As the global pandemic tightens its grips around the globe, the hope for the development of a cure is far-sighted and until one is developed, the virus, and the social restrictions it has brought to our lives, will both continue to live within the human population.
As a result, more and more people are accepting social distancing as the new normal, at least for the foreseeable future.
Thanks to this, many of us are finding innovative ways to continue our lives in the virtual world. For some, it has been easier than the others.
The training industry is feeling this contrast intensely. On one hand, the presence of a plethora of elearning tools has made sure many forms of training keep happening without hiccups, instructors are facing challenges in making themselves available.
If you identify with this situation, this article is for you. Most forms of training are incomplete without real human intervention and making sure learners get access to quality classroom sessions online is more important now, than ever before.
In order to ensure quality training is being conducted, and the importance of instructor led sessions is not forgotten, instructors must adapt to the new normal. Here are a few ways you can start doing that:
Video Conferencing Is King
Video conferencing technology has come a long way. From glitching and blurry Skype calls back in 2008 to video conferencing platforms that enable hundreds of people to connect on the same call, video conferencing has emerged as one of the most important technologies keeping thousands of businesses afloat.
For instructors, video conferencing software is a blessing. The best part is, there are now specialised video conferencing software that are designed to conduct training. THese come loaded with features like smart whiteboards, “raising hands” features, among many others.
Going Beyond Conferencing
Conducting a class is not the only function of an instructor. In many cases, instructors are also responsible for giving out and grading assignments, and even helping their students complete said assignments.
For such tasks, you will require other tools that let you and your students collaborate on various projects and assignments.
Tools like Google Docs work beautifully when it comes to collaborating on documents that use text and images. There are tools like Dwarp Unlimited (mobile app) and Mural that enable collaboration on artistic and creative projects. Spiral is another great multimedia assessment tool that enables instant feedback on multimedia assignments and projects. There are even websites like NowComment dedicated to student and teacher communities that facilitate discussions on various topics.
It Is Time To Let Go Of Some Control
This time, while difficult, has emerged as an opportunity for reflection for instructors. It is time to think about the concepts you teach, and determine if any of them can be taught through recorded lessons.
If so, making efforts to create short video courses can give big returns. For starters, with recorded courses, you can reach out to a much larger audience (and rake in more revenue). Moreover, having instructional video will free up your time that you can dedicate to conducting more lessons or helping out your students after your lessons to make sure they are able to keep up with your teaching pace.
Conclusion
The rise of the new social distancing normal has compelled our society to rethink a number of areas of our lives, and instructor-led training is one of them. When the current situation is not viewed as an insurmountable challenge, but as an opportunity to innovate, only then can we thrive.
How have you been innovating during this time? Share with us in the comment section.
