What are the differences between hands-on and virtual training for remote teams?

If you manage a remote team, you know how challenging it can be to provide effective training that keeps everyone engaged and aligned. You might wonder whether hands-on or virtual training is better for your team, and what are the differences between them. In this article, we'll explore the pros and cons of both methods, and how you can choose the best one for your situation.

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1 What is hands-on training?

Hands-on training is a type of learning that involves direct interaction with the materials, tools, or tasks that are relevant to the job. For example, you might have your team practice a new software feature, conduct a simulation of a customer service scenario, or collaborate on a project using a shared platform. Hands-on training can help your team develop practical skills, apply knowledge, and solve problems.

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Abdul Razack Hussain M

Head of Learning & Development at v4c.ai || Winner - Jombay HR 30Under30 2023
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Hands-on training essentially means when you are able to get a feel of what is being discussed or taught and instantly apply it rather than just being taken through it theoretically and conceptual only. A classic example here would be learning to swim. It has to be hands-on and something that cannot be learnt through an e-learning or a virtual training course.

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2 What is virtual training?

Virtual training is a type of learning that uses online platforms, tools, or resources to deliver content, feedback, or assessment. For example, you might have your team watch a video tutorial, complete a quiz, or join a webinar. Virtual training can help your team access information, learn at their own pace, and save time and costs.

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Abdul Razack Hussain M

Head of Learning & Development at v4c.ai || Winner - Jombay HR 30Under30 2023
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Virtual training is the most preferred option for compliance related training. These can even be used for building strong foundational skills and conceptual knowledge. These save a lot of resources in terms of time, effort and logistics, both learners and trainers. Convenience is high, can be taken anywhere and at any time.

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3 Benefits of hands-on training for remote teams

Hands-on training can offer several benefits for remote teams, such as boosting engagement and motivation through active and experiential learning opportunities, enhancing collaboration and communication by fostering teamwork and interaction, improving retention and transfer by reinforcing learning outcomes and applying them to real-world situations, and increasing confidence and competence by allowing team members to practice and master new skills.

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4 Challenges of hands-on training for remote teams

Hands-on training for remote teams can present some difficulties, such as needing more planning and coordination to ensure that everyone has the same materials, tools, or tasks. Technical or logistical issues could also disrupt the learning process or affect its quality. Additionally, hands-on training requires more time and resources to design, deliver, and evaluate. Furthermore, it might not be flexible enough or personalized enough to accommodate different learning styles, preferences, or needs.

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5 Benefits of virtual training for remote teams

Virtual training can be incredibly beneficial for remote teams by providing convenience and accessibility, offering variety and diversity, supporting self-directed and personalized learning, and reducing costs and environmental impact. This is accomplished by allowing team members to learn anytime, anywhere, and on any device, using different formats, media, or sources to deliver the content, enabling them to choose their own learning path, pace, or goals, and eliminating travel, accommodation, or material expenses.

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6 Challenges of virtual training for remote teams

Despite its advantages, virtual training can also present some challenges for remote teams. These include decreasing engagement and motivation, hindering collaboration and communication, affecting retention and transfer, as well as compromising quality and effectiveness. This is due to the sense of isolation, boredom, or distraction it can create, as well as the reliance on passive or superficial learning methods or outcomes, and the reliability, security, or compatibility of online platforms, tools, or resources.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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What are the differences between hands-on and virtual training for remote teams?

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1 What is hands-on training?

2 What is virtual training?

3 Benefits of hands-on training for remote teams

4 Challenges of hands-on training for remote teams

5 Benefits of virtual training for remote teams

6 Challenges of virtual training for remote teams

7 Here’s what else to consider

Training

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What are the differences between hands-on and virtual training for remote teams?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 What is hands-on training?

2 What is virtual training?

3 Benefits of hands-on training for remote teams

4 Challenges of hands-on training for remote teams

5 Benefits of virtual training for remote teams

6 Challenges of virtual training for remote teams

7 Here’s what else to consider

Training

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