Digital learning methods have long arrived in the continuing education sector. Many trainers are uncertain: Will I lose my job? How do I set up an online training? What arguments can I use to convince my clients? These and more questions are answered by the successful live online trainer Heike Molin in the interview.

On February 28, 2019, the learning workshop "Conducting Webinars Professionally" took place under the moderation of Heike Molin. However, the focus was not only on webinars: The agenda also included blended learning and various learning platforms.

The certified live online trainer talks with blink.it about trainers' fears, the relevance of interactions, sales arguments, and the learnings of the evening:

Live-Online-Trainer Heike Molin introduces herself

Interview: Webinars, Live Trainings, and Good Arguments

1. What is the learning workshop "Conducting Webinars Professionally"?

H. Molin: "The learning workshop is a format where we engage in dialogue very quickly. The participants on February 28 were members of the BDVT: trainers, consultants, and coaches, as well as guests who were generally interested in the topic. A few had already had first contact with online methods but wanted to learn more. Some had even tried webinars with little success. The mistake is often to talk too much and engage too little with the participants.

Since there wasn’t much experience yet, we talked a lot about fears: fear of technical difficulties or fear of interacting with participants in front of the camera. The goal was to alleviate the trainers' fear of digital methods. I managed to encourage the trainers. The most important thing is to start simply in small steps."

2. Besides webinars, "blended learning formats" were also on the agenda. How does blended learning fit into an event about webinars?

H. Molin: "Blended learning is for me the big picture into which various formats are integrated. Webinars would be just one part. Many customers misunderstand 'webinars', which is why many experts refer to the method as 'live online training'. The purpose behind live online training and blended learning is not only content delivery but also the high degree of interaction.

Webinars are designed for direct live contact, just like face-to-face training. I distinguish between two types of learning opportunities: In synchronous learning units, everyone is together at a fixed time. It is live, and interaction between trainer and participant is possible. Asynchronous learning units are recordings, such as videos. And both fit well into blended learning."

Read here on our blog what makes a live online training.

3. Where does the fear of online training come from among trainers?

H. Molin: "In particular, purely presence trainers are extremely afraid of losing their jobs. In a way, that is true—they have to retrain to 'online'. But blended learning provides the security: There are still presence events, but combined with online components such as webinars.

Today, trainers no longer take on the role of knowledge providers. We call it 'learning companions': knowledge is no longer merely delivered in person or online, but the learning process is accompanied. Through various elements such as synchronous learning units, like webinars, trainers can still help participants directly and enable an exchange of experiences. The interaction is very important in online trainings. This is not just a new method, but a new paradigm!"

Read here on our blog why personnel developers are also learning companions today.

4. How important is interaction in webinars and online training in general?

H. Molin: "Interaction is very important in online training! A seminar, whether on-site or online, is only successful when I switch quickly from monologue to dialogue. This starts during the greeting: Instead of just introducing myself, I ask about experiences and wishes, both in presence and online trainings.

I recommend trainers the following rule: 60 minutes in presence training correspond to 90 minutes in online format. And in online training, there should be interaction every five minutes! With a high degree of interaction, the trainer can maintain and check attention. I address participants directly every five to ten minutes, look for volunteers for small exercises, or conduct quick rounds where everyone says something about the topic. This allows me to check: Are the participants still there? This way, I can provide feedback to the client that all participants were present online as well."

5. What do you recommend to your trainer colleagues who want to start with online training?

H. Molin: "In recent years, I have offered many train-the-trainer courses 'From Presence to Webinar Trainer'. And I recommend everyone a mini-training, for example to become a live online trainer: In this, you learn the basics of didactics, methodology, and interaction opportunities, but also everything important about technology. These basics are more than enough. There doesn’t have to be a huge training for thousands of euros.

Most beginners primarily ask, "How do I actually do that?" What is most important is time management and the right interactions. A solution for this can be trainer schedules or my checklist, which I offer for free on my website for download. And then there are many platforms like blink.it as good support."

Platforms for blended learning were also a topic in the learning workshop: Heike Molin shares her enthusiasm for blink.it with fellow trainers.

6. Many trainers do not know what they can charge for their online training and how to sell it well. What can you advise trainers?

H. Molin: "At the beginning of my self-employment, I started with little money. After certification and conducting many online trainings on various platforms, I now earn more with online trainings than with presence events. The best argument is good feedback from satisfied clients.

Besides knowledge delivery, the best argument is the many interaction opportunities in online format. And the fear of technology among participants is reduced because I, as a trainer, introduce them to the online system. The trainer is no longer just a provider of knowledge but also a guide for technology. With increasing experience, you can also hold several webinars in one day and earn more than just with presence.”

Conclusion: With blended learning, trainers become learning companions!

Digital learning methods may seem unorthodox, difficult, and hard to sell for many traditional presence trainers. But with Heike Molin’s tips, the transition from analog trainer to digital learning companion is not difficult:

• Blended Learning is not a rigid method, but a format in which you can mix different methods that suit your training!

• Live Online Trainings enable you to digitally interact with your participants, which makes your training valuable!

• Online Training does not replace you as a trainer but opens up new opportunities and selling points.

Speaking of selling points: We have collected 7 compelling arguments for you to sell your blended learning effectively. Download our selling arguments for your online support for free as a PDF now!