Virtual Instructor-Led Training (VILT): Benefits & Best Practices

As remote work becomes the norm, companies are turning to Virtual Instructor-Led Training (VILT) to ensure consistent and quality learning experiences across their dispersed teams.

Imagine your organization unlocking:

• Scalability by broadly training diverse and dispersed groups with ease.
• Better learning engagement with real-time interactive modules and lively group discussions.
• More flexibility by offering both facilitators and learners the convenience of remote training and online learning.

Well, this guide highlights the benefits and strategic implementation of VILT — to ensure impactful learning experiences and better retention in each training session.

Disclaimer: The information below is accurate as of May 1st, 2024.

What is virtual instructor-led training (VILT)?

VILT is like traditional Instructor-Led Training (ILT) but with a modern twist.

It typically moves the traditional classroom experience online, giving the best of both worlds — the hands-on training experience of traditional ILT and the convenience of online learning.

VILT also allows instructors and learners to connect and engage in a real-time, synchronous virtual environment, ensuring that the training is as effective as in-person training sessions.

Simply put, VILT is one way to bring classroom learning into today’s largely hybrid world of work.

Before we set the stage for smarter, future-proof learning strategies with VILT, let’s understand its benefits.

Virtual instructor-led training benefits

VILT goes beyond the traditional classroom by providing the opportunity for learners to participate in e-learning activities like webinars without geographical constraints.

With VILT, organizations have the opportunity to deliver learning to their teams in an engaging and scalable manner. 

Here are some of the benefits:

• Cost-effective learning: VILT cuts expenses by eliminating the need for physical presence, ensuring your team can dive into rich learning experiences without spending on transport or accommodation.
  One study found that companies can save between $9,550 and $15,870 by moving one course from a traditional classroom to VILT.

• Scalable education: With VILT, your organization can scale training sessions, accommodating numerous participants across various locations without sweating about training space.
• Accessible anywhere: Whether at the cozy home desk or in a bustling office, your team can access top-notch learning, ensuring consistency and inclusivity in training efforts.
• Better employee performance: VILT can improve your employees’ skills and capabilities, ultimately improving customer satisfaction. 

In fact, 72% of organizations believe that their business gains a competitive advantage by investing in digital learning.

With that said, let’s uncover what it takes to craft a well-tailored VILT program, so that your organization can optimize its benefits.

How to implement a VILT program in your organization

Implementing a VILT program in your organization can address the challenges of remote work and geographically dispersed teams. 

This approach also accommodates various learning preferences while ensuring consistent training delivery to all employees.

Here’s how to implement VILT for your team:

1. Identify training needs and objectives: To build a successful learning program, identify the skill gaps, so you can tailor your VILT objectives to bridge them. This ensures your training content is actionable in real-world, professional scenarios.
2. Structure your content: Develop a series of training courses or content that align with your identified skill gaps and organizational objectives to ensure a streamlined learning path for participants.
3. Choose an LMS platform: For an effective training experience, choose a learning or training platform that supports your instructional design approach and facilitates seamless virtual learning. Consider an enterprise LMS, like Docebo, that offers scalable solutions that evolve with your organizational needs. 
4. Create interactive sessions: Sessions that hold attention and stimulate interactive learning are crucial. So, blend in elements like live polls, group discussions, and interactive quizzes to keep engagement high and improve practical learning.
5. Encourage collaborative learning: Build a learning environment that encourages collaboration, discourse, and shared learning experiences — through forums, discussion boards, shared resources, or expert sessions.
6. Give room for feedback: Allow for feedback both during and post-training. This makes it easier to refine your VILT program, so it stays relevant, engaging, and in sync with learner needs and expectations.

Now, let’s explore the best practices in VILT delivery to ensure every training session is an engaging learning experience for all participants.

VILT delivery best practices

While VILT promises a wealth of advantages, like scalability and accessibility, its success lies in its strategic delivery. 

This will help ensure engagement, understanding, and practical application for the learners.

Here are the best practices to keep in mind:

• Use subject matter experts (SMEs): SMEs bring a wealth of experience and knowledge. So, ensure you leverage the insights of top performers in your organization. This allows your experts to light the way for others — improving the learning culture within your organization.
• Sharpen presentation skills: Schedule dry runs and feedback sessions with instructors to check on their eye contact, lighting, background, pacing, and familiarity with the platform. This ensures they can interact with participants and manage technical glitches effectively — you can also assign a moderator for support.
• Take advantage of social learning: By making use of the social learning feature of an LMS like Docebo, you can foster peer-to-peer interactions and collaboration, enabling informal learning and community building among participants.
• Keep things engaging: Rather than a one-way information flow, use a blend of tools — like whiteboards for brainstorming sessions in small-group settings or video conferencing tools (Zoom or Microsoft Teams) for interactive sessions.
• Make each session digestible: Cap training sessions at three hours and sprinkle in breaks. Prioritize crisp, compelling, and easy-to-digest content to prevent information overload and facilitate better retention among participants.
• Monitor and optimize: Consistently monitor and assess the impact of your VILT programs. Choose an LMS that allows you to track important metrics, while aligning with your organizational learning goals. For instance, organizations like Burges Salmon saw a boost in their instructor-led learning engagement with Docebo.

Next, let’s move toward understanding how to measure the effectiveness of your virtual training sessions.

How to measure the effectiveness of your VILT program

As with any other learning and development activity, keeping track of VILT KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) is essential.

Simply put, they should tell you what worked, what didn’t, and why.

The success of your VILT rests on these three key factors:

• Learner feedback: How did your learners feel about it? To gauge this, take advantage of an LMS with a built-in survey feature, like Docebo, to deploy tailored surveys or polls post-session and gather instant, genuine learner feedback.
• Performance improvement: Is there a noticeable improvement in your participants’ application of learned skills? LMSs like Docebo can help you analyze learner progress over time, and evaluate the effectiveness of your VILT sessions.
• Return on investment (ROI): Did the benefits justify the financial and time investment? For example, Docebo’s advanced analytics can seamlessly blend learning data with operational and financial metrics. This helps to provide a clear, comprehensive picture of your VILT’s financial impact. 

Armed with these insights, it’s time to ensure your next VILT program is impactful in your learning journey.

Create your next virtual instructor-led training program

As you now know, crafting an impactful VILT program needs a well-thought-out learning plan in place. 

We’ve covered the key strategies needed — from creating interactive sessions, choosing the right LMS platform, and leveraging expert knowledge to measuring the effectiveness of VILT programs. 

The goal? Creating a space where skills, knowledge, and genuine interactions can thrive.

If you’re wondering how these strategies can play out in your next VILT program, consider booking a demo with Docebo to see it in action.