What is a Live Virtual Classroom (LVC)?
A Live Virtual Classroom is a platform for delivering a trainer-led, interactive course in an online environment. They are designed to replicate the experience and benefit of attending a face-to-face training course, with the same discussion, group breakout work, questions and answers, and access to a responsive, knowledgeable expert.
Advantages of LVC training over traditional class-based training include:
Flexibility of allowing globally distributed teams to access training
Reduced costs and time lost due to travel
Supports corporate social responsibility initiatives by reducing carbon emissions
How do LVC courses compare to other forms of online learning?
Online training courses are pre-recorded or packaged up collections of video, exercises, written material and other content. Learners work through the material in their own time, usually without access to direct support.
Webinars are broadcast-style events where a live presenter gives a talk to a large audience, with audience interaction typically limited to text-based questions at the end of the session.
Distance learning courses allow learners to follow a programme of training over many weeks or months, working through pre-prepared content, completing assignments, receiving feedback from an instructor, and often leading to an academic qualification.
Live Virtual Classrooms are interactive online training events where a live trainer engages with a small class over one or two days. Learners all have the opportunity to be active participants in the session and take part in real-time discussions and breakout exercises.
How does the LVC teaching compare to classroom teaching?
While teaching in a virtual classroom, trainers seek to preserve the benefits traditional classroom training by regularly interacting with the group, encouraging questions, and presenting with full video. To mitigate disengagement and loss of concentration, these additional practices are used:
Additional visual cues such as annotations while presenting, to stimulate multiple senses
Regularly switching between lecture, discussion, and breakout exercises, with regular breaks, to keep engagement high
There are also some advantages to LVC training, especially in fully distributed configurations where all participants join on their own equipment. This setup opens up the possibility of collaborating in online tools such as interactive boards, whiteboards, and applications. Learners can collaborate to build things in ways that are less practical in a physical room, huddled around a laptop or flipchart.
How do users feel about using LVC vs in class learning?
We regularly receive comments from learners expressing their surprise about how engaging and interactive their experience of LVC training was. Some hadn’t done it before and were not sure what to expect, but the overall trend in feedback is very positive. Many users are pleased to have access to live training that may not otherwise have been possible.
How do LVCs work?
All of the participants in the training course log into an online platform that features audio, video, screen-sharing, breakout rooms, and interactive whiteboards. The trainer presents exactly the same content as they would in a face-to-face setting.
There are a number of variations possible for how and where people join:
Fully Distributed
In this configuration, the trainer and all learners join separately on their own equipment, each with their own computer, audio headset, and webcam. Group work is done through breakout sessions in the LVC.
Groups at client locations
In this configuration people get together in meeting rooms at different locations, and facilities are set up in each room to join the LVC. The trainer may be physically present at one location or may broadcast from a remote studio.
Mixed locations
A combination of individual and group participation is also possible, allowing flexibility in the logistical challenges of getting people to learn together.
Which courses are available through LVC?
With the exception of SAFe certified courses, which Scaled Agile Inc do not allow to be taught online, all of our courses are available via LVC. The following courses are immediately available as a private class and have been regularly delivered to hundreds of learners.