We continuing to offer training during this globally disruptive time. The format of our courses has been adjusted to ensure student safety while still delivering an effective learning experience. For now, classes are available only as an online experience. We have extensive experience delivering training events online, and it has proved to us that students can adapt. We humans are resilient when we need to be.
Here’s how an online class is organized:
Class Delivery
Classes are delivered entirely online using Microsoft Teams or your preferred online communications platform.
Class Size
Student numbers can remain the same as those in a physical classroom: usually up to 20. What’s important is that they’re a cohort in terms of skills, prerequisite knowledge, and learning needs.
Class Schedule
Instead of full days, class hours can be distributed across multiple days and be scheduled for the time zone that suits you. One day of a physical classroom delivery can be delivered over two—or possibly three—days. There are more breaks that are shorter in duration and class resumption times are clearly communicated to students.
Class Management
Clear “Rules of Engagement” are established to set expectations. They emphasize how students can ask questions or provide feedback during class (to slow down, to repeat content, etc.). Students are encouraged to use the chat window or to simply un-mute and talk to the instructor. Rules emphasize that students need to join the class on time and stay focused—multitasking is discouraged.
Class Activities
Lab course books are a valuable part of our courses. Our course books are well-written and thoroughly tested, so they allow students to work with complex topics with minimum instructor assistance. Course books can be distributed to students—or, labs can be delivered as instructor-led activities allowing students to follow the instructor step-by-step. If they’re to follow an instructor, it’s important that students have dual monitors: one monitor to watch the instructor and the other for completing the activity.
We prefer the course book approach, if it’s logistically possible. It’s because the labs become offline activities between online lessons. The instructor remains available to answer questions and can provide online assistance during lab time.
Feedback
Student feedback is collected electronically at regular intervals during class to ensure concerns or requests are communicated. Course feedback is collected electronically at the end of a class.