Digital transformation progress has changed the way people and businesses learn, connect and grow. A few years ago, working remotely did not seem possible for many industries, but working from home online has become the biggest advantage today. Reports by global research companies reveal that 79% of the global workforce works online. Companies are increasingly integrated into virtual learning and development strategies to meet the needs of the online workforce. However, there are some misconceptions about the effectiveness of training in the online environment that has been carried out for more than 20 years. Virtual training; it is a coach-led interactive training form online platforms. This method is a completely different proposition from e-learning or webinar approaches. It effectively takes all the activities and approaches presented in a physical class and transfers them to an online platform. Now let's look at 10 common myths about virtual training and how it really happened!
• Myth: Corporate trainings can only be given in a classroom setting.
Fact: Virtual trainings target not only individual development but also organizational development. Our corporate online training platforms preferred by global companies that are leaders in their field also support this fact. Companies that want to support their employees' technology skills prefer virtual training. In addition, today, when working from home online method is increasing, we offer many virtual training at our online classes for people working from home to continue to improve themselves. Online trainings, virtual trainings and our corporate online IT training platform Cloud Academy are just a few of our remote training types.
• Myth: Virtual training includes a one-way flow of information.
Fact: Virtual training is usually examined under the same title as video series and webinars. A bad experience with webinars / video series can blur a person's approach to virtual trainings. Therefore, it is necessary to be clear about what virtual training is and be aware of its full potential. Well-designed virtual trainings fill the gap caused by video training and webinar. The learning outcomes improve significantly when the strength of instructor-led training is combined with the ease and convenience of being online. In virtual training, students have the opportunity not only to interact with the instructor and each other, but also to access digital resources that enhance their learning experience. Virtual training mobility benefits modern participants of today. Participants can participate in the learning process from the comfort of their home.
• Myth: Virtual trainings in online classes cannot achieve the quality of traditional classroom trainings!
Fact: A quality training program is always a quality training program, regardless of how it is offered. If you expect to get the efficiency you get from face-to-face training from virtual training you should show the same time and effort for your virtual training. At this point, a great responsibility falls on the institution providing education. Being aware of the great responsibility we have, we do not compromise on quality thanks to our original content and laboratories in the virtual trainings we offer you, along with our many years of virtual training experience, and we make our investments in tailored design resources to suit your needs. In order to produce a quality program, we pay attention to all components, including support materials, images, communication, interaction, collaboration, scenarios and more.
• Myth: Soft-skill trainings cannot be given in an online environment!
Fact: Soft-skills such as virtual media communication and virtual team management have become crucial these days when working from home online has been replaced by office work. By the nature of the jobs of the employees; There are important studies showing that training in virtual classrooms is more efficient than traditional methods. For example; When an IT team leader receives Managing People in Projects training in an online environment, he / she will experience real-life problems more easily. The efficiency between what they learned about virtual communication during their training in the classroom and what they learned about virtual communication in the virtual environment can be seen differently.
• Myth: Virtual training does not support participant interaction.
Fact: When designed in accordance with human nature, virtual training can increase interpersonal interaction and encourage participants to build relationships beyond the live learning activity. When we look more generally, you have to gather in the same lotions for classroom training. In fact, many sacrifices are made to create a unity in classroom training: time spent on reaching a single class, training that cannot be taken because the location is not appropriate ... Thanks to the trainings carried out in the virtual environment, the participants meet the employees who do the same job from different parts of the world and want to improve themselves. Participants can expand their network networks further. Collaboration and global work opportunities increase even more when virtual trainings begin to blend with technologies such as discussion boards and application communities.
• Myth: There is no interaction in virtual trainings.
Fact: Online trainings offer more interaction opportunities than traditional classroom trainings. At this point, the trainer has a big task. With simultaneous collaboration exercises, all participants can complete a good teamwork by presenting their views on the subject. In addition, in a classroom training in which 30 people participate, it is not possible for everyone to say their opinion on the subject. But; Using tools such as whiteboards and public chat agents in online training allows participants to “hear” their opinions on almost any subject and in a relatively short time.
• Myth: Employees don't like learning online.
Fact: Global Digital 2019 reveals that more than 1 million new users join the Internet daily. Facebook, LinkedIn, Whatsapp, Instagram are the indicators of the connection we are online. Virtual training covers the benefits of online connectivity and digital transition. Today's workforce is more curious about technology and more comfortable in terms of access to technology. Today, employees improve themselves in an online social environment and are known as “social learners”. Skillfully designed virtual training sessions can increase engagement and enhance a sense of community among all participants. Moreover, virtual training promotes inclusion, as it allows people from all over the world to work together and learn together.
• Myth: One advantage of virtual classrooms is that hundreds of people can receive training at the same time.
Fact: As we all know, it is difficult to create a real learning environment at the same time with a wide audience. How can we promote collaboration and get more than familiar with the content when the audience at the same time is very large? In general, when the audience is large, the activity becomes a presentation rather than a learning activity. Participants are exposed to a one-sided flow of information rather than applying and evaluating what they have learned during the session.
• Myth: Instructional materials (leader guides, participant guides) are not so important for an online classroom.
Fact: We tend to forget about printed materials when we prefer virtual classroom training. This is a mistake. Participants need a printed participant's guide (also known as a "learning diary") to take notes, participate in exercises, and work on them later. Instructors also need a printed guide to deliver a consistent and high quality program so they can integrate education and technology management into the process.
• Myth: Virtual training is completely different from traditional education.
Fact: There are many similarities between traditional classroom education and the live online classroom. For example, participants gather at the same time and the instructor uses slides and other teaching materials to facilitate content. In addition, most of the successful classroom engagement techniques can be applied to the virtual environment. There are also many differences between the two forms of education. First, there are various collaboration tools (application sharing, multi-user whiteboards, chat windows, etc.) that are not available in the classroom in a virtual environment. In addition, virtual online programs are shorter in duration and the curriculum can span over a longer period of time, rather than grouping into consecutive days.
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We are one of the most reputable training course providers in the globe with nearly 30 years of experience providing learning solutions that are filled with excellence. So if you are planning to attend an IT training course, we have everything you'll ever need. As Bilginc IT Academy, we have one the most comprehensive IT and soft-skill training and certification catalogue. You can attend our courses whether from Hong Kong, Kowloon or Sha Tin. But if you prefer to stay in, we have instructor-led virtual classes as well! You can unleash your potential in Hong Kong's flourishing tech sector with our courses. By completing the courses, you'll acquire valuable skills to propel your career to new heights. Our training programs come with internationally recognized certifications, granting you a competitive advantage in Hong Kong's job market. If you want to start your training journey, contact us now.