What Are The Benefits Of Instructor-led Online Training?

Instructor-led training (ILT) was a part of our education for years and years in school. But as we grow older, the internet gives us numerous chances to review other options and try them out. I’m sure you’re familiar with online training, especially after the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, but have you heard of Instructor-led online training?

Manaarah Education Development will help you get your hands on the difference between online learning and ILT, as well as the benefits of the latter.

What Does ILT Mean?

Instructor-led training

Instructor-led training (ILT) occurs when an instructor leads a training session for a group of learners or a single student. The most important feature is that students have direct access to the teacher for comments and discussions. The Instructor’s understanding of the subject helps the person or group grasp the subject more thoroughly.

What is an ILT Course?

An ILT course is a course that requires the presence of a teacher. Instructors may deliver training in a lecture or classroom setting, as an interactive workshop with the opportunity for learners to practice, or virtually, using video conferencing tools.

The instructor should have facilitation and excellent teaching skills, in which they can use different methods to encourage learners to engage and embrace different learning methods.

What is Virtual ILT?

A virtual ILT or VILT, also known as instructor-led online courses, is a type of instructor-led training conducted online via virtual platforms.

It also requires the presence of the teacher, but virtually. Students and their teacher agree on a schedule and meet online according to it to have the class.
The online platform used must allow for synchronous contact between teacher and students, as well as facilitate class discussions.

Examples Of Instructor-led Training

There are many forms of ILT in education. Depending on your goals and sometimes the subject, the training can take different shapes, whether in real life or virtually.

Small-Group

This is a type of ILT course where a small group of students is guided by a single teacher in a classroom setting as an essential component.
It allows students to take their time with the discussions and questions because of the limited crowd.
It’s more common in employees’ training sessions conducted every once in a while in big companies. It can take place online with the same advantages as the offline one.

Workshops

Another example of instructor-led courses is workshops. Workshops are sessions where learners get hands-on training on a variety of topics.

The knowledge and experience of the instructor is the basic component in workshops to ensure learners get the best of the training.

One-to-One

This happens when a single learner is assigned to a single instructor to learn something they’re struggling with. It’s similar to private tutoring and gives the learner the benefit of learning in a comfortable setting where they can express their learning needs and have the best-tailored method for them.

Webinar 

When video conferencing applications and platforms are used for online learning. Of course, all of the previous types can also take place online, but this one is exclusive to the virtual setting, not the classroom one.

Instructor-led Training Vs E-learning

Students always get confused when they have the opportunity to choose between educational instructional training that takes the form of ILT and eLearning.

So, what is the difference between them?

Instructor-led training (ILT) is the more conventional, formal kind of training that takes place in front of learners in a classroom with an instructor present,

whereas eLearning is web-based and may be taken at any time from any internet-connected device.

While ILT can also be conducted online, the main difference is how the teacher must be present in ILT, but not necessarily in eLearning.

eLearning can be more self-based, on-demand learning where learners can learn whenever convenient to them which is not the case in ILT because they’re bound to have an instructor delivering the information to them.
Some educational institutions adopt the blended learning model where they use both ILT and eLearning in teaching students about a subject.
They use both instructors and eLearning modules according to a schedule.

What Is The Difference Between ILT And WBT?

Since WBT is similar to eLearning, the differences between it and ILT are quite the same.
The trainer is crucial in ILT. You have students that are paying attention to the trainer and the material that is being delivered.
Unless they intervene with the teacher, there is no way for them to stop and evaluate what they’ve learned.
The instructional material is not always available for students as well. A teacher often presents content verbally while utilizing visual aids,
such as charts and tables, but these materials can’t be taken home for students to reflect on.
WBT, on the other hand, is learner-centered. The online learning style is self-paced, allowing students to chart their own learning pathways.
Learners do not have to wait for training to be planned; instead, they may register themselves and take the courses whenever they need them.
WBT is also appropriate for all types of learners, both slow and quick.
The material used in WBT is always accessible. You can review it any time you want for revision as long as you have an internet connection.
Some WBT courses even allow their students to download these materials on their computers to access them offline.

What Is Essential In Instructor-led Courses?

The trainer or the instructor is the essential part of instructor-led courses. Since ILT is mainly built around the instructor and their knowledge of the subject they’re teaching.

ILT will fail if the instructor does not have relevant expertise and abilities in the subject matter.

Sync is also essential in ILT courses. Students must have the ability to interact directly and immediately with the instructor to ask questions and explore more about the subject. ILT sessions can’t be just a recording of the teacher explaining something because there’s no chance of running a discussion.

Benefits of ILT Online Courses

Tailoring methods

When an instructor can view and evaluate their students, they may adjust their program accordingly. 

They can go quicker if they have a more advanced set of students; if their students require more time on a subject, they can review the information to make sure they’re not moving forward without learning the previous points.

They can even change the method of learning used to fit the majority of students. They can also offer feedback to students on their points of weakness and encourage them to improve them.

Open Dialogue 

Instructors can use learner questions to ensure that students retain the required information. Learners may get quick feedback from their teachers.

Discussions also help students grow by opening new areas of interest they can later learn.

Fostering Collaboration

You provide a group of individuals the chance to connect, establish relationships, and grow as a team by creating an atmosphere for them to learn together. This is equally right for students in schools and employees in training sessions.

People need collaboration to learn, and when they get together sharing the same learning goals, they bond in a way that makes them grow and improve.

Interactive Learning

Learners can be involved in activities, open conversation, and interactions with the teacher and other learners while sitting in their training.

This method guarantees that learners really understand what they’re learning instead of sitting in a one-hour online class just listening to what’s being said with no chance to ask questions.

Undistracted Learning

We know how hard it is sometimes to fight the urge to check our phones every two seconds. If you’re learning at home while watching a recorded online lecture,

this must have happened to you, hindering your concentration on what you’re learning.

When students are distracted, their retention rate drops. They are not tempted to check their email, look around social media feeds, or concentrate on something else since they have a dedicated focused educational zone led by a professional instructor, even online.