Virtual training has become an indispensable tool for organizations to upskill their workforce. However, delivering engaging and effective virtual training can be challenging. In this podcast, host Rob Smith talks to Peter Ryce, a seasoned expert in learning technology to share his insights on the best practices in virtual learning.
Peter is a Senior Product Evangelist at Adobe with extensive experience in virtual collaboration and communication technologies. He helps organizations and government agencies to enhance engagement in virtual trainings and webinars. In an engaging chat with host Rob Porter, Peter shared his invaluable tips on how to transform passive virtual training into dynamic learning environments.
Why visual engagement matters?
Traditional learning with ordinary collaboration tools often leads to learner disengagement, with static screens causing boredom and information overload. A visually stimulating learning environment is crucial to keep learners focused and motivated. Adobe Connect empowers trainers to create dynamic and engaging sessions by controlling the visual experience. From customizable backgrounds to interactive graphics, Adobe Connect helps you captivate your audience and drive better learning outcomes.
- Custom layouts: You can deliver dynamic sessions with customizable layouts in Adobe Connect that feature multiple video feeds, icebreaker games, shared content, and interactive elements.
- Rich media integration: You can add images, videos, and GIFs to enhance understanding and break the monotony of traditional presentations.
- Storyboarding: You can pre-plan your sessions with interactive storyboards in Adobe Connect to create a seamless and engaging learning experience.
Engaging the disengaged learner
Passive learning causes boredom and poor understanding. When learners are merely passive recipients of information, they are less likely to actively process and retain the content. This can lead to decreased engagement, lower motivation, and ultimately, poorer learning outcomes. Adobe Connect empowers virtual instructors to engage ‘switched off’ adult learners with rich and engaging experiences that boosts classroom participation and collaboration thereby driving positive outcomes.
- Breakout rooms: Adobe Connect has breakout rooms that are designed to facilitate group exercises and discussions. These rooms are persistent, meaning they retain their content and layout even after the session ends. Hosts can create multiple breakout rooms, each with its own unique layout and tools. Participants in breakout rooms can use annotation tools, take notes, and collaborate effectively. This feature is particularly useful for trainers who want to leverage the expertise of participants through group activities.
- Gamification: Engagement is a key component of any successful virtual training session. Adobe Connect provides a variety of tools to foster interaction, such as polls, chat pods, and word clouds. These tools allow participants to actively engage with the content and each other, making the session more dynamic and interesting.
You need to get students to reach in and touch the computer. The passive sit-back maybe drift off looking at your phone that doesn’t work today. You have to do something that gets people engaged.
– Peter Ryce, Product Evangelist, Adobe
How to measure learning outcomes effectively?
Traditional learning methods often lack effective assessment strategies, making it difficult to measure learning outcomes and identify knowledge gaps. Without proper assessment, learners may not retain information or apply it effectively. Adobe Connect allows trainers to transform participant interactions to actionable insights with versatile polls, native quizzes, and detailed aggregate & individual participant engagement insights to report and finetune session effectiveness.
- Pre-tests and post-tests: To gauge learners’ knowledge before and after the training.
- In-session quizzes: To check for understanding and keep learners engaged.
- Gamified assessments: To make the assessment process more enjoyable and less intimidating.
The role of instructors in virtual learning
Many organizations face the challenge of inconsistent training delivery, especially when subject matter experts are assigned training responsibilities without proper training. This can lead to poor training experiences, inconsistent messaging, and ultimately, ineffective knowledge transfer. Adobe Connect helps trainers with the tools to set things up in advance and be successful in delivering training and knowledge transfer.
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