How to Adapt In-Person Curriculum for Online Training

Online training is increasingly replacing in-person training due to a variety of reasons. While both modes of training have their merits, online training offers unique advantages that make it an appealing option for many organizations and learners. Here are some reasons why online training is gaining popularity and sometimes replacing traditional in-person training:

Flexibility and Convenience

Online training allows learners to access content and participate in activities at their own pace and on their own schedule. This is especially beneficial for individuals with busy lifestyles or those who need to balance training with work, family, or other commitments.

Geographical Reach

Online training transcends geographical barriers. Learners from different locations can participate in the same course or program without the need to travel, making education accessible to a broader audience.

Cost-Effectiveness

Online training often eliminates expenses associated with travel, accommodation, and venue rentals that are typically incurred with in-person training. This makes training more cost-effective for both learners and organizations.

Scalability

Online training can be easily scaled to accommodate larger numbers of learners without significant logistical challenges. This is especially useful for organizations that need to train a large workforce or have a rapidly growing audience.

Time Efficiency

Online training typically requires less time than in-person training since learners can focus solely on the material without travel time and breaks associated with traditional classes.

Variety of Learning Materials

Online training can leverage various multimedia resources such as videos, animations, interactive quizzes, and simulations to enhance the learning experience and cater to different learning styles.

Self-Paced Learning

Online training often allows learners to proceed through the material at their own pace. This accommodates individuals with different learning speeds and preferences.

Personalization

Online training platforms can use data analytics to track learners' progress and tailor content or recommendations based on individual learning patterns and preferences.

Continuous Learning

Online platforms can facilitate ongoing learning through discussion forums, webinars, and access to resources, promoting a culture of continuous education.

Eco-Friendly

Online training has a smaller environmental footprint compared to in-person training, which requires travel, printed materials, and physical resources.

Adaptation to Learning Styles

Online training platforms can often adapt to different learning styles through customizable content and options for visual, auditory, and interactive learning.

Accessibility

Online training can be made more accessible through features like closed captioning, screen readers, and other assistive technologies.

Global Collaboration

Online training fosters collaboration among learners from different backgrounds and cultures, enabling diverse perspectives and experiences to enrich the learning process.

Updates and Revisions

Online training content can be easily updated and revised to reflect the latest information and industry trends, ensuring that learners have access to current knowledge.

Data-Driven Insights

Online training platforms often provide data on learner engagement, progress, and performance, allowing organizations to assess the effectiveness of their training programs and make data-driven decisions for improvement.

While online training offers numerous advantages, it's important to note that in-person training still holds value, especially for certain types of hands-on or interactive learning experiences. The decision to choose online or in-person training should be based on the specific needs, objectives, and preferences of learners and organizations.

How to Adapt In-Person Curriculum for Online Training

Adapting an in-person curriculum for online training involves transforming the content, activities, and interactions to suit the digital learning environment. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you with this process:

1. Assess the Curriculum

Review the existing in-person curriculum and identify its key components, such as learning objectives, topics, assessments, activities, and resources.

2. Determine Online Tools and Platforms

Choose suitable online tools and platforms that support various aspects of online learning, such as video conferencing, learning management systems (LMS), content creation tools, discussion forums, and assessment platforms.

3. Restructure Content

Restructure the curriculum content to make it more suitable for online delivery. Consider breaking down longer lectures into shorter, more focused modules to keep learners engaged.

4. Create Multimedia Content

Develop multimedia content like video lectures, presentations, interactive quizzes, and animations to deliver the material effectively. Keep the content concise, engaging, and visually appealing.

5. Interactive Activities

Adapt in-person activities to the online environment. Use virtual breakout rooms for group discussions, online simulations for practical exercises, and collaborative tools for team projects.

6. Facilitate Discussions

Use online discussion forums or chat platforms to foster interaction and communication among learners. Pose questions, initiate debates, and encourage students to share their perspectives.

7. Assessment and Feedback

Design online assessments that align with learning objectives. Implement quizzes, assignments, peer reviews, and projects that can be submitted electronically. Provide timely feedback to guide learners' progress.

8. Synchronous Sessions

Host live video sessions using platforms like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or Google Meet to simulate real-time classroom interaction. Conduct lectures, Q&A sessions, and guest speaker presentations.

9. Asynchronous Learning

Recognize the value of asynchronous learning, allowing students to access materials and complete activities at their own pace. This accommodates different learning styles and schedules.

10. Accessibility and Inclusivity

Ensure all content is accessible to diverse learners, including those with disabilities. Provide closed captions for videos, alt text for images, and readable fonts.

11. Clear Instructions

Provide clear instructions for accessing and navigating the online learning materials. Ensure that students understand how to use the tools and platforms effectively.

12. Tech Support and Resources

Offer technical support to help learners troubleshoot any issues they encounter. Provide resources and tutorials for using the online tools.

13. Maintain Engagement

Implement engaging activities like case studies, problem-solving tasks, virtual labs, and interactive simulations to maintain learners' interest.

14. Building Community

Foster a sense of community among online learners. Encourage them to introduce themselves, participate in online discussions, and collaborate on projects.

15. Regular Communication

Maintain regular communication with students through announcements, emails, or discussion forums to keep them informed about updates, changes, and expectations.

16. Feedback and Improvement

Gather feedback from students about their online learning experience. Use this feedback to make continuous improvements to the online curriculum.

Remember that the key is to maintain the effectiveness of the original curriculum while adapting it to the online environment. It may take some experimentation and adjustment to find the right balance between synchronous and asynchronous activities, engagement strategies, and assessment methods.

Choosing an LMS Platform for Your Online Training Program

Choosing the right Learning Management System (LMS) for your online training program is crucial for ensuring a smooth and effective learning experience. There are various factors to consider when making this decision.

Here's a step-by-step guide to help you choose the best LMS for your needs:

Define Your Requirements

Determine your specific requirements and objectives for the online training program. Consider factors like the number of learners, types of content (videos, quizzes, assignments), assessment methods, reporting needs, integration requirements, and budget.

User-Friendly Interface

Choose an LMS with an intuitive and user-friendly interface. The platform should be easy for both instructors and learners to navigate and use without extensive training.

Content Management

Look for an LMS that supports various types of content, including videos, presentations, PDFs, quizzes, and interactive modules. It should offer options for organizing and categorizing content effectively.

Assessment and Grading

Ensure the LMS provides flexible assessment options, including quizzes, assignments, and peer reviews. The grading system should be customizable to match your training program's requirements.

Scalability

Select an LMS that can scale to accommodate your current and future needs. It should handle growing numbers of learners, courses, and content without performance issues.

Mobile Compatibility

In today's mobile-driven world, choose an LMS that is mobile-responsive. Learners should be able to access and engage with the content on various devices, including smartphones and tablets.

Reporting and Analytics

Look for robust reporting and analytics features. The LMS should provide insights into learner progress, engagement, and assessment results, helping you track the effectiveness of your training program.

Customization and Branding

Choose an LMS that allows you to customize the platform's appearance to match your organization's branding. This helps create a consistent and professional learning environment.

Security and Data Privacy

Ensure the LMS prioritizes data security and privacy. Look for features like encryption, secure logins, and compliance with data protection regulations (such as GDPR).

Integration Capabilities

If you have existing systems (such as HR software, CRM, or content creation tools), consider an LMS that offers integration options. This can streamline processes and data sharing.

Support and Training

Evaluate the level of customer support provided by the LMS vendor. Look for resources like documentation, tutorials, and responsive customer service to assist with any issues that may arise.

Cost Considerations

Determine your budget for the LMS. Costs can vary based on factors such as the number of users, features, and support options. Compare pricing models to find the best fit for your organization.

User Reviews and Recommendations

Research user reviews and seek recommendations from peers or colleagues who have experience with different LMS platforms. Their insights can provide valuable perspectives.

Free Trials and Demos

Take advantage of free trials or demos offered by LMS vendors. This hands-on experience will help you assess whether the platform meets your needs and aligns with your training goals.

Vendor Reputation and Experience

Choose an LMS vendor with a reputable track record and experience in the e-learning industry. A reliable vendor is more likely to provide a stable and feature-rich platform.

Future-Proofing

Consider how adaptable the LMS is to changes and upgrades. The platform should be able to accommodate evolving technologies and trends in online learning.

Remember that there's no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to LMS selection. Your choice should align with your specific training program's goals, content, and learner needs. Take your time to evaluate different options and consider seeking input from stakeholders who will be involved in the training program.

About LMS Portals

At LMS Portals, we provide our clients and partners with a SaaS-based, multi-tenant learning management system that allows you to launch a dedicated training environment (a portal) for each of your unique audiences.

The system includes built-in, SCORM-compliant course authoring software that enables most anyone to build engaging courses quickly and easily.

We also offer a complete library of ready-made courses, covering most every aspect of corporate training and employee development.

If you choose to, you can create Learning Paths to deliver courses in a logical progression and add structure to your training program. The system also supports Virtual Instructor-Led Training (VILT) and provides tools for social learning.

Together, these features make the LMS Portals platform the ideal solution to adapt your in-person training curriculum for online training programs.

Contact us today to get started or visit our Partner Program pages