Is the Physical Classroom Now A Virtual Reality?
Originally posted on January 6th, 2021, edited October 10th, 2024.
Pre-pandemic education in the business community was mainly delivered through instructor-led classrooms or self-study online courses. But 2020, which expanded the work-from-home life style, encouraged the increase in online and hybrid classrooms.
The tried and true advantages of Instructor-led Classrooms
The instructor-led classroom is the learning environment that most of us grew up with; K through 12 and beyond. Our schooldays consisted of getting together, away from outside interruptions, and experiencing the important “human touch.” As students, through this interaction, we learned from both our teachers and from one another. Until recently, this classroom-based instruction was still one of the most time-honored options. Complicated subjects were addressed by a resident instructor with a greater emphasis on group learning and social interaction. The classroom enables valuable information to be understood by the interaction of the instructor and students.
However as we’ve known, instructor-led classroom-based instruction has its share of limitations. Whether it be travel issues, cost, or merely inconvenient course schedules, the need for alternatives to this option were needed by the business community.
The introduction of Self-Study Online Learning
With the spread of the internet in the early ‘90s, another teaching option was introduced. Self-study online learning lets an audience trade prearranged meeting space for the comfort of their home or office. Participants with an internet connection can self-educate anytime from anywhere. The flexibility is felt instantly. Suddenly, students had the flexibility to work within their own schedules to get the training they needed.
However, even this approach has some limitations. Self-study requires dedicated self-discipline and time management. Because of the self-paced nature, the student/instructor interaction almost non-existent. Suddenly, students are left to sort though complex subject matter without the support of a seasoned instructor and a cohort of students. Over my many years of teaching classroom-based courses, many of my students have taken online courses first with unsatisfying results, citing the lack of live instructor interface as a principal reason. Despite the flexibility, its clear that instructor-led instruction has its advantages.
ENTER LIVE VIRTUAL CLASSROOM TRAINING, changing the game for education in the business community!
The current work-from-home movement has morphed into a method of education that combines the strengths of both of the above-mentioned delivery methods. Virtual Classroom Training combines the interactive strengths of the classroom and the convenience of online self-study. Education delivered via live computer-generated classes are made easy and convenient for both the instructor and the student. Anyone, anywhere, can access an instructor led course. Participants do not have to travel to get to the meeting. No type of special equipment is needed, the instructor (presenter) just broadcasts with a webcam to the participants.
Many think that it's the same thing as a watching a YouTube© presentation, but we know this isn’t true. In the real world, you would never confuse watching “How to Unclog Your Kitchen Sink” with attending a virtual school board meeting. The key difference is what self-study lacked, the tried and true advantage of instructor-led classrooms, interaction. Yes, the understanding is classes will take place at a designated time, but because students can login from anywhere, they can participate without the cost of a plane ticket or hotel stay, but maybe just a few hours less sleep.
In many ways, live virtual classroom training offers options the best of both worlds—the valued engagement of an instructor-led classroom with the convenience of Self-Study online learning.
Now, what if you are a student who needs a classroom to learn? What if you don’t have an at home space, or focus zone to step into?
The next step - Hybrid Education
Hybrid Education is the next step in Business education. It gives participants the choice of attending an in-person instructor-led course, while simultaneously providing the same experience for students online. This combination of physical and virtual meetings allows very diverse student cohorts to engage from and how they want to. Because the courses are live, the instructor can just as easily answer the question of a raised hand or a typed chat.
As an instructor in the business community for over 20 years, offering virtual and/or hybrid classes has provided the most success to my students. All my course offerings are available in-person in the tri-state area or virtually throughout the U.S. Despite how you choose to participate, there is one common thread: instructor/student interaction.
For more information about my course offerings check out What We Do or contact me to schedule your next class.