This Tip explains why we need to get rid of hybrid training, because the way people usually handle it does a disservice to remote participants.
Let’s Get Rid of Hybrid Training
I recently conducted a workshop at a state conference. The conference promoted the workshop as a hybrid workshop. This meant that there would be conference attendees in the room and others attending virtually. I hated it.
The opportunity to participate in the learning activities and the quality of the learning experience were completely different for the in-person and the virtual attendees.
Virtual Attendees Are Left Out
They relegated the virtual attendees to simply observing the workshop, with no ability to participate at all. They had equal access to the workshop workbook. However, they couldn’t contribute their thoughts and responses, or benefit from any of the small group discussions. The audio technician did his best, but we couldn’t enable the virtual attendees to even listen in on a small group discussion. So, many of them left. There was nothing else for them to do.
They define hybrid learning, otherwise known as blended learning, as classroom participation and online learning that occur at different times, not at the same time. However, that is not how they managed this hybrid training.
Let’s Make All Attendees Virtual
For a learning experience to be equally valuable to both the in-person and the virtual attendees, all participants need to be on their computers, including the facilitator. We need to design the learning program for virtual training, not in-person training. The only difference between the participants should be that some are on their computers in the same room, while others are on their computers in remote locations.
And this begs the question, why make any of the participants come to the same training location if they’re going to be on their computers, anyway? We could make the argument that the in-person attendees would be able to interact directly with the facilitator and each other during breaks, giving them a richer learning experience. However, that would be patently unfair to the virtual attendees.
I propose that we stop calling it hybrid training if some participants are in one place with the facilitator and others have to be in remote locations. Let’s avoid the need for some participants to come together in one location at all. Then, let’s call it what it should be, virtual training.
Question: What is your opinion regarding whether we should get rid of hybrid training?
May your learning be sweet- and safe.
Deborah
#innovation #management #hybridtraining #virtualtraining
