Taking education and training seriously helps companies attract and retain the best customers, clientele, and partners. In fact, according to Forbes, learning and development are now key competitive differentiators for businesses in every industry.
One of the most effective approaches to learning is instructor-led training (ILT), which adapts pedagogical tools from traditional classroom settings to professional needs.
In this article, we’ll explain what ILT is, explore the benefits of instructor-led training, and provide strategies to get the most out of it.
What Is Instructor-Led Training (ILT)?
An instructor-led training program focuses on traditional teaching techniques, where one or more instructors lead class-like training sessions. These programs are based on traditional classroom training (e.g., lectures), but they also use innovative approaches and technologies, like video conferencing tools, to meet learners where they are.
ILT is most commonly used when trainees need highly specific or complex training. Common examples include intricate product or service details or highly sensitive training.
However, ILT is beneficial in a wide variety of use cases.
Key Benefits of Instructor-Led Training
ILT prepares learners for success by borrowing the best of what classroom teaching has to offer and updating it for the needs of mature professionals. It creates a collaborative, engaging, and intentional learning culture that benefits all parties.
Both in-classroom and instructor-led online training offer benefits like:
- Personalization
- Engagement
- Adaptability
- Accountability
- Relationship-building
Let’s take a closer look at each of these advantages.
Personalized Interactions and Feedback
Instructor-led training sessions feature an expert who leads discussions and other activities. These include interactive learning exercises in which learners engage with the subject matter, ask questions, offer opinions, and more.
This face-to-face interaction, whether in a physical classroom or via an online meeting platform, allows trainees to clarify ideas with follow-ups and personal feedback to ensure they truly understand core concepts. They can also perform their understanding and build confidence through discussion and practical activities, especially group work.
Enhanced Engagement and Retention
Personal interactions also foster an engaging environment, which, in turn, boosts retention. Learners engaged in activities they care about and are excited to participate actively in are more likely to show up, stay, and get the most out of their training.
This is especially important in customer training, as retention can be the difference between dependable buyers and churn. Quizzes, gamification, and social learning are some of the best ways to boost customer engagement with instructor-led training.
Better Adaptability to Learner Needs
Committed instructors can also tailor their teaching to different learning styles, which is key to consistently meeting learners where they are.
By customizing ILT content and delivery to a given cohort’s specific needs and means, instructors create a more (or less) structured environment, depending on what the specific learners in front of them need. In any case, there are clear markers of progression that can keep learners confident throughout an instructor-led training course.
More Accountability and Motivation
ILT features regular assessments to keep learners on track. These assessments are also accompanied by constructive criticism and encouragement, as needed, from instructors and peers.
Accountability motivates students to do better in traditional schooling, which is something that even young students are aware of—when asked, they found a lack of accountability or over-leniency unfair, claiming that it failed to set them up for success later in their lives. The same applies in professional settings.
Simply put, instructor-led courses emphasize personal responsibility and trust, encouraging learners to take accountability seriously and stay motivated.
Stronger Relationships and Networking
ILT’s value on personal relationships and social skills is closely related to accountability. Instructors are uniquely positioned to demonstrate the power of relationships by incorporating thoughtful group work into their lesson plans.
By requiring and supporting collaboration with instructors and students’ fellow learners, ILT helps trainees build relationships that blossom outside the classroom. In an external training use case, ILT can set the stage for mentorship within or across departments, leading to greater overall productivity for all company teams.
Best Practices for Instructor-Led Training
ILT has been a preferred training delivery method since before COVID-19. Its utility has only grown in a post-pandemic environment where upskilling and reskilling have been vital to businesses’ and individuals’ ability to survive and thrive.
Some of the best ways to get the most out of ILT include:
- Using innovative technologies
- Developing instructor skills
- Optimizing ILT content
Let’s take a closer look at each of these best practices.
Leveraging Innovative Technology for ILT
Traditional classroom teaching may inspire instructor-led training, but it’s at its best when using new technologies, like interactive virtual classrooms and easily accessible repositories for digital resources.
Effective ILT and virtual instructor-led training (vILT) should also use artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). For example, content development, performance assessments, and personalized learning plans can all be optimized with ML-enabled big data processing and generative AI.
Training and Developing Instructors
It’s also impossible to overstate the importance of developing instructors (i.e., “train the trainer”), especially in a virtual training or online learning environment. Course leaders should be briefed regularly and conduct independent research on best practices for learning.
One of the most telling measures of an instructor’s development and aptitude—their value—is the content they create and how it is delivered.
Creating Interactive, Engaging Content
ILT works best when instructors are empowered to develop interactive course materials and deploy them in innovative ways. That includes multimedia rather than static text or video presentations. It also means injecting discussions and activities with leading-edge research and empowering learners’ creativity and curiosity.
Instructors also need a reliable platform to manage these materials, which is where a streamlined, professional training platform comes into play. The best platforms unlock instructors’ potential, allowing adopters and learners to reap the rewards.
Implement Impactful ILT Today
The benefits of instructor-led training are vast. It’s one of the best ways to supercharge an organization’s learning and education platforms. It engages customers, clientele, and all other learners, which maximizes retention and results. However, it works best when the instructors are empowered to innovate with optimal tech support.
Thought Industries helps organizations like yours invest in ILT for comprehensive learning with custom-built platforms and learning management systems (LMS). Named the #1 learning platform in the world in 2023 by Craig Weiss, we make it easier to implement ILT and get the most out of it with streamlined content management, interactive tools, monitoring and performance assessment capabilities, and more.
Get in touch today to learn more about how we can support your ITL program.
