ILT is when a human instructor facilitates a training session for an individual or group of learners in person or online. This traditional method of learning is interactive and personalized. The offline ILTs can include lectures, discussions, activities, and hands-on practices.
Soviet psychologist and social constructivist Lev Vygotsky believed that learning is a social process and instructors can help the learners move to the zone of achieved development (ZAD).
Scaffolding instructional theory is inspired by Vygotsky's Zone of Proximal Development. In this zone, the learner can learn new skill sets with help and guidance.
On the other hand, the skill gap is widening across the globe. According to the World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs Report 2023, 44% of workers' skills will be disrupted, and about 60 percent will require training before 2027. A huge chasm indeed.
Both offline ILT and virtual instructional-led training (VILT) are important for skill development. VILT is also called synchronous learning. A 2019 Brandon Hall Group survey indicated that 96% of those surveyed continued to use ILT/VILT for training. In this blog, we will explore the advantages of ILT for learning and development
ILTs bring in aspects of human connection and collaboration. Learning on the go, self-paced learning, and flexibility of time and location have become salient features of training. However, ILT has not lost its sheen.
ILTs are dynamic, engaging, and interactive, and learners get involved in hands-on technical training too. ILTs are helpful for technical training in industries like manufacturing, hospitality, production, etc.
Curiosity is central to learning, and instructors bring in their experience and expertise to help the learner comprehend better. There is real-time interaction and relationship building. The instructor can be the team leader, SME, or a peer. The face-to-face conversations and idea exchanges are more impactful.
Additionally, offline ILTs combine instructor guidance and workshop-based learning.
There is multi-sensory engagement involving all five senses. It aids in quicker knowledge understanding and retention.
However, only a limited number of learners can be accommodated in a physical location. Sessions need to be held at multiple locations across geographical boundaries to reach the training goals. This makes L&D costly to scale.
Offline ILTs have managed to circumvent the challenges of scalability by adopting technological innovations. VILTs help to reach out to any number of learners across the globe at the same time. Video conferencing tools integrated into Learning Management Systems (LMSs) help to make discussions, and training seamless.
ILTs include both face-to-face sessions and virtual classroom sessions. They bring the best of both worlds to provide the most efficient learning solutions for skill development. They form an integral part of any training program, along with eLearning. Its importance in skill development cannot be undermined. Each organization has to adopt a unique combination of ILT and eLearning based on the industry and skill set.
We at Tesseract Learning, offer a suite of services that will cater to the needs of all organizations. We have taken ILTs to a higher level by integrating video conferencing tools into our KREDO LMS. You can also schedule both face-to-face and online sessions through the Classroom feature of KREDO. Learners can connect to their instructor through the discussion forums. Moreover, these webinars and Classrooms can be added to the customized learning paths for each user or user group.
To know more about how we could help your organization develop effective learning and training solutions, contact us or write to us at <suresh@tesseractlearning.com>