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Frequently Asked Questions
What is synchronous training?
Synchronous training refers to instruction that is led by a facilitator,
over the web, in “real time.” Participants are interacting
at the same time, but not from the same place. Synchronous training
closely mirrors a classroom experience, but don’t’
fall into the trap of trying to replicate the traditional classroom
because synchronous training has its own unique characteristics
and interaction strategies.
How is synchronous training different from asynchronous training?
While asynchronous training (the most common form of e-learning)
caters to just-in-time needs, synchronous training provides the
training needed where the participant needs it. Characteristics
of synchronous mirror many of the traditional classroom training
experiences, such as:
- Group interaction and collaboration among participants
- Discussion and problem solving that can be managed using a
variety of methods
In addition, one of the greatest benefits of synchronous training
is that people in different geographical locations and personal
situations can be involved at the same time – from whatever
location they choose.
For example, imagine you have to roll out a product update to
your international sales team. A one hour synchronous presentation
can accommodate this dilemma. A number of sales people can log
in from wherever they are, a short presentation can explain the
changes, application sharing can demonstrate how the change works
in practice, and a live conversation can occur between the participants,
the instructor and managers or product designers. Anyone who was
unable to participate in the live presentation would be able to
watch a recording on a just-in-time basis. Reference materials
could be sent to all participants either in advance, or following
the synchronous session.
When should I use a synchronous classroom?
You should use a synchronous classroom when:
- Real-time interaction with experts is critical.
When participants need to have questions answered before they
can move on, or the trainer must observe that a skill has been
mastered, you need to be in a live environment.
- Face-to-face interaction is NOT critical.
Some programs require that the trainer be in the same room with
participants in order for the program to be successful. “Lab”
courses for hardware specialists (physically building computer
systems) might be a good example. However, pre-lab and post-lab
lectures might be conducted in an online format. This would
be a great opportunity to blend training technologies.
- Your audience is dispersed throughout large geographic
area. If participants are not all located in the same
place, synchronous events minimize travel time and expenses.
- The topic is critical enough that you must ensure
that participants completed the training. Asynchronous
instruction may be appropriate for teaching the content, but
participants might not feel motivated to complete the asynchronous
work. Using a synchronous event as a follow-up to asynchronous
work might provide the impetus for participants to complete
the requirements.
- You have a new product or an update to an existing
product and need to update your workforce. Use the
synchronous environment to get product information out to your
sales teams and customers. A combination training/marketing
event can inexpensively create value for your clients.
- Your workgroup needs to collaborate and can use the
collaboration tools. If you have a geographically dispersed
workgroup that needs to get together to come to consensus, use
the synchronous classroom to give the group a chance to share
ideas and collaborate.
How many participants can you comfortably “fit” in
a session?
The amount of people that need to be trained may determine how
many sessions need to be taught. Don’t assume, because you
can fit 100 people in a synchronous classroom, that 100 is the
number you should design the class for. It’s important to
look closely at your learning objectives and determine how many
individuals can be taught at one time and still meet those objectives.
At the awareness level you can deliver lecture-style presentations
to larger audiences and a webinar format might be most appropriate;
however if you are trying to achieve application, you will probably
want to design for a smaller audience of 15 or less and perhaps
have a series of sessions more conducive to training (see Types
of Presentations).
Do we need a Leader Guide for synchronous deliveries?
If you want your online programs to be as interactive and “high
touch” as they are in the traditional classroom, using leader
guides becomes quite important. You should have a detailed plan
that explains the design. If you do not, you may discover that
your event is much more lecture-oriented than you wanted and that
interaction with participants is limited to “yes/no”
questions and a few polls. Written effectively, leader guides
capture the choreography of the program, documenting what the
trainer, the assistant trainer, the participants, and the technology
are doing.
The leader guide can vary from task descriptions and checklists
to detailed scripts. What format to use depends largely on your
personal preference; some synchronous trainers find highly detailed
leader guides too constraining, while others appreciate the security
of explicit scripts.
Do we need Participant Materials for synchronous classes?
A well-designed participant guide can assist the trainer in facilitating
small group and independent exercises and increase the comfort
level for participants who not experienced in the synchronous
classroom. Frequently, participants have a more difficult time
understanding directions in a synchronous classroom, so it helps
dramatically to incorporate directions in their printed materials.
Before starting an exercise, verbally explain the directions and
then direct participants to the appropriate page in the participant
guide.
Instead of replicating your classroom screens, the participant
guide should complement them and help to support class interactions.
For example, instead of lecturing for five minutes around three
bullet points on a screen, ask the participants to read about
them in a participant guide article and then answer questions
located at the end of the article in the chat area. Debrief their
answers verbally and then move on to the next interaction.
How should slides be designed?
Avoid sending out PowerPoint slides that duplicate your presentation
ahead of time. This is a sure way to disengage some of your participants.
Many will tend to review the slides on paper and try to listen
– missing the “online experience.”Here are some
guidelines for effective slide design.
- If there is a corporate template that needs to be adhered
to, that is your starting point
- Use dark font colors and avoid using reds or greens which
are difficult for some participants to see online.
- White or light colored background colors encourage whiteboarding
and make the screen easier to read.
- When it comes to text on the screen - less is MORE! Keep bullet
points and words to a minimum – use whiteboarding/annotation
to support your points.
- Use graphics, photos, diagrams rather than words.
- Keep the screen “moving” – annotate, annotate,
annotate!!!
- If you have more than one point, consider adding a new point
on subsequent screens. Remember: every time you change the screen,
you have a chance to re-engage wandering eyes.
· The Synchronous
Training Primer ·Top
Synchronous Training Myths & Realties ·
· Glossary
of Synchronous Training Terms · Frequently
Asked Questions ·
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