7 Advantages of Virtual Classroom Learning
For those who are accustomed to face to face workshops, moving to online classrooms might feel like an inferior option. It’s perfectly normal to focus on what you are ‘losing’ (or I would say what is different) and it can take some time for us to see the advantages of virtual classroom learning. The good news is that virtual classrooms have some clear advantages over face to face ones. I’ve been facilitating virtual classroom sessions for nearly 5 years now. Here are just a few of the advantages I have noticed.
Everyone can ‘speak’ at once: In the physical classroom, getting 15 opinions at once causes chaos. No one gets heard. In the virtual classroom, you can gather multiple ideas from as many people as you like in the chat. This means each person gets to put forward their thoughts for each question asked of the group. You can then pick up on the ones you want to explore further and no ideas get lost.
It gives people with an introversion preference a chance to get a word in: Some people like to form their thoughts by talking them out loud with a group. Those with an introversion preference however, prefer to fully form their thoughts first before sharing. Even in the most well facilitated face to face sessions you can find that participants who prefer to talk their thoughts out loud get more air time. Asking for answers in the chat box before inviting people to speak helps people who may not otherwise speak up in a group, put their ideas forward. It’s a great leveller.
Participants are more forthcoming with personal stories: I expected the opposite. Many virtual classroom sessions are recorded and as it is easier to put names to comments in this format, I feared that people might be more guarded. I find the opposite is true. Perhaps it’s the anonymity of being behind a keyboard, attending from the comfort of your own home or the fact that you can share a personal story and not have to see the reaction of your colleagues. Either way, I’ve found participants more forthcoming.
4. Disengaged participants impact others less: I‘ve had very few participants that don’t play a full part in a workshop but the world of work can be a high-pressure place and every so often you’ll come across someone who is trying to multitask while in your session. In the face to face classroom, someone texting, or emailing, however subtle they think they are, is really distracting for everyone else (which is why I invite them to step outside if they can’t wait for the break). Online, this doesn’t have to affect the rest of the group at all. Just focus on who is there. It’s also much harder for people to grind their axe online too. People tend not to take up airtime or chat space with individual gripes and if they do it’s easier to manage.
5. 90 mins of something is better than a whole day that never happens: In my experience, the ideal amount of time for a virtual classroom session is somewhere around 90 minutes. Facilitators often remark that participants don’t get ‘the full’ experience that they would get on a one day workshop. Maybe not, but how long would you have to wait to get everyone together face to face? How long will the sign-off for that kind of budget take? 90 minutes of actionable learning that helps someone in the here and now is better than a whole day of face to face that takes place in 6 months or maybe not at all. And it’s not an either/or thing. A shorter session now may whet the appetite for more learning in future. This is the direction of travel in L&D anyway, perhaps it’s time embrace it.
6. Participants can act on their takeaways the same day: If someone is learning at a PC or mobile device over a short period, they can put their headset down straight after a session and act immediately. This has huge advantages over face to face workshops where people ‘cool off’ and lose that buzz of inspiration as they travel home. With the right design and facilitation, translating learning into action becomes easier.
7. You can reach anyone, anytime and anywhere: This one speaks for itself. I’ve been facilitating sessions with learners in all manner of roles all over the world for years. I love it. How were these people reached before online classrooms? They either got an inferior option to everyone else or they were left out entirely. I freely admit I do not love the 5am starts for the Asia region but during the Covid-19 pandemic it’s been fascinating to hear how people in different countries are dealing with the same pandemic. I wouldn’t miss that cultural exchange for anything.
Bonus advantage: you can practice your Madonna impression
So there you go, just a few advantages of virtual classrooms. What advantages have you experienced?
Comment below or on social media.
