travel time, less time away from your day job

• Higher completion rate by colleagues, reach a wider audience

• Shorter focused courses to fit into busy schedules

 

Challenges

• Technical issues

• Adapting to technology

 

How to prepare

• Check your connectivity

• Turn off your email, eliminate distractions

• Find a quiet place

• Maybe consider headphones to eliminate background noise

• Put cameras on

• Be ready to participate

• Ask questions

• Complete any self-directed work before the session

• Arrive early

 

As you can see there are huge benefits to the Virtual World and Live Online Learning, so keep you mind open to it when the opportunity arises and embrace it.

 

Just so you know, we have begun the ball rolling here at Midcounties by adapting and launching our Knowledge and Skills Series to be delivered in virtual bitesize sessions, in addition, other courses have been delivered virtually such as Leading Virtual Teams and Finance for Non-Financial Managers.

 

In the meantime, as always, continue to keep learning and making use of our resources available in the Colleagues Learning Zone:

Click Here  

Plus the Managers Zone on i.Learn:

Click Here  

 

Stay Safe and Keep Learning,

 

Society Learning & Development Team