Subhadra
Whether it was the math class in your high school, courses in college, or IT security instruction at your workplace, you have been a part of instructor-led training at some point in time. With online learning and self-paced learning gaining popularity, some critics feel that instructor training will soon fade out. Although technology is reshaping the learning process, instructor-based online classes are here to stay. The process is constantly transforming according to the requirements of the curriculum and the capabilities of students. Let’s take a look at how online classes with instructors have evolved and what is in store for the future.
The Evolution of Instructor-Led Training
Instructor-led training is a regular classroom where an instructor or trainer facilitates a training session for a group of students or an individual. This process has evolved from blackboard teaching to using modern technology for instruction. Whether students have enrolled for a webinar, certification, or online degree course, they will learn and interact in real-time with instructors handling those courses. Earlier students had to depend on the availability of instructors to clarify their doubts. But in the online learning mode, they can record real-time sessions and access them later. They can use different online tools to communicate with the trainers and clarify their queries.
The Future of Instructor-Led Training
With technology revolutionizing education, online teaching methods will also keep advancing. Here are 4 ways how instructor-led online training is likely to change in the future.
1. Reduced travel, more live sessions
This is one of the major advantages and also the future of instructor-led training. Neither students nor instructors need to travel as online education will become the most opted mode of learning. Instructors can conduct live sessions or record their classes and upload them for their students to access. They can create an online learning repository with course books, lectures, assignments, and assessments in the cloud instead of relying on the traditional format.
2. Smaller groups, niche knowledge
The future of instructor-led training will focus on niche learning. Instructors can choose their class size to conduct training in niche subjects. Online teaching will pave the way for instructors to work multiple sessions on a single day. And instructors can train small groups of students instead of dealing with a classroom packed with learners. Trainers and learners will focus more on the subject rather than formalities like a roll call.
3. Better opportunities, hands-on experience
With instructor-led training comes the benefit of hands-on experience for a student. They can learn the concepts and also find a mode to implement those concepts for greater understanding. Instructors can offer internship or mentorship programs thereby giving more learning and development opportunities for students. The future of instructor-based teaching will include simulations, games, and scenarios, using training tools to impart practical knowledge. Hence, students can build niche skills and gain hands-on knowledge in using the tools and software. Virtual apprenticeships will also become a common scenario.
4. Peer coaching and mentoring
The future of instructor-led training will also incorporate peer mentoring and coaching. Since resources are available online, and with cloud technology they are always accessible, students will get frequent opportunities to peer train and mentor each other under the guidance of their instructors. This will enrich the learning experience and also develop other important skills in them. Instructors will get some time off from their classes to plan their future curricula and courses.
Conclusion
Instructor-led training has evolved drastically. It will only enhance in the future in tune with technological advancements. That’s how the learning and development industry functions. While online learning will become the norm, students can still enjoy learning as they did in offline classes.
