Long live Facilitated Learning Sessions

Corporate training, and mostly behavioral training, seems to have taken a backseat due to digital models of lecture-training, with a ‘one-size fits all’ approach, which could be a step backwards in the adult learning space.

A 2019 study (source: Statista) states that 42% of people prefer to learn in groups and in classroom, and only 13% prefer to learn online. Learning through webinars has a worse result with only 6% of people saying that it is their preferred way of learning.

Despite this, companies are finding themselves in a situation where they cannot risk taking training back to the classroom until it is 100% safe amidst the COVID-19 reality.

On the other hand, the world of corporate training was unprepared to make a 180 degree turn in such a short time. Most companies ended up adapting their existing content from the classroom to a virtual webinar environment. This is the same as having a suitcase filled with shorts and t-shirts for a summer holiday but ending up in Alaska and still reluctant to shop for new clothes.

Obviously, the initial reaction to the shift in training methods was negative, with long, boring, and highly questionable webinars.

However, with the total absence of classroom trainings, and the lack of sophistication and tools that make webinars attractive, the biggest danger lies in the easiest solution turning out to be self-paced learning.

Although useful in many cases, self-paced learning is no different than the tele-school corporate version of the 60s and 70s. One-size fits all.

No matter how great the content is, the absence of a facilitator who adapts and spices up the content for participants, impacts the effectiveness of the intervention.

Therefore, we have anxieties on both sides of the isle today.

1. Companies and participants are limited in their choices and pushed to self-paced learning just to keep up with schedule,
2. The anguish of thousands of trainers and coaches worldwide who see themselves in a “battlefield” without proper weapons because 90% of what they were used to doing face-to-face can no longer apply in a virtual environment.

The solution, in my opinion, is to pursue creative solutions, which can recreate activities and experiences in a webinar environment, allowing the facilitators to leverage all learning dimensions and making webinar sessions more engaging, experiential and impactful.

For the good of the thousands of trainers, as well as the Learning & Development departments and above all for the participants who sit behind screens alone tediously watching videos (or fast-forwarding) and completing quizzes. The path will be created, and experiential training, facilitated by a professional will not end.

– Fernando Mendes