Ready to supercharge your training game? In a world where people are more distracted than ever—thanks to pings, emails, and endless online content—capturing learners’ full attention can feel like an uphill battle. Enter Virtual Instructor-Led Training (VILT), a dynamic, real-time approach that has already become a linchpin of modern learning. According to eLearning Industry, the global e-learning market is expected to surpass $400 billion in the near future, and live online sessions make up a big slice of that pie. Whether you’re looking to save on travel expenses, accommodate globally dispersed teams, or simply embrace the flexibility of digital platforms, VILT has evolved into a powerful solution—if you know how to use it effectively.

But here’s the catch: the same tech that empowers you to connect with anyone, anywhere, also creates a barrage of distractions. Keeping learners focused—and enthusiastic—requires a carefully crafted experience that blends structure, engagement, and human connection. Let’s explore how you can master this balance and deliver training sessions that truly stand out.

A Fresh Approach to Training

For many organizations, hosting everyone in one physical location is no longer practical. Data from Statista reveals that nearly 80% of companies now use, or plan to use, some form of online training. This widespread adoption makes sense: VILT slashes travel costs, eliminates the need to cram people into the same room, and offers robust tools to customize the learning journey. Yet, the question remains—how do you ensure that your learners aren’t simply “present” in name only?

Today’s technology provides an exciting answer. Real-time analytics, high-quality video conferencing, and collaborative features let you deliver training that feels fresh, interactive, and personal. Instead of passively broadcasting information, you can check in with polls, facilitate small-group exercises in breakout rooms, and gather immediate feedback to fine-tune your approach. Embrace this adaptability and you’ll find that VILT can capture learners’ imagination in ways that echo—and sometimes surpass—traditional in-person workshops.

Pro Tips

• Warm up your class with an engaging question or mini-icebreaker that sparks curiosity.
• Use a quick poll to gauge pre-session knowledge and tailor your approach.

Understanding Human Behavior in a Virtual Setting

One of the greatest challenges in virtual training is replicating the spontaneous, human connection found in physical classrooms. People are inherently social creatures, and much of how we communicate relies on tone of voice, facial expressions, and body language. When participants are scattered across different locations (and sometimes different time zones), it’s easy for them to tune out, multitask, or lose motivation.

That’s where a solid grasp of human behavior comes into play. According to psychology studies, attention spans wane quickly when learners feel disconnected from the group or overwhelmed by content. Encouraging consistent interaction, asking for feedback, and acknowledging each participant fosters a stronger sense of belonging. Even something as simple as calling a participant by their name can boost engagement and make them feel valued. Similarly, changing up activities every 10–15 minutes—such as shifting from a lecture to a brief poll, discussion, or breakout room—keeps the brain actively engaged and combats the dreaded “Zoom fatigue.”

Key Behaviors to Encourage

• Mutual Respect: Model courtesy by addressing learners politely and acknowledging their contributions.
• Curiosity: Pose challenging questions and real-world scenarios that invite learners to think critically.
• Open Dialogue: Offer opportunities for learners to share experiences, ask questions, and troubleshoot problems together.

Keeping Everyone Engaged and Tuned In

You know the drill: you pose a question, and the chat goes silent. Meanwhile, you can practically hear a cricket chirping in the background. This is where frequent check-ins and active participation strategies can save the day. Research from LinkedIn Learning highlights that over 90% of learners appreciate real-time feedback in virtual sessions. So, don’t be shy about sprinkling your lesson with short Q&A breaks, emojis, or “rate-your-understanding” polls. Encouraging cameras to be on (bandwidth permitting, of course) can also make the whole thing feel more personal and authentic.

In a virtual environment, your voice is often your most powerful tool. Speak slowly and clearly—no one benefits from breakneck-speed lectures or garbled audio. If someone in the UK is raising a virtual hand while another participant in Brazil types a question, it’s perfectly okay to pause and address both. Not only does this show you’re paying attention, but it also boosts retention by making people feel involved.

Concrete Actions

• Call on participants by name to keep them alert and valued.
• Use “thumbs-up/thumbs-down” cues after explaining a key concept to quickly see who’s with you.

Setting Ground Rules and Schedules

Imagine hosting a virtual session where everyone talks at once, half the class is checking emails, and the other half is rummaging through snack drawers. While a bit of chaos might be comedic, it’s not exactly conducive to learning. That’s why you need a clear roadmap. At the beginning of each session, outline the key topics, the expected duration, and how you’ll handle breaks. According to the Harvard Business Review, 39% of employees cite digital distractions as a top obstacle in remote training. Politely ask participants to minimize pop-up notifications and consider muting other devices during the session.

Consider implementing the 60/10 rule (60 minutes of learning followed by a 10-minute break) to maintain focus and avoid “screen fatigue.” When learners know a break is coming soon, they’re more likely to stay locked in during lesson time—plus, everyone appreciates a chance to stretch or grab a coffee.

Bullet Points for Clarity

• Keep lessons around 45–60 minutes max.
• Provide short breaks to recharge (5–10 minutes).
• Encourage learners to close or mute non-essential applications.

Tag-Team Teaching: Moderators and Assistant Instructors

Handling the chat, the slides, the Q&A, and a potential software glitch all on your own can feel like juggling flaming torches while riding a unicycle. That’s where a moderator or assistant instructor enters the scene. The Association for Talent Development found that VILT sessions with dedicated assistants see around 15% higher learner satisfaction. Why? Because someone’s always on hand to answer quick questions, manage breakout rooms, or troubleshoot. It’s like having a trusty sidekick who can leap in to save the day when things get hairy.

Assistant instructors can also pop into breakout rooms to guide smaller group activities, offer specialized insights, or provide extra help for those who are struggling. This not only keeps learners from feeling stuck but also gives the main instructor a chance to focus on the big picture.

Pro Tips

• Assign your moderator a unique role (timekeeper, chat wrangler, or group activity coordinator) to avoid confusion.
• Have a pre-planned system for handing off certain segments so everyone knows who’s in charge of what.

Jazzing It Up with Modern Tools

Gone are the days when “virtual training” meant static slides and endless monologues. Today’s specialized virtual classrooms go way beyond a standard web conferencing tool like Zoom—offering built-in features that can dramatically enhance engagement, interactivity, and order in the virtual space.

For starters, many modern platforms provide advanced voice controls that let the instructor manage who can speak and when. For example, you can mute certain participants while letting others chime in, or require learners to request “permission to speak.” This not only keeps conversation flowing smoothly but also helps avoid the cacophony of background noises. Some platforms—like ReadyTech—go even further, featuring a round-robin option that allows you to give learners brief spots of video and audio access, ensuring everyone gets a chance to contribute without monopolizing the session.

Additionally, real-time analytics dashboards offer deeper insights into how each participant is performing. You can see who’s consistently hitting high quiz scores and who might be struggling, all in one place. Meanwhile, built-in whiteboards, chat boxes, and group messaging help replicate the spontaneous brainstorming that often characterizes successful in-person workshops.

Cool Examples of Modern Tools

• Managed Voice Features: Let the instructor decide whether to unmute everyone or allow participants to raise a virtual hand before speaking. This fosters a more orderly, focused environment.
• Round-Robin Conversations: Temporarily spotlight each participant—granting them video and audio access in a fair, structured way—so everyone’s voice is heard.
• Interactive Breakout Rooms: Encourage smaller groups to collaborate on assignments, case studies, or real-time exercises, then return to the main session to share insights.
• Instant Polling & Surveys: Gauge comprehension instantly, making it easy to course-correct if multiple people struggle with a concept.

These advanced features don’t just smooth out the technical edges of online learning; they also respect learners’ natural desire to be heard and understood. By incorporating them thoughtfully, you can create an online environment that feels as communal and engaging as a physical classroom—minus the daily commute.

Picking the Right Lab Environment: Cloud, Hardware, or In-House

For skill-based or hands-on training, nothing beats the authenticity of labs where learners can practice and experiment. Cloud labs let participants access specialized software online, which is perfect for large global teams or on-demand sessions. Hardware labs provide access to physical devices (think networking or robotics), though they require logistical planning like scheduling and equipment maintenance. In-house labs let you virtualize on-premise environments, offering high security and minimal latency—great for organizations dealing with sensitive data or specialized equipment.

Some companies combine all three options in a hybrid model, adapting the experience to each course’s unique requirements. For instance, you might use a cloud lab for standard simulations and switch to a hardware or in-house setup when data compliance or specialized gear is involved.

Bullet Points for Lab Selection

• Cloud Labs: Scalable, convenient, subscription-based costs.
• Hardware Labs: Real equipment, perfect for hardware-centric training.
• In-House Labs: Secure, controlled, and ideal for confidential or proprietary tools.

Combining Live Sessions with Self-Paced Learning

While real-time instruction is powerful, some learners thrive in a self-guided environment. A LinkedIn Learning study found that providing blended (live + self-paced) options can improve retention rates by up to 25%. Offering recorded pre-lesson materials or post-session exercises lets participants review or prep at their own pace. Then, when the class meets virtually, everyone’s ready to dive deeper, discuss real-world applications, and troubleshoot complex issues as a group.

After each live session, sharing quick recaps, slides, or even a recorded video helps reinforce what was taught. This is especially handy for participants who learn best by revisiting content, or for those who missed part of a session due to scheduling conflicts.

Pro Tips

• Host short, optional “study hall” sessions where learners can ask extra questions.
• Organize a discussion forum or Slack channel for ongoing peer support after the main class.

Ensuring a Smooth Ride from Start to Finish

We’ve all been in that awkward virtual setting where half the class can’t log in, audio echoes like a haunted house, and the host is frantically trying to share the right screen. Avoid this chaos by running a test session before the real deal—especially if you’re expecting a large group. Double-check audio, video, and platform features. Provide easy-to-understand login instructions, and have a backup plan in case the main platform goes down (it happens!).

When designing content, embrace variety. A steady flow of short lectures, real-life demos, group discussions, and problem-solving challenges keeps people alert. Don’t forget to throw in some humor where it feels natural—one well-placed anecdote can do wonders to lighten the mood and keep participants engaged. After you wrap up, immediately send out session recordings or summaries so learners can review at their own pace.

Bullet Points to Finalize Your Sessions

• Prepare a simple how-to guide (with screenshots) for logging into the training platform.
• Perform a 10-minute tech rehearsal with your moderator or assistant instructor.
• Gather post-session feedback to fine-tune future VILT experiences.

Wrap-Up & Actionable Takeaways

By focusing on active engagement, human behavior insights, structured schedules, the right mix of tech tools, and well-planned lab environments, you can deliver VILT sessions that rival—and often surpass—traditional in-person training. Below are some concrete steps to help you get started or refine your approach:

1. Clarify Learning Objectives Early: Clearly communicate what you want learners to achieve by the end of the session.
2. Design Interactive Sessions: Incorporate polls, Q&As, group exercises, and challenges to keep everyone involved.
3. Use Behavioral Cues: Encourage curiosity, mutual respect, and open dialogue to foster a positive learning atmosphere.
4. Pick the Right Tech & Labs: Choose between cloud, hardware, or in-house labs based on your course needs, data sensitivity, and scalability.
5. Leverage Moderators: Assign a moderator to handle technical glitches, manage chat discussions, and track timing.
6. Blend Synchronous and Asynchronous Learning: Record sessions and offer self-paced modules so learners can revisit material at their convenience.
7. Test, Test, Test: Run pilot sessions to iron out platform kinks and ensure everything—from audio quality to screen sharing—runs smoothly.

Implementing these steps can dramatically improve your virtual training outcomes, boosting learner engagement and knowledge retention.

The Road Ahead for VILT

Virtual training is taking the spotlight at a rapid clip, and for good reason: the cost savings, global reach, and increasingly sophisticated tools can match (and in many cases exceed) the efficacy of traditional classroom settings. Learners can skip the commute, organizations avoid hefty venue bills, and everyone enjoys more flexible scheduling. Meanwhile, the technology keeps evolving. PwC has noted that employees trained via VR can learn up to four times faster than those in a standard classroom setting, underscoring the transformative potential of immersive and AI-driven tools. As these solutions become more mainstream, VILT will only become more robust—bridging gaps in interactivity and realism that once held it back.

In essence, the future of VILT is bright. From cost-effectiveness and global scalability to adaptive learning systems and advanced simulations, virtual training is poised to outshine many traditional setups, offering a consistently high-impact approach to developing skills and knowledge.

ReadyTech: Taking Your Virtual Training to the Next Level

If you’re looking to turbocharge your virtual training programs with minimal fuss and maximum returns, ReadyTech has you covered. We offer a comprehensive suite of tools and services so you can:

• Leverage Cloud Labs, Hardware Labs, or Third-Party Cloud Labs: Deliver hands-on practice without massive infrastructure costs or maintenance headaches.
• Adopt In-House Labs: Transform on-premise computers into secure, virtual training environments—perfect for organizations handling sensitive data or needing low-latency solutions.
• Streamline Delivery: Enjoy user-friendly dashboards, analytics, and integrated support that let you focus on teaching rather than wrestling with technical hassles.
• Slash Travel and Equipment Expenses: Replace costly in-person events with dynamic, effective VILT sessions that let your learners connect from anywhere.

Whether you’re running an intensive coding workshop, a hardware demonstration, or advanced training for your global workforce, ReadyTech’s flexible solutions and immersive technologies empower you to deliver courses that easily match—or surpass—the experiences of traditional classrooms.

References & Statistics

• Global E-Learning Market Growth – eLearning Industry
• Corporate Adoption of Online Training – Statista
• Real-Time Feedback Importance – LinkedIn Learning
• Digital Distractions in Remote Work – Harvard Business Review
• VR Learning Efficiency – PwC

• Checking connectivity using ReadyTech’s Pre-Check Tool
• Guidelines for using private and public chat features
• Accessing course materials
• Understanding breakout group usage (if applicable)
• Backup contact details for the instructor in case of technical issues
• Sharing assistant instructor’s contact information (if available)
• Providing ReadyTech’s 24/7/365 live support line

Practice for Perfection Before delivering your online course live, conduct a dry run, preferably with an audience, using the online training software. During practice, note any unnecessary applications, tools, or potential distractions within the course. Share this list with your Curriculum Developers, who can remove these distractions from the virtual training lab. For example, assess whether students require access to multiple web browsers, the entire Microsoft Office Suite, or just specific applications. By eliminating unnecessary distractions, you can enhance your teaching success.

Enlist an Assistant Instructor If your online class has more than 15 students, consider recruiting an assistant instructor to provide additional support. An assistant instructor proves invaluable when students engage in hands-on labs and require software assistance. This additional support allows the lead instructor to focus on delivering class instruction. The assistant can address incoming chat messages and handle unforeseen situations, such as connectivity issues or missing course materials. By leveraging an assistant instructor’s help, you can maximize your teaching time and effectively meet the course’s learning objectives. Remember, every minute spent assisting one student is not spent delivering valuable instruction to the rest of the class.

By following these expert tips, you can ensure a smooth and successful online training delivery experience. Maximize student engagement, provide effective instruction, and achieve your course objectives with confidence.

Hands-on training, also known as experiential learning, emphasizes learning by doing. This approach proves highly effective in teaching software applications, procedures, and equipment, enabling instructors to assess students’ mastery of new skills or processes immediately. Additionally, hands-on training offers numerous benefits, such as creating a safe learning environment, fostering self-directed learners, motivating students, increasing engagement, and delivering a strong return on investment (ROI).

1. Improved Learning: Experiencing what is being learned enhances the learning process. As explained by learning and development consultant Deb Peterson, hands-on training is akin to learning how to ride a bike. Teaching a child to ride a bike involves getting on the bike, not merely reading about it.
2. Safe Learning Environment: Mistakes are a natural part of the learning process. A dedicated virtual training environment, separate from production or development environments, ensures students can learn and experiment without jeopardizing business continuity. Sometimes, a training environment with non-production data may be necessary to enhance security and privacy.
3. Self-Directed Learners: Experiential learning requires students to tackle unfamiliar situations and tasks in real-world contexts. To accomplish this, students must navigate their existing knowledge, identify gaps, and acquire new information. This type of learning fosters self-directed, lifelong learners who reflect on prior knowledge, apply it to new situations, and master new skills.
4. Motivated Students: Experiential learning motivates students by demonstrating the relevance of their training experiences in real-life scenarios. Opportunities for practice and immediate feedback further enhance motivation among students.
5. increased Engagement: Hands-on training actively engages students in the learning process, resulting in improved attention, focus, and critical thinking skills. Integrating hands-on training encourages active participation, requiring students to interact with instructors and collaborate with peers rather than passively listening.
6. Strong ROI: Hands-on training surpasses traditional lecture-based approaches and PowerPoint presentations. It not only enhances knowledge but also efficiently transfers skills to students, reducing the need for additional training in the future. According to The Learning Pyramid, active learning methods, such as practicing by doing, lead to higher retention rates than passive methods focused on theory and memorization.
7. Employee Success and Retention: The success of an organization hinges on its employees. Engaging and motivating employees, as well as retaining top performers, positively impacts corporate financial results. Research supports that training methods that keep employees engaged and motivated yield significant benefits.

While various training delivery methods exist, hands-on training remains a highly effective approach. Its ability to enhance learning, engagement, and ROI makes it a valuable choice for organizations seeking to empower their employees with practical skills and knowledge.

What is Virtual IT Labs Software?

A virtual IT lab is a simulated environment where employees can practice and perform tasks. Virtual IT labs software allows organizations to create, manage and deploy virtual machines for training and development that can be accessed remotely. This allows employees to learn more at their own pace, on their own time, and in a secure environment. Virtual IT labs are also known as virtual labs, cloud labs or desktop as a service (DaaS). These labs are created and maintained in the cloud by a managed service provider (MSP) such as a virtualization service provider or a software-as-a-service (SaaS) provider.

A virtual IT lab is usually built for collaborative and hands-on activities that are driven by a specific set of virtualized systems. Virtual IT labs are designed to simulate real-world scenarios so employees can practice what they’ve learned in a safe environment. They can be used to train employees at scale, regardless of their geographic location. This is ideal for organizations who have distributed teams and require employees to follow the same process or workflow.

With virtual labs, organizations can create an environment where everyone can follow the same process and receive the same training no matter where they’re located. This helps minimize the risk of creating issues in customers’ environments. Virtual IT labs software is also useful for organizations that need to comply with regulatory requirements. This is because you can put together all your controls and checklists in the lab environment and then deploy them to customers from there.

How Can Virtual IT Labs Software Benefit Organizational Change?

The sooner virtual IT labs software is adopted, the sooner organizations can realize the many benefits that come with this technology. However, they can only do so if organizations are willing to make the change from traditional methods. Companies that adopt virtual IT labs software can expect to see higher levels of efficiency and effectiveness, as well as greater consistency in training programs. These labs will also allow for the reduction of costs, as organizations do not need to purchase as many servers for training purposes. This is helpful for organizations looking to reduce costs or manage expenses.

While there are a wide range of benefits associated with virtual labs, the most critical one is the ability to scale or expand training programs as the organization grows. While traditional training programs often result in the need to re-train employees, virtual labs can be easily expanded to include new employees.

Why Virtual Labs Are Important for Modern Companies

Maintain Business Continuity

One reason virtual IT labs software is important is that it allows organizations to maintain business continuity. There is no reason to set aside huge blocks of time to work on training, and employees do not have to leave work for a long time to travel.

Provide Employees with 24/7 Help

Another benefit of virtual IT labs software is that they provide employees with 24/7 help. This can be especially beneficial for companies with employees who work unconventional hours. If a technician is working with a client in another country, for instance, they may need virtual assistance. This means that the technician can still rely on an IT support staff for assistance even though their hours may not be the same. Having virtual IT labs software can help organizations provide their employees with the assistance they need, even if they work odd hours.

Eliminating the need for physical infrastructure

For many years, traditional lab spaces have been used to conduct experiments. However, the high cost of maintaining a physical lab and the need for safe conditions to protect the equipment and materials have limited the expansion of the educational space. Virtual IT labs software eliminates the need for physical infrastructure and can be used to increase collaboration and communication among students and researchers at a global level. This is because virtual technologies can be used to connect people across different geographical locations. Virtual labs can also be used to create a safe learning environment for students without specialized skills or equipment. This can be achieved by providing an environment that lets students utilize their creativity and curiosity to conduct virtual experiments and produce results.

Driven by advanced technology

Virtual IT labs software has emerged with the introduction of advanced technologies such as augmented reality (AR), artificial intelligence (AI), and robotics and are being used to complement the learning experience. For example, AR can be used to visualize the properties of materials, like chemical compounds and elements. AI can be used to generate and find solutions to problems and create simulations. Robotics can also be used to conduct virtual experiments and operate machines or other equipment by connecting them to the cloud.

Accessibility

Virtual IT labs software can also help to improve accessibility. This is particularly true among learners who may face accessibility challenges in the real world. Through virtual labs, learners can practice with realistic equipment in a safe environment.

Cost Savings

Virtual IT labs software can also help to reduce costs for businesses. This is particularly true in industries like aviation and healthcare, where expensive equipment is required for training. By using virtual labs, organizations can reduce the need for real-world equipment, as well as the need for instructors to travel to their training locations.

Improving the quality of education

Virtual IT labs software are being used to help students learn fundamental concepts in a more intuitive way. Virtual labs enable students to explore real-life phenomena and conduct virtual experiments without the need for expensive lab equipment. This allows students to gain a greater understanding of the concepts behind the experiments and learn in a more engaging way.

Enhancing teaching and learning experiences

Besides improving the quality of education, virtual labs can be used to enhance the learning experience for students. This can be achieved by placing the virtual labs within immersive VR environments, which can help students visualize concepts in a 3D setting and conduct virtual experiments. VR can make the learning process more interesting and engaging, enabling students to gain a greater understanding of the concepts behind the experiments.

Allow Employees to Work from Home

With virtual IT labs software, employees can also work from home. This is especially beneficial if an employee has a child who is ill and needs to visit the pediatrician or if there is a natural disaster in the employee’s area. Virtual labs allow employees to work remotely and access important data or programs. This can be especially beneficial for workers who do shift work, those with family obligations, or anyone else who may need to work remotely.

Encourage Innovation and Experimentation

Another benefit of virtual IT labs software is that they encourage innovation and experimentation. Companies can encourage employees to use the virtual lab to test out new ideas and collaborate. For example, virtual labs can be used as a digital hub to store and share knowledge and resources between students and their mentors. This enables students to access and use these resources at any time and location and encourages them to learn from each other. Virtual labs can also be used to facilitate group discussions. This can be achieved by allowing the participants to share their screens with each other and communicate through the use of text and audio. Companies have been using virtual labs for decades, but many have yet to fully explore their potential.

How to implement a Virtual IT Work Training Lab?

Virtual IT labs software training can be implemented in several ways. You can create a lab environment on your own computers. You can also choose to use an existing virtualization platform to create a lab environment. There are many virtualization platforms available today. Choosing the best one for your needs, however, can be a challenge. That is why you should consider the needs of your business, requirements, and budget to create an efficient lab environment.

We Can Help

Companies that invest in employee training benefit from reduced attrition rates and hiring costs, better employee productivity, more knowledgeable employees, and a competitive hiring package. ReadyTech’s remote training software provides different ways to interact with trainers and peers, encouraging participation and active learning. We provide companies and their employees with a hosted training solution that offers hands-on, virtual training software to aid your workforce in practicing job skills.

ReadyTech provides your company with all the software you need for your virtual training classroom, and we offer a full-service setup process and 24/7 live support. Contact us today.

What are Virtual Classrooms?

Virtual classrooms are online learning platforms that offer remote employees/students the opportunity to attend class without leaving their home. A virtual classrooms allows remote workers to participate in live online meetings, webinars, conference calls, and other collaborative learning activities with the same level of engagement as people who are in the same room. Virtual classrooms provide the same benefits as real-world classrooms, from increased engagement to a better understanding of content. These virtual meeting spaces can be used for everything from remote meetings to training sessions. Before the internet, virtual classrooms were mostly used in higher education settings. Now, they’re also used by businesses to host meetings, train employees, and more.

How can a Virtual Classroom benefit remote employees?

Virtual classrooms can be used for everything from training and onboarding to strategy sessions and weekly check-ins. Virtual classrooms can help reduce the challenges of remote work by providing a space for your team to interact with one another. This can be especially helpful for new remote employees who might need extra help getting acclimated to the lifestyle. Unlike video conferencing, a virtual classroom is designed for engagement. You can also use these virtual meeting spaces to host large meetings with multiple teams. This can help each team feel like they’re an active part of the process and give them a way to engage with one another.

4 Tools that Every Virtual Classroom Should Have

Whiteboards – Whiteboards are one of the best tools for facilitating brainstorming and other types of collaboration. While many virtual classrooms provide basic virtual tools, few offer whiteboards. This is a key tool for remote workers to feel like they’re part of an in-person meeting.

Screen sharing – Many virtual classrooms include screen sharing capabilities so participants can share content with each other during meetings. This makes it easier for multiple people to actively participate in discussions.

Polling tools – Remote workers may feel like they’re not contributing as much to meetings when they can’t speak out. Polling tools make it easier for everyone to be heard.

Chat rooms – A virtual classroom should have a chat room where participants can ask questions and have real-time conversations. This is especially helpful for large meetings where remote workers can still actively participate.

3 Ways to Create a Virtual Classroom for your Employees

Automated virtual classrooms – These virtual classrooms are completely automated. You set up the meeting, and the platform does the rest. You can choose the type of meeting (video, audio, or both), invite employees, and set the mood with music and other effects. You can even set timers to keep everyone on track.

Self-host virtual classrooms – If you want the ultimate level of control over how your virtual classroom operates, you can self-host a virtual classroom. This gives you full authority over the room, which is especially helpful if you have remote employees with special needs.

Hybrid virtual classrooms – Despite its name, a hybrid virtual classroom isn’t a single, distinct tool. It’s a combination of different virtual classroom tools, including web conferencing, online collaboration tools, and video services. A hybrid virtual classroom can help you decide which capabilities are the most important for your team and provide a way for you to mix and match the best tools for your unique needs.

2 Best Practices for Managing a Virtual Classroom

Set guidelines for attendance – It can be tempting to have a virtual classroom that anyone can attend at any time, but this can lead to low attendance and non-value-added meetings. Before you launch your virtual classroom, make sure you have guidelines for attendance and a way for participants to log feedback about the meetings.

Make sure your virtual classroom works for remote workers with special needs – Some remote workers may need extra assistance participating in your virtual classroom. Make sure your virtual classroom has a way for them to actively participate in discussions and provide feedback without disrupting others.

What are the benefits of virtual classrooms?

Virtual classrooms offer many benefits, especially for working adults. These courses allow you to complete coursework at your own pace, which can reduce stress. You won’t have to take time out of your busy schedule to attend classes. Instead, you can simply log in and complete the coursework at home or in your spare time from any computer with internet access. This also means that virtual classrooms don’t require commuting or time spent traveling to campus and back each day. Virtual classrooms also tend to be more affordable than traditional campus-based programs as well as provide more flexibility for working adults by eliminating the need for traditional class times.

Convenient for working adults

Perhaps the most significant advantage of virtual classrooms is that they are convenient for working adults. Most online students are employed adults, so having the flexibility to complete coursework from home is essential. Virtual classrooms allow students to complete assignments and take exams at their own pace, which can reduce anxiety and stress. This is especially helpful for students who work full-time and have families, as it allows them to find the time to complete coursework in their spare time rather than having to make time for it during the workday.

Affordable and flexible learning options

Online programs tend to be more affordable than attending a traditional campus-based program. This is especially the case when you consider the reduced cost of commuting to campus. Online programs are also more flexible with regards to the number of courses available online versus on campus. Many online programs are entirely online, which offers more flexibility for working adults who may not be able to attend classes in person. With a campus-based program, you’re often required to attend certain courses on campus at specific times, regardless of whether or not you can attend.

Reduce stress and anxiety due to convenience

Another significant advantage of virtual classrooms for working adults is that they can reduce stress and anxiety due to convenience. Working adults often feel significant stress when trying to find the time to travel to campus, attend classes, and complete coursework. Virtual classrooms allow students to complete coursework in their spare time from home. This is especially helpful for students with disabilities or other special circumstances that require specific accommodations.

Immerse yourself in the learning environment

Virtual classrooms also offer students the ability to immerse themselves in the learning environment. This means that you have access to things like the library, tutoring, and other resources that you would normally have on campus. This can help you become more immersed in the learning process and make it feel more like a campus-based program.

Conclusion

Overall, virtual classrooms offer many advantages and benefits for working adults. These courses allow you to complete coursework at your own pace, which can reduce stress. You won’t have to take time out of your busy schedule to attend classes. Instead, you can simply log in and complete the coursework at home or in your spare time from any computer with internet access. These online learning platforms also tend to be more affordable than traditional campus-based programs. Virtual classrooms also provide more flexibility for working adults by eliminating the need for traditional class times.

The best solution for your remote employees is a virtual classroom. Virtual classrooms are designed for engagement and make it easier for people to participate in meetings and other activities. A virtual classrooms can be used to host large meetings, train employees, and more. Before launching a virtual classroom, make sure you have guidelines for attendance and that your virtual classroom works for remote workers with special needs. With these tools, your virtual classroom can help remote employees continue growing as professionals.

ReadyTech is Here

Remote, self-paced training is the new frontier of teaching and learning, as the need to keep up with the growing remote learning industry is stronger than ever. ReadyTech provides you with everything you need, and we offer a full-service setup process and 24/7 live support. Do you have questions? Contact us today.

 What is VILT Software for? 

VITL software is for any company that offers training. This includes companies in all industries. It’s helpful for businesses in all stages of growth, including startups and established companies. It’s also beneficial for employees of all job levels, as it can be used to train new hires or offer advanced training to managers.

 VILT software enables businesses to provide employees with the training they need to excel at their jobs without having to travel to an actual location. It also gives companies the opportunity to create an online hub where employees can access all of the company’s training modules and resources. Employees can always be up-to-date on best practices and policies because the information is just a click away. It’s also easy to track employee progress and see who still needs to review certain modules so you can follow up accordingly. This type of virtual training also lets you create a standardized training program for all employees no matter where they are located. Whether they’re in the office or out on the road, they can attend all training sessions in real time and be on the same page as their colleagues.

How does VITL Software work?

Virtual instructor-led training software works like a virtual classroom. Employees log in to the software and join a virtual room where they can interact with other employees and an instructor. There are a number of different software options when it comes to virtual instructor-led training software. 

What are the benefits of VILT software?

Today’s businesses are always on and constantly testing limits to see what new opportunities emerge. This requires employees to be an active part of the blueprint and operation, instead of just a cog in the wheel. Operating at this accelerated pace requires productive, streamlined processes that can help your organization run smoothly. One way to do this is by implementing VITL software. 

With these tools, you can create interactive online courses that will streamline processes and keep employees informed on best practices. These virtual training platforms also give you access to customizable e-learning modules so you can update them as needs change, enabling your organization to operate more efficiently for years to come. Given everything it offers, it’s no wonder why VITL software is becoming more commonplace in today’s businesses.

Here are some ways VITL software can help organizations operate more efficiently. 

Easy to scale across departments 

VILT software is a scalable solution that can be used across departments and across time zones. You can easily add or remove modules as needed, making it easier to scale as your organization grows. 

Easy to update 

VILT software gives you easy, centralized access to all training modules, regardless of what department they’re in. This makes it easy to update content as your organization’s needs change. 

Easy to share information 

VILT software is designed to make it easy to share information, like sales reports or top-performing products, with various departments. This makes it easier to keep everyone informed on what matters most.

Easy to implement 

VILT software is an easy solution to implement because it’s scalable, easy to manage, and can be accessed across departments and time zones. This makes it easy to get started and maintain virtual training sessions across your organization. 

Easy to maintain 

VILT software is easy to maintain because updates are centralized, making it easier to manage the content. You can also create custom training modules for specific departments, like marketing or sales, to keep everyone on track.

Students excel

VILT software is a learning platform that employees can use to keep up with best practices and company policies. These training modules can include anything from product information to operational procedures. Employees can view these modules whenever they need a refresher so there’s less chance of mistakes occurring in the field. 

It’s customizable

VILT software also allows you to create customized training modules for your top performers so they can share their expertise with others. This can help get new hires up to speed faster and promote organic growth within your organization.

It enables continuous improvement proposals

As your organization grows and evolves, you may find that certain policies need to be updated. Virtual instructor-led training software makes it easy to create and manage continuous improvement proposals (CIPs). These CIPs make it easy to track feedback and gauge how your customers feel about your products and services. It also gives you access to information that can help you make strategic decisions going forward. 

For example, if your sales team is struggling to reach their monthly quota, a CIP can help you track feedback on your products and services to see where you may need to make changes. It’s important to keep track of this data so you can make adjustments as needed and help your team succeed.

It improves communication within the organization

One of the most important things in any organization is communication. Virtual instructor-led training software helps organizations stay in communication with one another so everyone stays on track. Because virtual training software is centralized and accessible to all departments, it helps promote communication throughout the organization. Employees can easily view sales reports, customer feedback, and other information that can help them do their jobs better. This can help promote the open communication needed to make sure the organization runs smoothly.

Reduced costs 

There are a number of ways that virtual instructor-led training software can reduce costs. It can eliminate the need for travel and transportation costs, as employees can log in from anywhere. There are no real estate costs associated with having a central location for hosting classes. It can also reduce costs associated with hiring instructors, as it is easier to hire experienced virtual instructors. 

Ease of access 

Employees can access training sessions at any time, from any location. This is convenient for employees who don’t have the time or ability to make it to physical classes. It also allows employees to take training at their own pace, as they can log in and out as needed. 

Record and review sessions 

VILT software allows you to easily record and review training sessions. This is helpful for employees who are looking to learn more efficiently and for managers who want to be able to review past sessions. 

It enables personalized learning

In a traditional classroom setting, most students will stop listening to a lecture after about ten minutes. It takes tremendous concentration to sit through up to a three hour lecture every week or several hours and days of training in a row. In addition, taking copious notes in the moment while trying to continue to listen is a challenge, and some pertinent material will inevitably be lost. A better way to learn and retain information is through online coursework. In ReadyTech’s virtual classrooms, lectures can be uploaded and can be referred to at a later date if material needs to be recalled.

Summing up

VILT software is a program that helps businesses offer training sessions in an accessible way. It creates a virtual classroom using computer software so employees can log in and get trained at their convenience. There are many benefits to virtual instructor-led training software, including reduced costs, ease of access and the ability to record and review sessions for future reference. 

VILT software has become an essential part of businesses in the modern age. With virtual instructor-led training software, organizations can create a centralized hub where employees can access training modules and resources. This training software can be used across departments and time zones, making it a scalable solution that is easy to maintain. Virtual training software also makes it easy to update content and share information between departments. Virtual instructor-led training software helps businesses streamline their organizational processes on many levels. It makes it easier to implement, maintain, and improve communication throughout the organization.

Let’s Talk 

ReadyTech provides you with a hosted training solution that offers hands-on, self-paced VILT software to aid employees in practicing job skills. Companies that invest in employee training benefit from reduced attrition rates and hiring costs, better productivity, more knowledgeable employees, and a competitive hiring environment.

ReadyTech provides you with all the software you need for your virtual classroom, and we offer a full-service setup process as well as 24/7 live support. Contact us today.

• Choose essential content. Identify what content is critical to the success of your VILT class, such as reading materials, videos, lectures, exams, lab exercises and assignments. Once you’ve identified the critical content, ensure your VILT software can support all of it then work with your curriculum developers to build an engaging class around the content.
• Understand the power of interactive features. Because VILT software doesn’t provide face-to-face interactions, it is important to encourage student interaction via interactive features. Use polls, quizzes, test-your-knowledge questions, breakout groups and emoticons to keep students involved and engaged.
• Catch—and keep—their attention. Multimedia is the secret ingredient to catching students’ attention and keeping it. So focus your efforts on engaging their senses throughout the class by regularly switching between lecture and videos, or lecture and lab time.
• Keep it short and sweet. The human brain’s short-term memory can only hold 7 pieces of information for about 30 seconds. That means the brain quickly forgets large amounts of information—which doesn’t bode well in a VILT environment. As a result, keep your VILT sessions short. Information overload is a surefire way to lose your students before the class even gets underway.
• Keep it small. Remember the huge lecture halls in college where you took a class with 100 other students and hardly knew anyone in your class? We know that traditional classroom size matters—and guess what? Classroom size also matters in VILT. The fact is that the smaller the number of students, the stronger the interaction. And stronger interactions equate to a more successful VILT class.
• Consider an assistant instructor. If you are teaching your first VILT class—or if your class has more than 20 students—ask a colleague familiar with the VILT software to be your assistant instructor. An assistant can provide support and handle chat messages, which keeps you focused on providing training. In addition, assistant instructors can help students troubleshoot lab exercises or assist students in obtaining course materials.
• Prepare students and assistant instructors. Assume this is everyone’s first time working in a VILT environment. Send them guides and instructions on how to enter the VILT classroom and how to use the VILT software. For ReadyTech customers, contact your Customer Success Manager for manuals, instructions and guides.
• Practice by yourself. Prior to your VILT class, practice giving the class to an empty virtual classroom. This allows you to iron-out kinks, smooth out your transitions and get comfortable with the VILT software.
• Recruit family and friends. After you’ve practiced by yourself, practice in front of friends and family. Give them access to your virtual classroom and deliver your class. Then give them a feedback form covering content, transitions, pace and delivery.
• Keep technical support handy. In case you need it, know how to get help from your VILT software provider. ReadyTech customers can contact the 24/7/365 Live Support Team at +1 (800) 707-1009 or get-support@readytech.com.
• Get to know your students. At the start of class, do an icebreaker exercise with your students. Get to know them and ask then to complete their profile in ReadyTech’s Lobby, their reasons for taking the class and their current role in their organization. If you have more than 20 students, consider having your assistant instructor help.

In this 2-part blog post, we provide the first 2 reasons why training departments are switching to VILT:

1. VILT Eliminates Travel

With hefty airline, lodging, car rental and per diem expenses, travel costs can add up very quickly. When you compare in-person training and online training, virtual training eliminates the need for travel and lodging, making online training a cost-effective and accessible option. With VILT, not only do students have the ability to access content from anywhere in the world, but instructors don’t need to manage the wear-and-tear and stress associated with constantly being on the road and away from home.

2. VILT Mimics Real-life Classrooms

It is a misconception that face-to-face training is the only type of teaching that allows instructors to implement strategies that keep students involved and engaged. It is also a misconception that virtual training is just watching presentations and videos, without the interactivity of an in-person class.

It is a misconception that face-to-face training is the only type of teaching that keeps students involved and engaged.

In fact, today’s most innovative virtual machine training includes features that make virtual classrooms the same – or better than – in-person classroom environments, making it easy for instructors to provide effective and engaging learning experiences. For example:

• Virtual training labs (sometimes referred to as lab environments) allow for hands-on exercises and practice examples using the actual software being taught, not simulations. These exercises give students the practical training they need to become productive with the technology they’ll be using at work.
• Private and public chats allow instructors to efficiently communicate back and forth with individual students or with the entire class.
• Whiteboards allow instructors to draw, write, and demonstrate flowcharts, process maps and IT network diagrams.
• Using screen-sharing features, instructors can share their desktop or a student’s desktop with the entire class or a select group of students within the class.
• Through remote lab control, instructors can easily access any student’s virtual training lab to show them how to fix an error or to demonstrate a best practice.
• Activity monitoring tools allow instructors to continuously see if students are still working in their labs and staying engaged.

VILT software provides a nearly identical teaching experience for instructors – and, arguably, a better learning experience for students. The innovative features in VILT software have taken instructor/student interactions to a new level.

Check back again in 2 weeks when we provide the 3 other reasons why training departments are switching to virtual training. See you then!

For businesses, this new reality means investing in employee education and training. Business leaders have a vested interest in keeping their employees up to date on the latest in-demand skills, but that training comes at a cost.

The Cost of Doing Training

According to Training Industry, total employee training expenditures in the United States reached $366.2 billion in 2018, a four percent increase from the year before. This number is expected to increase by $7.5 billion in 2019.

As technology and software become more prevalent in our lives, training priorities are shifting to include more marketable technology skills. Consider how much the role tech companies play in our lives has grown. For instance, here are the five largest companies, by market capture, in 1998:

• Microsoft
• General Electric
• Exxon Mobil
• Royal Dutch Shell
• Merck

And, here are the five largest companies last year:

• Apple
• Amazon
• Alphabet
• Microsoft
• Facebook

With the growth of technology in both our lives and our work, training departments have had to adapt their training delivery methods. More employees are using technology at work, and you can’t effectively teach technological skills the same way you teach soft skills.

How do you teach technology skills in an affordable way? At first, training departments did what they were most familiar with: in-person training at physical training facilities. But as training departments (and learners) looked at the costs of travel and accommodations, and instructors continued to experience the headaches of shipping, setting up and tearing down computer labs, everyone began to wonder: Is there a better way?

That better way is online training. When you compare in-person training to online training, online training is more affordable. Virtual instructor-led training (VILT) typically costs anywhere from 30 percent to 70 percent less than comparable in-person training. The result is a virtual training platform that allows for effective delivery of IT training. Expert instructors are there to answer questions, provide direction and keep students on the right track. With VILT software, students gain instructor oversight while being able to experience real-life, hands-on practice with the software they’re learning to use.

Virtual Training Lab to the Rescue

The best way to teach technologically advanced skills is with a technologically advanced approach to learning. Online classes are a convenient, low-overhead way to provide employees with instructional materials. Unfortunately, traditional e-learning models aren’t up to the task of giving learners direct, hands-on experience with the technologies they’re learning.

Virtual training labs combine the convenience and ease of use of online classes with the power and flexibility provided by contemporary technology. Like using a remote desktop program, with this type of training, learners can use their own devices to log in to a remote computer, view its desktop on their own screen and input commands from wherever they are.

With virtual training labs, training departments can offer hands-on technology exercises without shipping or setting up computer labs. When you combine these cost reductions with improved productivity, virtual training labs are the better option for teaching technology skills to employees and customers.

In a virtual training lab, learners are remotely accessing the equivalent of a powerful workstation running a full-featured installation of the software they’re training on. More importantly, the lab software allows instructors to monitor and interact with students. They are able to see what students are doing on their own screens, set up breakout rooms for side discussions, provide whiteboards for collaborative work and much more.

Virtual Training Labs: The Pros

Skills training pros and cons are inevitable for different types of  virtual training programs. Here are some benefits of a hosted training solution for virtual training labs:

• Virtual training software offers more scheduling flexibility. No on-site staff is required to keep virtual training labs open or maintained. As long as they have high-speed internet, virtual training labs are accessible whenever students need to use them.
• Training promotes employee development, which translates into greater productivity and revenue for their employers. Virtual training labs (also known as a lab environment) are a cost-effective way to offer a wide range of educational options to your staff.
• Virtual training labs are contained and secure, giving learners a safe space to practice their skills without the risk of corrupting live data, leaking sensitive information, or damaging expensive hardware.
• By offering practical skill acquisition methods that minimally disrupt work schedules, employees can learn vital, career-advancing skills without having to travel or take time off.

Virtual Training Labs: The Cons

Of course, no single instructional method has all the answers. There are some drawbacks to virtual training labs, especially if you try to introduce them into a workplace setting that isn’t already technologically savvy and tuned in to the latest innovations. Here are a few cons to keep in mind:

• Learners who are still in the process of acclimating to a technology-heavy work environment may not enjoy online training or may have difficulty appreciating its advantages.
• Virtual training labs are a new, innovative approach to learning, and navigating them well is a skill in itself. Some workers may find the shift from traditional to virtual learning to be jarring.
• Some workers may need general technology skills training before they feel comfortable using virtual training labs.
• Offering prerequisite technology skills training may lengthen the process for rolling out virtual training labs and can overburden support staff with questions about how to use them.
• Assessing your potential learners and their level of technological competence can be as important as providing the virtual training itself, but it can be time-consuming and costly.
• You must factor in the time, expense and effort required to prepare and train instructors and other relevant staff to teach virtually.

Conclusion

For workers in today’s job market, it’s vital to receive adequate ongoing training in the newest technological advances and innovations. Without direct support from their employers, many workers will struggle to access the training and education they need. Virtual labs pros and cons may be present, but the benefits outweighs its disadvantages.

Most companies will obtain a great return on their investment when they provide their employees with training opportunities. Cloud lab environments may not be a universally applicable solution for every company, but when you weigh the pros and cons of labs, they stand out as a powerful, cost-effective and flexible way to help workers learn and master the technological skills they need to thrive in the 21st-century workforce.