The Art of Connection: Reflections on Training Delivery

As a curriculum developer and learning experience architect, I’ve always believed that effective training isn’t just about transferring knowledge — it’s about creating a connection. Over the years, my journey through Instructor-Led Training (ILT) and Virtual Instructor-Led Training (vILT) has offered me a deep understanding of how learning happens best — through engagement, empathy, and adaptability. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of designing and facilitating training for learners from various walks of life — engineers, students, corporate professionals, and even officers in uniform. I’d like to share some of those learnings that have shaped my perspective on effective training delivery.

The Magic of In-Person ILT

There’s something irreplaceable about standing in front of a group — reading the energy in the room, noticing those small nods of understanding, and instantly tailoring your delivery based on real-time reactions.
I’ve had the privilege of delivering technical sessions and motivational talks to engineering and management students, as well as police and paramilitary forces. Each audience is unique — their learning pace, interests, and expectations differ greatly.

During these sessions, I realized that effective delivery is less about telling and more about showing. In my experience:

• Interaction matters: Rather than simply telling the learners, I prefer to demonstrate, invite them to participate, ask questions and feel included. That helps them become part of the delivery, not just passive recipients.

• Adaptability matters: With in-person ILT, I can read facial expressions, body language, group mood, and make instantaneous shifts. For e.g., slow down, add a live demo, change an example, engage in a sideline discussion.

• Belonging matters: Especially in large student groups or with corporate associates or when working with forces (police/paramilitary), making people feel they belong in the session, they’re not just “audience”, they’re contributors; and this drives motivation, comfort, participation.

During a training session to officers at National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) -04BN

ILT also allows the trainer to sense the pulse of the audience. When a concept doesn’t land, you can instantly reshape your content flow, simplify the narrative, or change the example — something much harder to do in a virtual environment. That flexibility, that human element, is the true strength of in-person delivery.

vILT: The Digital Bridge of Learning

The virtual shift brought its own set of advantages. vILTs enable accessibility — learners can join from anywhere, on the go, without the constraints of travel or logistics. This format has democratized learning, giving professionals across time zones the opportunity to upskill.

However, vILT comes with its challenges. Technology is both a bridge and a barrier — unstable connections, camera hesitations, and occasional distractions can affect engagement. As facilitators, we often find ourselves innovating to bridge that digital gap — using interactive polls, gamified quizzes, or storytelling to keep the learners involved. In my virtual sessions, I emphasise live demos, ask small group breakout activities, use polls/chat, and call on participants to speak up. These steps help compensate for the physical distance.

Research supports both the strengths and the challenges of vILT. For example, the systematic review “Measuring the effectiveness of virtual training” found that while virtual modalities can be effective, the context (learner environment, interactivity, format) greatly influences outcomes. [article] From my experience, I’ve seen this play out many times. The success of a virtual session often depends less on the platform and more on how we, as facilitators, design the experience. Elements like structured interactivity, clear visual flow, and timely engagement checks can make a huge difference. When the content encourages learners to respond, reflect, or perform small activities, the virtual format becomes far more impactful and human.

The key lies in intentional design — adapting ILT materials into interactive digital experiences without diluting the human touch. In my vILT deliveries, I emphasize interaction through scenario-based discussions, live demos, and guided reflections, ensuring that the experience remains as immersive as possible.

From my vantage point about vILT:

• Flexibility is real: Learners appreciate being able to join remotely, reduce commute/time cost, and still engage.

• But engagement is harder: Technical issues (connectivity, audio/video delays), camera-off participants, distractions in their home workspace can make it tougher to achieve the same energy as in a physical room.

• Designing for interaction matters: In my virtual sessions, I emphasise live demos, ask small group breakout activities, use polls/chat, and call on participants to speak up. These steps help compensate for the physical distance.

Adaptability: The Mark of a True Trainer

One of the most important qualities a trainer can have is adaptability. Whether delivering a session to students, corporate professionals, or officers in uniform, the trainer must read the audience, reshape the content, and rebuild the flow in real time.
During my sessions with the police and paramilitary forces, even though my presentations were structured, I made it a point to pause, simplify, and demonstrate live. The objective was clear — make every learner, regardless of background, walk away with understanding and confidence.

Finding Balance Between ILT and vILT

While I personally cherish the energy of in-person ILT sessions, I equally recognize the power and convenience of virtual delivery. Both methods serve distinct purposes — ILT thrives on direct human connection and immediacy, while vILT excels in scalability and flexibility.

During a training session to Final year Engineering Students at SRM University

The future of learning doesn’t belong to one or the other — it belongs to the blend. A well-balanced learning ecosystem integrates both formats, ensuring engagement, accessibility, and impact.

Closing Thoughts

Whether in a physical classroom or through a virtual platform, the essence of teaching remains unchanged — it’s about inspiring curiosity, enabling understanding, and fostering inclusion.

The tools may evolve, but the heart of learning will always lie in human connection, something that every trainer must strive to build, regardless of the medium.