Has anyone found instructors are reluctant to have a less visible presence in online training. It is possible for instructors to want to maintain the instructional control in terms of how I create the elearning and in the delivery standpoint, they are interested in being in the center of it.

How do we get tacit knowledge from trainer into the course besides making them the stars?

This is a thought-provoking question, Connector.

First, instructors need to get out of the sage-on-the-stage mentality and focus on learners regardless of the medium. I know that's hard for some.

Now, when it comes to online learning, in a synchronous environment, the instructor has a lot to do; some would say more than in a live classroom. But in an asynchronous environment things are a bit different. The instructor has the challenge of working with the development team to ensure that the course really hits the learners where it needs to.

In either elearning case, though, there is generally the need for some sort of human support. Not always, clearly, but often in complex or technical topics. In these cases the instructors can provide that support. On one project, we created a 30-hour MS Windows Server course series. Even during the pilot a team of us answered participant questions sent via email. This is a great role for instructors.

Yes- but John is exactly right- skills that make instructors great (not "mage on the stage, but guide on the side") are key to making great synchronous learning events- engaging learners, creating experiences for learning and addressing questions.

The key is that in a classroom, the feedback is quite immediate (faces glazing over like donuts), but online, you have to really think about key check in points and how to drive that feedback to know where learners are.

It's going to be an uphill struggle for some time to come. We're all creatures of habit and products of our education/socialization. It really is tough for many instructors to adopt new approaches and strategies--especially when those reduce the role of their "personality" in the proceedings.

It's important to create a comfortable atmosphere in which the instructor is treated with all due respect (and then a little extra just to help things out). If you go in trying to force a change, it's gonna be tough.

Hi,

I assume Connector that you are referring to Synchronous Online in a Virtual Classroom like LiveMeeting, WebEx, etc... For a while people tried the streaming video heads, which does add some value but just always feels a bit odd and not all have that capability.
I think the big assumption here is that the skills are the same. I have to say that having done both and done TTT for both there are many excellent classroom instructors that stink online and vice versa. Dry does not play online.
There is no accounting for experience so you have to engage them. At the same time they should be engaged as a SME not as the course owner.

Good luck,
Nick