Working with ICS clients in this new environment and preparing them for the new experience of teaching via interactive technology is challenging. Instructors come with varying levels of enthusiasm, varying levels of knowledge of technology, and widely diverse experience with the practical application of technology.

Principle # 1 — Reach Instructors With Their Love to Instruct

Instructors have one thing in common. They love to instruct. This is their passion and this is where we try to reach them - with this passion for teaching and working with learners. We assure them that this will still be their focus, but that now they will be broadening their thinking to include an expanded environment, a videoconferencing team, and an expanded set of tools at their disposal. In addition, they will be learning many techniques that they will then be able to use to enhance their face-to-face teaching. This is often met with a look of pleasant surprise. Reports from those we have previously worked with indicate that this is indeed an added bonus.

Principle # 2 — Provide a Means for Voicing Issues and Concerns

In the ideal world, the instructors’ institutions or organizations have developed and carried out a needs assessment and actively involved the instructors in - creating a strategic plan, selecting the appropriate technologies to meet specific needs and developing policy that places value on instructing via technology. In many instances, however, instructors come into the training situation filled with issues and concerns that need some degree of resolution. We take this into consideration and allow time for discussion in this area. It’s reassuring for trainers and instructors to have a safe place to air concerns and to discuss. It’s also reassuring for them to hear that others have these same concerns.

Principle #3 — Provide an Instructional Design Framework

At ICS we have developed a valuable instructional design framework of 7 Key areas that are critical to consider when developing programs or courses. The framework forms the foundation for our training and brings the instructional design framework together with the instructors’ ideas and materials — 1) Understanding the Learners, 2) Knowing the Environment, 3) Being a Team Player, 4) Developing Formats and Strategies, 5) Creating Interaction Activities, 6) Integrating Support, and 7) Monitoring for Quality.

Principle # 4 — Instruct Via the Technology to Experience the Experience

Instructing via the technology means “experiencing the experience” in the distance education environment and using the facility and equipment that will be used when instructing. Teaching via distance education is an intellectual, emotional, social, physical, and multi-tasking situation, with variables that need to be “experienced.” Learning how to instruct in this way also puts the instructor in the “shoes of the learner”.

During the course of the training, instructors plan, design, manage, and implement a short videoconferencing session, which they present for critique during the final training session.