Getting started

The first step for any trainer interested in building their skills as an e-trainer is to participate in as many virtual classroom sessions as possible. Free sessions are run regularly by the major vendors to provide an overview of their systems and their capabilities. Trainers can also take advantage of the free online seminars run on the last Thursday of each month by Learning Technologies or the online events run regularly for members by the Institute of IT Training.

The Training Foundation is currently developing a Certification track for e-trainers, launching July 2003, based on the IITT’s new e-trainer competency framework. The course recognises the fact that there are really two roles in a virtual classroom session – the host and the trainer. Although both roles may be played by the same person, in many cases a partnership is required.

Morris acknowledges the dual roles: “The move for the good trainer to an e-trainer is not very far but it can be very scary. Those unfamiliar with the medium can find it hard to both adapt to the software and its peculiarities and remember to be a good trainer. A good way to start is to work with a colleague on a dual basis – one person looks after the controls, the other does the training.”

Trainers who may be feeling a little apprehensive about taking the plunge into virtual training would do well to take Morris’ advice. Get together with your training colleagues – at least those who cannot be described as ‘classroom charismatics’ – and help each other to bridge the gap from the face-to-face to the virtual world. You may just appreciate you made the move the next time you hear stories of a trainer stuck in a traffic jam on the way home from a course hundreds of miles from home.