
LESSONS
What have we learned from using this virtual format?
That residential, in-person training cannot be fully replicated in a virtual environment. Nobody doubts that!
However, if judiciously run and combined, virtual synchronous and asynchronous environments can facilitate good knowledge acquisition and skill development, and offer time for deep reflection and freedom of action. The ILIAS learning management system offers good conditions for monitoring individual learning progress, personalised communication and various types of feedback. BigBlueButton proved to be a reliable virtual school environment, with plenary rooms, breakout rooms, and good training features (e.g. polling, sharing notes and personal working space).
Interaction and networking are difficult, and are different to how they are in residential training, but they can be achieved. You cannot touch, smell or taste the training environment but you can get by using just a few senses.
ESDC immediately adapted to satisfy its partners’ and customers’ training needs in new conditions, and at short notice – the very raison d’être of a crisis management organisation.
Thanks to the following!:
- Hellenic Supreme Joint War College
- Swedish Armed Forces International Centre
- Italian Centre for Higher Defence Studies
- National University of Ireland Maynooth
- EU Military Staff, and
- All mentors, facilitators and course participants for making the AMT possible