Although separated by geography, instructors and learners share an interactive experience, including active discussions, simultaneous document viewing and application sharing, and the ability to break into virtual rooms for team meetings. Before moving courses from the traditional classroom to the virtual classroom, instructional designers should evaluate the current curriculum's requirements. A business writing course can work equally well whether learners are online or onsite. If the course is online, learners have more schedule flexibility and can participate from their existing and disparate locations, saving travel costs and lost time on the job. Evaluate and set objectives.
Objectives are the foundation of both traditional training and live e-learning.
As you evaluate each course, consider how expected outcomes will be met in a virtual synchronous classroom. Remember to match technical tools to the learning objective, such as Attitudinal learning requires the participant to evaluate his or her values, identify alternative values, and consider different perspectives. Quizzing and polling features provide venues for voicing personal views or anonymous feedback. Cognitive skills include problem solving and evaluating, memorizing, and applying learned information. Language acquisition, software training, and new hire orientation are examples of potential live e-learning courses for this type of learning.