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The Virtual Trainer - In a class of their own?

A virtual classroom (VC) system is a learning environment where a course leader and participants in different locations interact with one another, much as they would in a physical classroom, but remotely via web technology.

The unique demands of this environment place a great deal of stress on course leaders and structured skills development is usually needed before they feel truly comfortable in this role.

In addition to the standard e-tutoring skills normally associated with supporting learners remotely, Virtual Trainers have a number of specialist challenges to address:

• Selecting a virtual medium for lessons
• Preparing real-time online lessons
• Applying communication techniques in the virtual classroom
• Making the most of the audience
• Encouraging participation and collaboration
• Using appropriate question techniques
• Managing difficult situations and learners
• Addressing multi-cultural audiences in a Virtual Classroom
• Opening and closing virtual classroom sessions
• Applying the principles of using a virtual classroom

With this in mind The Training Foundation has developed a specialist certificated course entitled The Virtual Trainer, delivered entirely on-line under the auspices of the Certified e-Learning Professional (CeLP) programme.

Marianne Falck of AstraZeneca completed The Virtual Trainer course from her base in Sweden. "I liked the structure of the course i.e. explanation of theory and tools, written assignments and then practice. Certainly I will use my newly gained skills as quickly as possible. Now I can host and tutor an on-line session without any fear."

Maria Wilcockson of Prudential successfully completed The Virtual Trainer programme last year: "The course made me feel a lot more confident as a trainer, more technically competent as I've added another useful skill to my portfolio. I liked exploring the Centra Symposium tools (especially whiteboard and breakout rooms). I also liked to see a well delivered and smooth session without any technology hiccups. Now I can deliver a live session with lot more confidence and feel happier to have rounded e-professional skills."

Maria also discovered that the experience helped her with procurement decision-making process. She points out: "The course has also helped me with my work where I am meeting various external VC providers and talking to them about requirements for Virtual Classrooms."

Whilst The Virtual Trainer programme happens to employ Centra Symposium as a VC tool, all the skills covered represent generic best-practice and are non-vendor specific. Becky Carvajal of GlaxoSmithKline completed the course from her base in Williamsburg, Virginia. She comments "This was an excellent course, and even though we don't use Centra at my company, I feel that I can apply the knowledge and skills gained in this course to the available software."

Helen Molloy of Rolls Royce could certainly hardly wait to apply her new found skills: "I will use all that I have learnt by running a session on teleconferencing and webinar etiquette for the ERP Centre of Competence leadership team in the very near future. Now I can say that I am qualified to educate others in best practice and use of the technology."

Julie Linn, e-Learning Manager for The Training Foundation commented. "It's very gratifying to have assisted so many major international organisations as they implement this key component of their learning strategy, especially in a world where travel is becoming ever more risky, costly and inconvenient."

Increasingly Virtual Trainers seem to be happy to be in a class of their own...

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