A mentor is the greatest source of inspiration and motivation, be it your parent, friend, teacher, or fictional character.
Learning from someone’s experience is easier, especially when you know where the learning path will take you. If we try to make this philosophy more grounded and practical, we will have instructor-led training. ILT is a traditional yet effective teaching method, even in this technology-driven world. When done well, ILT remains essential for learning and development.
Keep reading to understand how this practice can be incorporated into corporate processes and how to maximize the impact of instructor-led training for corporate learning,
What is Instructor-Led Training?
Instructor-led training (ILT) is when a teacher guides learners, either in person or online. The key is that learners interact with the instructor in real-time for feedback and discussion.
ILT can be conducted in various formats:
Webinar: Online via video conferencing
One-to-One: One learner paired with one instructor
Small-Group: A few learners with one instructor in a classroom
Lecture: One instructor with a larger group of learners
Workshop: Hands-on training
Making ILT Engaging: Strategies and Activities
To ensure that Instructor-Led Training (ILT) captivates and involves participants, consider integrating the following activities:
Icebreakers: Begin the session with icebreakers to help learners get acquainted with the instructor and each other. These activities set a comfortable tone and foster a sense of community right from the start.
Immersive Technologies: Use virtual reality and augmented reality to create engaging, hands-on experiences. These technologies can simulate real-world scenarios, making learning more interactive and memorable.
Workbooks with Writing Tasks: Provide workbooks that include writing tasks. These workbooks guide learners through the material and offer opportunities for reflection and note-taking, reinforcing key concepts.
Open Polling and Response Submissions: Use open polling and response submission tools to gather real-time feedback and opinions from learners. This interactive approach keeps participants actively involved and helps gauge their understanding.
Group Discussions and Debates: Organize group discussions and debates to encourage the exchange of ideas. These activities promote critical thinking and allow learners to explore different perspectives.
Problem-Solving and Interpersonal Learning: Create small groups or pairs for problem-solving activities. These exercises not only enhance understanding but also foster teamwork and interpersonal skills.
Role-Playing Scenarios: Implement role-playing scenarios to help learners apply theoretical knowledge to practical situations. This method builds confidence and prepares participants for real-world applications.
Quizzes and Assessments: Include quizzes and assessments to measure progress and reinforce learning. These tools provide immediate feedback and help identify areas where further review may be needed.
Advantages of Instructor-Led Training
Instructor-led training is pretty much similar to traditional classroom learning but with several teachers and more attention to learners. More advantages of instructor-led training are:
Social environment
ILT encourages open dialogue. It allows learners to engage in cross-functional collaboration through discussions and activities that enhance learning. The more instructors engage with learners, the better the communication, and instructors can adjust the lesson based on learners' needs in real-time.
Easy to enforce
ILT enables learners to apply skills in real-time. Participants practice with guidance from the instructor and receive instant feedback. This helps them learn faster and develop continuous learning skills.
Immediate feedback
If a module is confusing, too slow, or too fast, the instructor can quickly modify the teaching plan to fit real-time feedback.
Demonstrations
Instructors can clearly explain complex concepts and demonstrate procedures and techniques. This helps learners who struggle with written instructions or benefit from visual aids.
Easy to adapt
When instructors can see and assess learners in real-time, they can adjust their teaching accordingly. If the group is advanced, they can speed up; if learners need more time on a topic, they can revisit the content.
Limited distractions
Generally, 49% of learners get distracted by digital tools unrelated to learning. ILT helps learners develop strategies to stay focused. Moreover, participants remember more information when instructors make the learning environment engaging.
Disadvantages of Instructor-Led Training
Instructor-led training has a few disadvantages:
Costs
ILT can be costly. Aside from instructor fees clearly define the ROI for corporate ILT to determine whether it meets your business objectives or not. Better start with calculating learning ROI and then choosing the most optimal corporate learning model.
Time away from work
While getting learners away from office distractions can be beneficial, the downside is that they are still away from the office. Virtual learning tools allow learners to schedule training. Instructor-led training, on the other hand, requires them to set aside a day away from their usual office tasks, which is not desirable for the business POV.
Limited learner numbers
Having fewer participants in ILT sessions enhances engagement and interaction. An instructor may need multiple sessions to cover all learners adequately. Moreover, it is challenging to keep training consistent when instructors repeat the same session several times.
No instant access to training
Geographical and logistical challenges can make it hard for remote learners or those with busy schedules to attend ILT. This limitation can exclude individuals who could benefit from the training but cannot attend in person.
Limited personalized instructions
One of the drawbacks of instructor-led training is the limited personalized instruction. In a group setting, instructors often cannot cater to individual learning needs and paces. This can result in some learners falling behind or not fully grasping the material. Giving individual attention is tough in large groups, which can lessen the impact on each participant.
What Makes a Good Instructor?
Your instructor does not need to be a subject matter expert to conduct effective training. Most instructors undergo courses to learn the material and methods that help learners retain information. While this approach can work well, it succeeds only if you select the right instructors.
Communication skills
Communication is the most crucial skill for any instructor. Wharton School professor Jonah Berger states that confident communication leads to effective persuasion. Trainers must clearly explain the course material and actively listen to questions. Passion for the subject and a good sense of humor also create memorable experiences and connections for learners.
Why do we prioritize communication? When trainers explain complex material, it assures learners they are learning from a true expert.
Leadership skills
Professional trainers are mindful of time. In-person training has fixed start and end times on specific dates. With this structure, instructors must guide the course toward each day's learning objective. By doing this consistently, they ensure that employees receive the best ROI on their training.
Giving and receiving feedback
Participant feedback promotes growth. Without it, we would keep repeating the same methods. However, receiving and accepting feedback can be uncomfortable for some. A good instructor is open to constructive criticism and uses it to enhance their skills.
Embracing innovation
A good instructor embraces innovation. They are open to new teaching methods and technologies that enhance learning. By incorporating innovative tools and approaches, they keep training sessions engaging and relevant. This adaptability ensures that learners receive the most effective and up-to-date education possible.
Ability to Adapt
A key quality for a good instructor in instructor-led training is the ability to adapt. They need to be flexible in adjusting their teaching methods to cater to the diverse needs of learners. Adaptable instructors adjust the pace and handle unexpected issues to ensure every participant grasps the material. This flexibility improves the overall impact of the training.
Knowledge of the L&D Industry
A good instructor must have a solid knowledge of the learning and development (L&D) industry. Knowing current trends, best practices, and new technologies helps instructors create effective training sessions. This expertise keeps their methods aligned with industry standards, giving learners valuable skills.
How to Design an Instructor-Led Training Program?
When planning your training, start by defining your learning objectives. What skills should your trainees master by the end of the program? What should they be able to do by the end of each session? Our three-step guide will help you achieve this.
Create an outline and objectives
Ensure specificity in your objectives. Simply stating, "My group needs to understand the new accounting system" lacks detail. How will you assess their understanding?
A clearer objective would be: "My group needs to learn how to log into the new system, submit payment reports, and print monthly budgets." This objective not only defines what needs to be learned. It also provides measurable criteria for assessing progress during training.
Next, identify any knowledge gaps among your students. Will some attendees have more prior knowledge than others? Might you need to divide the group into separate sessions to accommodate varying experience levels?
Consider the learning experience
Now, you need to plan how to present this information. Designing the learning experience for your group involves several key considerations:
Will you be the sole presenter, or will need additional instructors to cover all topics effectively?
What are the essential skills your group must learn, and how will you confirm their mastery?
Where and when will the class be held?
How will you deliver the information, and what media or visual aids will you use?
How will trainees practice and apply their new knowledge?
Do you need sound equipment for larger groups, or is the setting conducive to everyone hearing clearly?
Is the venue suitable for group learning?
It's crucial to keep the training varied to prevent boredom. Try using active learning methods like learning tournaments and group activities to keep everyone engaged.
Seek a balance between lectures. In addition, ensure trainees engage in exercises while the trainer provides guidance.
Make a detailed session planning
Now that you have outlined what the training should encompass and how you will deliver it, the next step is to create a detailed plan for each session.
Your session plan should include:
The main purpose and objectives of the session.
Preparation, if any.
Materials and resources, such as handouts, visual aids, and textbooks.
Equipment needed.
The content to be covered, how it will be presented, and the sequence (including timings to stay on schedule).
Methods for assessing trainees' learning.
Strategies for gathering feedback to improve future sessions.
Conclusion
Instructor-led training remains one of the cornerstones of effective learning and development strategies. It offers clear guidance and instant feedback, which are vital for learning and remembering skills. Planning objectives and using interesting teaching methods help make training effective. Using feedback for continuous improvement makes instructor-led training successful for learners and organizations.