The corporate training landscape has changed considerably over the past decade.
Physical classrooms have given way to virtual learning environments, which have gradually become more personalized, flexible, and interactive, enabling learners to engage with course material on a self-based basis.
This article examines what’s causing this shift — and how your organization can stay ahead of the curve.
Key Takeaways
Digital training represents a scalable, cost-effective, and flexible alternative to physical, instructor-led formats.
Having transitioned from physical to virtual instructor-led training (VILT), many organizations are also adopting self-paced training for its learner-centric approach, scalability, flexibility, and support for techniques like microlearning.
Virtual instructor-led training and self-paced training are not mutually exclusive. An organization can often benefit from leveraging both.
What is Digital Training and How is it Evolving?
Digital training refers broadly to any form of learning delivered through a digital device or platform. Originally, this took the form of passive material such as webinars, written documents, and slide decks.
Over the years, however, we’ve seen the field transition from static training to interactive, dynamic experiences — particularly as organizations have begun waking up to the benefits of VILT and other virtual formats.
This change has been driven by a few key trends:
Learners increasingly demand training that’s engaging rather than simply educational
Evolving technology has enabled more realistic interactive scenarios
Hybrid work has resulted in a business landscape dominated by geographically distributed teams, demanding greater flexibility and scalability
This refers to any type of training that’s delivered electronically via the internet, over a local area network, or through an application downloaded to a personal device. Although it technically encompasses both virtual instructor-led training and self-paced training, in recent years, the term has been applied primarily to non-interactive learning formats, such as webinars and video tutorials.
Virtual Instructor-Led Training (VILT)
This form of learning sees students and instructors interact entirely via the cloud. The main difference between VILT and eLearning is that the latter encompasses only the electronic distribution of information, while the former typically puts considerably more focus on interactivity and collaboration.
Self-Paced Training
Also known as asynchronous learning, this modality removes both the instructor and the classroom from the learning process. Instead of following a set schedule, self-paced puts things entirely in the hands of learners, who have full autonomy in deciding when, where, and how to study.
Multi-Modal Training
Combining in-class instruction with digital training, often including content like pre-recorded lectures, as well as self-paced modules, videos, text, simulations, quizzes, discussions, and hands‑on activities multi-modal training is distinct from blended or hybrid training, which does not mandate a set amount of class-based learning.
Preparing Your Organization for the Future of Digital Training
Start by clearly defining what you want to accomplish: customer onboarding and education will generally have different objectives than professional development, and require different approaches and technologies.
Make a plan and stick to it: create a training roadmap that defines learner objectives and recommended timeframes.
Determine which training formats are the best fit: self-paced interactive training is invaluable, but it isn’t always the best choice. If your training is particularly complex, you might have no choice but to have people work with an instructor.
Develop clear modules: each module should focus on a specific topic, goal, or feature.
Monitor learner progress: use analytics to keep an eye on how learners are engaging with your content, watching out for bottlenecks and potential dropout flags.
Test, verify, iterate: continuously evaluate and improve your training through a combination of analytics, learner feedback, and instructor feedback.
Pay attention to current trends: artificial intelligence has already fundamentally changed the face of corporate L&D. The intersection of AI and virtual reality promises to be even more disruptive. Start thinking about how you’ll use both technologies now.
And if you’re interested in learning more about how CloudShare can help you future-proof your training, feel free to book a demo.
FAQs
What is the difference between ILT, VILT, and digital training?
The main difference between ILT and VILT learning experiences involves how and where classes are hosted.
Instructor-led training represents the traditional approach to learning and development. It takes place in a physical classroom and involves face-to-face interaction.
Virtual instructor-led training, on the other hand, happens outside a physical classroom. Instead, sessions are hosted online, typically via a virtual lab or videoconferencing tool.
Digital training is not so much a single format as an umbrella term for any training that’s delivered digitally, VILT included.
Can other forms of digital training completely replace virtual instructor-led training?
Yes and no. While alternative formats like on-demand, self-paced training may scale more effectively, they aren’t always going to be a good fit. The complex topics often covered in a technical training program, for instance, often require the guidance of an expert instructor.
A better approach would be to use a blend of different training methods, enabling a balance between flexibility, accessibility, and direct support.
What are the main benefits of reducing instructor-led training in corporate education?
By transitioning from instructor-led to self-paced training, an organization can:
Eliminate the overhead of physical classrooms, including travel and booking costs
Scale its training program to support geographically distributed workforces
Provide on-demand access for greater accessibility and flexibility
Reduce instructor workloads
Depending on one’s choice of platform, access more comprehensive learner analytics
How does digital training improve flexibility for global teams?
Because digital training can be delivered on-demand, it’s ideally suited for geographically dispersed audiences. An organization can ensure everyone has access to the same training material regardless of location or time zone. This approach also supports deeper personalization, particularly when combined with adaptive learning — each participant can complete training content on their own schedule and at their own pace.
What tools are best for transitioning from ILT to digital learning?
