{note: this post was originally published on 5/15/10 on my other site, www.atrainerslife.com}
I am increasingly asked to deliver virtual training in situations where it is not the best solution. Some organizations – and the decision makers in them- have the misperception that since virtual training is effective and sometimes less costly than classroom training, then it must be the right solution for them.
Here are three questions* to ask to help determine if virtual training is the right fit:
1. Are all participants co-located in the same location? If everyone is under the same roof, then a face-to-face class probably makes more sense than a virtual one.
2. Do participants have a quiet environment that’s conducive to online learning? If participants work in a noisy environment, such as a shop floor or a break room, or in the middle of a crowded room, then they may not be able to concentrate on class.
3. Do participants have the right technology needed for fully participating in the class? They need to have a computer, Internet connection, and telephony that work with the virtual training classroom software that you are using. Otherwise, the class will not be a successful one.
Virtual training is a wonderful solution for many training needs. It’s just not the right solution for them all.
* these questions are adapted from my new book, Virtual Training Basics, published by ASTD Press.
