Coding matters: The answer is in the camera

Man with a funny expression taking a selfie.

As usual, I sent out the Zoom information to delegates booked on a virtual course this week. Then one of the delegates phoned and asked if she could rather have classroom training.

Why still virtual?

At the end of every virtual course, we ask delegates to complete an online evaluation form. One of the questions is a poll: "Do you prefer virtual or classroom-based training?"

I shared the statistics with you a year ago, but I reran the query again today. The results remain much the same. For the 2023 courses, about 78% of people prefer virtual training.

We do offer classroom-based training on the client's site. But we can't present a course as both classroom and virtual training at the same time. We know because we tried. If you've ever attended a virtual event that was also happening live, you will understand why. The sound sucks even more than the visuals. Good virtual training needs the right equipment, set up the right way. It's not trivial, which is why we have changed our virtual classrooms a few times.

The personal touch

The delegate who phoned told me that she learns better in person. She didn't explain what she meant. I think that what really matters is the personal touch. Remember how the right teacher made a huge difference at school?

What we want is someone to help us learn. Real learning is not easy. I want someone to explain if I am confusing concepts, or making them too complicated. Or completely missing the point. My question may not be unique, but I want an answer. And I want someone to confirm my understanding, or share an "aha" moment.

That's what I mean by the personal touch. It's why most people prefer instructor-led training to online courses.

A word about online training

A few days ago, a client asked us to explain the difference between our virtual instructor-led training (aka VILT) and something like Udemy.

I use the term “online” to refer to pure online, self-paced training - like Udemy. It has its advantages: it’s cheap and it’s self-paced. For some people, that’s great. But it also has a very low completion rate - between 5% and 15%.

I have spent years learning on my own, usually via textbooks. So I should be a good candidate for online training. I've done some online courses. Some I fast-forwarded through, skipping the practical to finish as quickly as I can. Others - including expensive ones - I still haven't finished. I got stuck and had no-one to help me. Life carried on. When I focused again, months had gone by. Now it's even harder to get back into the material.

The answer is in the camera

Some people told us they miss the meals and cookies that are part of classroom-based training. I miss the meals too - remote working has meant more cooking, which I dislike. But the food doesn't compare to the cost and time and hassle of travelling.

Let's assume you have a good internet connection, a way to keep the power on during load-shedding, and can reduce distractions. (If you don't have these, remote work isn't an option for you.) Why would you still prefer classroom training?

I think the answer is in the camera. At the start of lockdown, bandwidth was often an issue. So it made sense to switch off your camera. Now it is more of a habit - a bad habit. Like a child playing peek-a-boo, we think that if others can’t see it, it isn’t real. If my camera is off, no-one will notice that I’m not paying attention. And if I'm not paying attention, I'm not getting the full learning experience.

I have regular Zoom sessions with a friend in Canada, and my sister in the UK. Seeing the other person makes the conversation more rewarding than a phone call. It is also more focused - I can't do something else while we chat. If something distracts me from the conversation, the other person notices. And waits until I can focus again before carrying on. I once had an emergency in the middle of a conversation. I didn't just disappear and leave her talking to a green dot.

There will always be things that can distract us from learning. Virtual training may need more discipline than classroom-based training. But the easiest way to stay involved and focused is to simply switch on your camera.

I'd love to hear your views. Do you keep your camera off? Why? If you prefer classroom-based training for a different reason, please tell me about it.

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