Virtual training

3 Reasons Why Hands-on Training Is Hands-down Better Than Passive Learning

The CloudShare Team

Oct 18, 2023 - 3 min read

The one and only way to learn how to ride a bike is to get on it and go.

That’s not the case for learning how to operate software. There are a number of ways to conduct software training, but let’s be clear: hands-on training has proven to be the most effective. Hands-on training is a form of “experiential learning” that helps learners:

• Develop real-world skills
• Develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills
• Become more engaged and motivated
• Build relationships and collaborate with others

Let’s unpack these ideas in the context of software training.

Customers will better understand your product’s value

In this age of subscription-based services, you’re well aware that retention means everything. And you also know SaaS customers are fickle.

Hands-on training is the best way to win customers over in the onboarding process. It’s the best way to prove the value of your software, drive adoption, and foster continuous use. Therefore, it’s a powerful force for customer retention.

The learning experience is more engaging

A recent survey we did with training managers and directors once again confirmed that user engagement remains a top challenge. (For more, download The State of Virtual Software Training in 2023.)

When the training experience fails to engage, students often don’t stick around. At the very least, they learn less. The result: lower adoption and customer satisfaction.

VILT is the ultimate weapon for increasing engagement in software training. Bringing a virtual environment to your training enables learners to interact with the instructor, each other, and above all, the software. The immersive experience has a profound effect on engagement, knowledge retention, and learning outcomes.

With CloudShare, instructors can take advantage of features to:

• Empower users to customize the viewer at an environmental level and class level
• Allow users to share their screens to guide users
• Create breakout groups to encourage collaboration
• Conduct discussions via virtual chats
• Use whiteboards, quizzes, polls, and discussion boards for interaction

“Any time training is delivered, only 1/3 of the class time should be spent on the presentation of the course content. The other 2/3 of the total class time should be spent providing learners with opportunities to apply what they’ve learned and to receive feedback on their performance.”
Excerpt from Fundamentals of Virtual Classroom Design
by Langevin Learning Services

Trainees get more control

Software trainers can obviously help a student understand a concept or tactic through show-and-tell mechanisms such as videos and webinars. However, that makes for a one-way street where the trainer is in control and trainees simply get what they get.

Live virtual-led instructor training (VILT) is interactive. You let your customers loose on your software in a safe and secure sandboxed environment. They’re bound to stumble on challenges the instructor may not have considered including in the lesson. So, they’re far more likely to get precisely what they need from the training.

Students can ask specific questions or request assistance. Instructors can then use CloudShare’s “over-the-shoulder functionality” to assist as they might in a physical classroom.

Get your hands on CloudShare

Ready to achieve new levels of performance with live, hands-on instructor-led training? Download the Software Training Buyer’s Guide.

Can we immerse you in CloudShare’s virtual training platform for a few minutes? We’ll do a demo—hands-on, of course.

This post was originally published on October 5, 2021 and updated October 18, 2023.