Pre-Planning
Strategies
Converting a traditional face-to-face training
course into a distance learning or blended learning course will require some
work at the onset, but will likely make things easier on the
facilitator/trainer further down the road.
The first step to making this a reality is composing pre-planning
strategies for converting the course.
Below is a reasonable checklist for you to follow:
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Create lesson
plan/syllabus defining training time and modules if necessary
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Trainer should be well
versed on lesson plan
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Trainer should be
well-trained on ALL software that students will use including hosting
software (CMS, Wiki, etc.)
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Increase activities and/or
applications for trainees; include chat and DQ areas
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Develop adequate
activities to test learner’s comprehension of training
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Transfer lectures into
written material
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Be certain learners are
familiar with software prior to training
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Secure server space to
store training materials
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Provide contact info
should they have technical or personal difficulties
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Enhancing the Original Classroom
Enhancing a distance
learning training course using some of the original training material is
definitely a plus. One of the most
beneficial ways a distance learning format can enhance the course is by
allowing introverted learners more opportunity to partake in discussions without
feeling like they are out of place. Often
times, shy people fail to speak up and ask pertinent questions in a
face-to-face environment because they are scared, but in a distance learning
environment they are more likely to participate in discussions, etc.
Another important aspect of
converting to a distance learning environment is that all the material used in
a face-to-face course can still be used.
The end result of the course should remain the same – the learners
should learn the material – so using the same material only makes sense. You will need to store all of the written
material, as well as PowerPoint’s, videos, multimedia, etc. on the secured
share drive so that the participants can access it at all times.
Changes in the Trainer’s Role
The trainer’s role in a
distance learning environment will shift somewhat compared to the role in a
face-to-face environment and quite possibly be more difficult. One of the biggest changes for a trainer is
the lack of contact with the students, thus creating the need to engage the
learners more than was necessary in a face-to-face environment. It is incredibly important for you to stay in
contact with the learners by reaching out to them more than was necessary in
the face-to-face setting, maintaining a presence with them, and being as active
as possible in their learning environment.
One of the most challenging
changes with this type of conversion is the lack of face time you will have
with the learners. With less lecture
time, this requires you to develop more written, audio, and visual material
than was required before. With that also
comes the need for more content organization of the material. What was previously spoken will need to be
made available to the learners in a coherent format in order for them to learn
the material properly because “nothing helps lose the attention of a learner
more than the facilitator fumbling with something that they should know”
(Piskurich).
With less face time with the
students, you must also convey to the students what their expectations are for
the course as far as time constraints and assignment cut-offs. In a traditional face-to-face course the
instructor would be available at every meeting to oversee the student’s
progress but this is not an option in a distance learning environment. “The more informed the students, the greater
the chances for success,” (Simonson) so setting goals and sticking to them will
help enhance the experience for the students as well as yourself.
The plus side to developing
all of the training materials and organizing them in a coherent manner is that once
it is done, your time will be freed up a great deal and there will be less time
needed for instruction.
Encouraging Trainee’s Communication
As you take on a new role in
the distance learning environment, it is very important to set boundaries for the
learners to maintain a healthy role in online communication with their
classmates. One of the things you can do
to ensure that communication continues in the training environment is to
develop a detailed guide on how to use chat and discussion forums in the
training environment. It is also a good
idea to make discussions a requirement for a passing grade and provide students
with detailed minimum requirements for such discussions.
In order to set the
precedence for communication within the program, it is always best for you to
communicate with the students on a regular basis online and lead by example. By doing this, it helps the learners get a
good feel for what they need to do and helps keep them abreast of the fact that
communication is the best way to handle any type of questions or concerns they
may have. “The “kiss of death” for any
distance course is the lack of student participation,” (Simonson), so being
assertive with your students can encourage them to also take an active role in
their learning process.
References
Piskurich, G. (2011). Planning and
Designing Online Courses. (Video Program). Laureate Education, Inc.
Simonson, M., Smaldino, S., Albright,
M., & Zvacek, S. (2012). Teaching and learning at a distance: Foundations
of distance education (5th ed.) Boston,
MA: Pearson.
