Virtual courses are becoming ever more popular these days, as priorities and schedules shift, and training is becoming more accessible and convenient. Gone are the days of mandatory travel, and four-walled classrooms. Here we are, the generation that welcomes class attendance from home, office, coffee shop, or even a Wi-Fi enabled, sunshine-soaked community park. After all, learning does not have to be a one-size-fits-all type of situation.

So now that we embrace the flexibility and convenience of learning remotely, how can we be sure we are getting the most out of our virtual classes?

Here are several tactics to ensure your learning will not only be fitting for your daily grind, but also be profoundly impactful:

  • Do your due diligence and prep work!

Often instructors will have the class portal set up ahead of time. Log on, introduce yourself, do any available questionnaires and pre-assignments, ask questions up front, and engage with others before class if a forum is available. This allows you to set expectations for your class, get an understanding of the content, class flow, and level of your peers. It could also inspire questions that you previously never had even thought of to ask.

Some classes require reading, however others may require nothing in advance. Even so, logging on early is still encouraged. This will ensure you are up to speed and ready to begin the course with a little more insight than if you have simply joined blindly on the morning of class. It is also an opportunity for you to test your computer, and weed out any technical issues in advance, avoiding being late to the live class because of connectivity problems.

 

  • Communicate/Engage!

You are in a live class, with a live instructor, so ask questions! Offer comments and insight, get a conversation going! It is your class to make of it what you choose. So engage, engage, and engage!

 

  • Provide feedback/share!

Did you benefit from the information? Do you know someone else who would benefit from it? What did you like? What would you change?  Give your instructor feedback on the class, and let others know about this training. This in itself can keep the conversation going, and maintain the learning experience outside of class.

 

  • Take advantage of class recording!

Once you have participated in the live session, you will have access to the recording of the class. If you need review, clarification, or perhaps want to show your boss an important diagram or point you found particularly helpful and interesting, then you can go back and utilize this tool. This is a unique opportunity to take your training with you! This is a valuable resource and will only benefit you as you implement the skills you picked up from your virtual class.