## What are the foundations to learn about?
![6-questions-answered-about-astrology-training-in-perculus-2.jpg](https://site-api.perculus.com/uploads/6_questions_answered_about_astrology_training_in_perculus_2_4f17261ae1.jpg)
As astrology can get quite deep, it might be confusing for beginners to differentiate what is essential and what is advanced. Although the courses and trainers are specialized in these issues, having a general idea can help trainees decide where to start and what program to follow.

The first step is to learn the signs and planets used in the astrological chart, their glyphs, and their representations. Learners can build upon these basics on their own if they keep them in mind.

Using internet resources to get to know different astrologers is also a worthwhile idea to know what to expect. Beginners who have good foundations can begin studying more advanced topics such as reading charts and interpreting planets' relationships as early as possible.

## What are some main types of astrology?
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Far away from being a uniform craft, astrology diverges into different specialties. Before starting astrology training, knowing some main currents in astrology might help trainees to think and decide.

The most in-demand astrology programs teach natal astrology, a branch of astrology that focuses on one’s birth chart.

Among the types of natal astrology, modern astrology is a popular school based on a psychological and personality-based interpretation of astrology. It is suitable for newcomers who are looking for a better sense of why people are who they are.

Traditional western astrology is another type that helps people analyze present life circumstances and prepare for the future.

Vedic Astrology, rooted in India, is a spiritual tradition. It is the right choice for those who have some previous experience in astrology and wish to integrate it holistically into their way of living. It offers remediation such as mantras or dietary adjustments based on one’s chart.

Some astrology schools extend beyond natal astrology. For example, locational astrology looks at one’s compatibility with geographical locations, and electional astrology helps people plan the best dates for an event or a decision.

Relationship astrology and medical astrology, as their names tell, take care of one’s relationship and medical situation. These branches do not refer to one’s birth chart.

## How long does it take to learn astrology?
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This is one of the most prevalent questions that pop up when it comes to astrology training. Especially newbies want to know how much they can progress in a certain amount of time. The learning pace depends on two primary factors that revolve around motivation.

A person's previous experience with astrology is the first factor that determines the pace. If one’s astrology knowledge is confined to the names of zodiac signs, then you will have to start from the basics. However, if you are interested enough, you can progress very quickly.

Another critical point is how much you want to delve deep into astrology. Most people are curious about how astrological processes work, such as generating and reading charts. This is also the part that makes money and is quicker to learn.

However, if you are more interested in the mythology and reasoning behind astrology, then you must be immersed in theory for a longer time.

## What kinds of courses are available for training?
![6-questions-answered-about-astrology-training-in-perculus-5.jpg](https://site-api.perculus.com/uploads/6_questions_answered_about_astrology_training_in_perculus_5_4dc3eedc66.jpg)
There is a myriad of astrology programs, from short-term courses to comprehensive ones that offer a diploma. Certified courses let you hold a certificate to make money out of astrology.

You can decide which course to follow by thinking about your aim in learning astrology and how much effort you are available to put in.

Online astrology training has several options, just like the on-site courses. Some online courses allow you to complete tasks at your own pace. This flexibility is a plus, but you should have a high level of motivation and self-discipline.

Webinar-based classes take more time than self-managed classes, but they offer you a consistent learning experience by letting you have actual interactions with professional astrologists.

## How are software and digital tools used in astrology?
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In the age of digital transformation, astrology has also become tech-driven. In particular, manual calculations lost popularity as computing power increased with the rise of software. Now astrologists and astrology trainees have more time to focus on analysis and interpretation.

Astrology software today helps astrologists make accurate planet position calculations and visualize these positions using their symbols. It also stores individuals' data in database files, some of which integrate the comprehensive Astrodatabank database. Other popular digital tools include birth chart applications and daily horoscope tools.

Digital tools in astrology allow you to run charts on your own once you start advancing in astrology. That’s why a suitable astrology training program is the one that will help you use them since these tools make analysis far easier by saving astrology from the manual hassles.

## Why Perculus to give online astrology training?
Astrology is a complicated but rewarding field. You can explore the human condition profoundly and unleash your creativity by stepping into the world of astrology. Sharing knowledge is also an essential part of wisdom.

Perculus, knowing the complexity of the subject, offers an embedded tool specific to astrologers. The platform enables you to work on a birth chart with learners in training. With this tool, we aim to provide you with a more practical, informative, and interactive online astrology course. [Contact us](https://perculus.com/contact-us) to learn more.

Are you giving astrology training? You’ll love these astrology tools.

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Perculus: 6 Questions, Answered About Astrology Training

## What is executive coaching?
Executive coaching includes close interactions with an executive, aiming to help them develop themselves in their professional and personal lives to be more effective in their management and decision-making styles.
 
Executives may be under a great deal of stress and burden due to the nature of their jobs. Therefore, they may look for a way to equip themselves better and learn to handle the workload by getting professional coaching. 
 
The ultimate goal of working with an executive coach is 
 
- to achieve behavioral change in their professional working life, 
- to be more productive, and 
- to make better decisions.
 
## What is the difference between coaching and executive coaching?
While they share many core principles, there are some differences that make executive coaching a specialized type of coaching. One notable similarity between these two types, however, is that they both seek to improve a person's quality of life in all areas.
 
As for the differences, the most significant difference in executive coaching is its focus on what the person does rather than who the person is. Life coaching, or coaching in general, begins with our personalities, our reactions, and how we came to be who we are, today. 
 
Executive coaching, on the other hand, does not pay much attention to those factors. **Instead, it will focus on what you have done and what you are doing as an executive. **An executive coach may also draw attention to the executive's nature and personality but only aim to uncover why they act that way.
 
## What is executive coaching vs. life coaching?
As explained above, executive coaching focuses on the professional actions of people rather than their lives in general. However, life coaching is the most common type, so the difference is quite significant when considering working with career leaders.
 
Life coaching is also more like being a consultant, as life coaches talk about personal issues, and come up with suggestions and solutions, which would not be the case for executive coaching.
 
Also, another crucial difference is that life coaches will work with individuals to help them improve their personal lives. On the other hand, executive coaches will try to assist professionals in enhancing their careers. 
 
## How about executive coaching vs. leadership coaching?
When we talk about executive coaching, we may include leadership coaching as a subcategory. Both coaching types are closely associated with each other since they both focus on career coaching. Also, two kinds of coaches work with professional career individuals.
 
There would be some subtle differences between leadership and executive coaching, though. For instance, while leadership coaches often are internal, meaning they work for the same company, most executive coaches are outsourced. 
 
While leadership coaches may work with a team or a group of leaders from the same enterprise, executive coaches solely work with a single executive. Thus, they will focus on the person who holds the administrative position.
 
Executive leadership coaching could use similar goals and focus. They try to encourage a team of leaders or simply an executive to achieve more and provide support in work-related areas.
 
## Why do executives need coaching?
Regardless of how intimidating they seem, being in charge brings loneliness. It's exceptionally stressful, challenging, and challenging to make decisions alone, especially when any decision would significantly impact the whole company, its present and future, and its employees. That’s a lot of responsibility.
 
Additionally, not all executives are given their roles when they are not thoroughly trained to be executive leaders. Most companies assign executive roles to their promising leaders. Once such a role is assigned to a leader who has never had the administrative function, the individual is expected to improve with time and the relevant coaching.
 
Most executive coaches work with those who have not completed their executive training yet but were given an administrative role. So an executive will need support and coaching when they need to lead a company and reach a critical point.
 
## How could the best executive coaching be provided?
As executive coaches will closely work with top-notch leaders, more attention needs to be given to the job. No coach may have the necessary qualities to perform such a service.
 
Executive coaches have to go through a series of training in order to be certified to work with business people. They should also study case studies in order to gain experience and expertise in leadership-related issues to provide the best coaching service for their advisee.
 
The best executive coaching will focus on the success of the person they work with, considering their unique conditions, such as 
- The size and industry of their company, 
- The steps to be taken for the company's future, and 
- The current issues to be solved within their teams.
 
## How much do executive coaches make?
Executive coaches work with the most professional and influential people, so how much they charge for their executive coaching services is often a mystery to many. 
 
Of course, there is a range of what they charge depending on their expertise, where they are located, and who they work with. However, an average executive coaching salary per year would be 97,562 USD in the US, according to Glassdoor.
 
In the US, the most expensive executive services are offered in New York City. It is not only the most expensive city in this sense, but most professional executive coaches are also based in NYC.
 
The more enterprises and big firms there are in a city, the more executive coaches are present as well. The amount of tax paid by coaching services also depends on the state and its tax rates.
 
## What is the executive coaching process? What are the steps?
Once the coaching agreement started between an executive and an executive coach, those four steps will be followed:
 
**Awareness**
The first and essential step in executive coaching is to raise awareness. Several sessions may be needed for the participant to reach this state of awareness.
 
In the very first session, other than the coach and the executive, a few more people could be present in the meeting. For example, an HR member and a senior executive that the participating executive is reporting to. During this first coaching session, the executive's background, goals, expectations, and desired outcomes are the primary subjects.
 
Usually, a one-to-one session is a follow-up to what's been discussed, plus adding the personal expectations by focusing on the strengths and weaknesses of the executive. Eventually, the coach will guide the client to be aware of the current situation and continue the coaching process accordingly.
 
**Analysis**
After the executive has become aware of themselves, deep analysis discussions begin. Every action, decision, or situation is subject to analysis. 
 
They work on designing an individualized plan on how to develop the executive, and they also share the plan with the senior executive and the HR person. This stage is completed by preparing an action plan on how to pursue and what to do to achieve desired development.
 
**Action**
As it is evident from the name, in this stage of the coaching, the client is expected to perform the action plan that was prepared in the previous step. It could include:
 
- Attending any necessary training
- Having discussions with other executives to connect better with the clients
- Attempting to form better and stronger relationships within their company
- Trying new skills and taking on new challenges
- Trying these new behaviors that are analyzed and put into the action plan
 
During this stage, the executive and the coach work closely to discuss every step of the action. The coach gives feedback and elaborates on every change and new skill.
 
**Achievement** 
This final step of executive coaching is where the client gets the rewards of the complex process. The effectiveness of coaching is measured by testing changes and desired developments.
 
The executive's peers or stakeholders evaluate his performance and examine the results. All parties decide to end the coaching process when the desired results and expectations are met. 
 
The coaching process may end after all expectations have been met, or there may be a few follow-up sessions to evaluate the whole coaching process. As a final step, the coach prepares a written report, which the executive keeps as proof of the coaching's impact on performance.
 
## How to choose the best executive coach?
After getting executive coaching support from a professional coach, picking someone who would be an excellent fit for you is vital. Not all coaches could be working with executives from your field.
 
So the best executive experience would be with someone with expertise and know-how in the same business area you are working in. 
 
Furthermore, you may decide whether coaching sessions will be online or face-to-face and decide to work with a coach either online or offline. 
Is it possible to get online executive coaching?
During the last few years, virtual education has evolved, using the latest technology to provide the same or better results than traditional teaching. Many trainers offer competitive executive coaching over the internet.
 
Perculus is a digital training portal helping trainers and learners achieve things without the borders of the offline world. As well as different types of online training, professional executive coaches can use many interactive and user-friendly features to manage and facilitate their online sessions.
 
## Key takeaway
All in all, executive coaching experience is a sophisticated and very rewarding process. Experienced and well-trained coaches can only guide it to success when they possess the relevant knowledge and know-how about coaching top-notch executives. 
 
Moreover, undergoing such a coaching intervention is essential for professionals to keep developing themselves and to get better at their careers. 


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How To Become An Executive Coach: Everything You Need To Know

## Before Class
### Manage a Weekly Schedule
![Manage a Weekly Schedule.jpg](https://site-api.perculus.com/uploads/Manage_a_Weekly_Schedule_9b5fc27012.jpg)
To maintain a smooth course period, you can plan your whole week, even your whole month, about your courses, whether you are a school teacher or a corporate trainer. 

For example, you can send a survey to your students to learn the most available date for the course. You could also host a game night! This will help students survive online classes and have a more enjoyable time with their classmates.

### Stay Connected
![Stay Connected.jpg](https://site-api.perculus.com/uploads/Stay_Connected_4fad8a38ad.jpg)
Another tip for successful online learning is to stay connected with your students. Don’t wait until class time for communication. 

Send them reminders about the course, ask them how they are, and make a joke about what is discussed during the class. This way, they can relate themselves to the class and you.

### Different Learning Methods and Tools
![Different Learning Methods and Tools.jpg](https://site-api.perculus.com/uploads/Different_Learning_Methods_and_Tools_cd613561b8.jpg)
Another tip for successful online learning is to be creative, so students always wonder what's next in their class. Be extraordinary and use different learning methods and tools.

You can record yourself while explaining something. Students will be more interested in watching you than other people they don't know.

Use different types of media to offer diversity. You can offer them note-taking applications, shared workspaces, etc. This way, students don't get bored and can survive online classes.

## During the Class
### Be Devoted
![Be Devoted.jpg](https://site-api.perculus.com/uploads/Be_Devoted_940fd491ab.jpg)
You are there for students' improvement. So, do not only give a lesson but also make sure to listen to them and answer all of their questions, even if they are not related to the main topic of the lecture. They want to be listened to and feel valued. They will be more willing to participate in your classes when they think you will be there for them.

If you devote yourself to the learning process, they will also do the same.

### Train yourself
![Train yourself.jpg](https://site-api.perculus.com/uploads/Train_yourself_a799150993.jpg)
Since you will address many people about a topic they are unfamiliar with, you should have excellent verbal skills. You can enroll in public speaking classes. You can practice to improve enough to speak in public smoothly.

You can try this with your family, friends, and public speaking classmates. Learn to use your voice and language, and people will listen to you without getting distracted.

Besides speaking skills, you also need to learn how to make presentations. Since there are lots of distracting items during online classes, it can be very challenging to concentrate. So, you can keep the presentation simple and short and focus more on involving the students in the course. To learn how to do this, you can get courses on presentation tips as well.

### Become a unique trainer
![Become a unique trainer.jpg](https://site-api.perculus.com/uploads/Become_a_unique_trainer_4ef1f958bd.jpg)
Bring your own material to the class, such as personalized presentations (not the long and boring ones!), instructive videos (you can record yourself too!), interesting stories related to the lesson, interactive activities (we will come to that part later) and so on.

### Always be transparent
![Always be transparent.jpg](https://site-api.perculus.com/uploads/Always_be_transparent_cc270eb69c.jpg)
Tell them about your feelings, your motivations, your life goals, and even your mistakes! This way, they can empathize with you and see that you are human too! If they realize this, they can be more comfortable speaking in class.

### Make connections with your students
![Make connections with your students.jpg](https://site-api.perculus.com/uploads/Make_connections_with_your_students_c7e8906a4a.jpg)
You can use the first 10 minutes to talk with your students about their lives and your own. Plus, you can make a little routine for your lessons. 

For example, besides chatting, you can ask ice-breaker questions at the beginning, such as 'If you could do everything for one day, what would you do?' This might help them think and get ready for the lesson quickly.

### Interactive Learning Sessions
![Interactive Learning Sessions.jpg](https://site-api.perculus.com/uploads/Interactive_Learning_Sessions_f38aef7aa0.jpg)
If you only talk about the lesson and do not involve the students in the learning process, eventually, they will stop listening. You should ask questions and create simple tasks during the class. 

For example,
- Use their names when discussing cases. 'John has two apples, and Mary has three apples. How many apples are there for John and Mary?' John and Mary will probably answer that.
- Create a debate club if you have two opposing opinions. This helps students socialize with their classmates and learn how to express themselves. Also, it can boost students' motivation and self-confidence when they become a part of a group and have a voice.

### Become a mentor, not a boss
![Become a mentor, not a boss.jpg](https://site-api.perculus.com/uploads/Become_a_mentor_not_a_boss_c95601677c.jpg)
Even though you are a particular character in the class, you don't have to be bossy to your students. It only distracts them, and they probably won't even come to your style next time. No need to fear them; you are here to support their learning process. 

Here are some tips to be a mentor to them:
- Make them feel you are always welcome to answer their questions and help them improve.
- Let them know your working hours. Some students might not be comfortable asking questions in the middle of the class, which will give them a chance to speak with you.
- Organize 1:1 meetings with some of the students who, you think, need extra help with their learning process. Every person wants to be noticed; this is the platform where they can explore their skills and improve themselves in every way.
- Besides the main course, you can offer them practical applications such as how to write a cover letter, create a CV or a CV website, and so on! This helps students know what to do for their future careers and be one step ahead of their competitors.

## After Class
### Ask for their opinions and their feedback
![Ask for their opinions and their feedback.jpg](https://site-api.perculus.com/uploads/Ask_for_their_opinions_and_their_feedback_0f1d585651.jpg)
An essential tip for successful online learning is giving your students the chance to express their feelings and opinions.

You can make polls after the class asking 
- How was the lesson today? 
- How can I improve the learning process? 
- Do you have any advice to make the learning process better?

You can make sure every student is involved in the feedback process. If you see some students who haven't answered the polls, contact them and ask personally. They feel valued, and you'll see their names in the following survey.

You can also brainstorm about the teaching and learning process during the class. If you create a platform for your students to discuss the lesson and the learning process, they can find excellent tips and ideas for successful learning.

When there is a decisive phase in the learning process, involve your students in this phase. They will be more confident and comfortable if they have the right to choose the most effective way to improve their learning process.

**Whether you are a trainer or a student, online learning is not an easy process. But, as a trainer, if you use such tips to involve your students in an effective learning process, they will be more likely to listen to you and participate in your class with joy!**

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Online Training: Tips To Improve Online Learning

Astrology is a fascinating heritage of human culture, with almost all societies in the world having some roots in this mystical tenet. There is a high demand to learn and explore astrology in our day as well.

Astrology can get quite complicated for those who want to dig deep. But the number of courses that offer online astrology training has been increasing. For those who are interested in learning astrology, both complete beginners and astrology nerds, these courses are great to start.
Astrology training helps get a grasp of the core building blocks of astrology: signs, planets, and houses. Depending on your interest, you can also engage with more advanced topics. 

Here, we will provide you with the best 6 astrology tools that have become digitalized with online training programs.

## Birth Chart Reading
Reading a birth chart is one of the first things that an astrology trainer will include in the training program. Also known as a natal chart, a birth chart is a unique karmic map that gives insight into someone’s personality from mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects.

A birth chart is visually represented as a diagram according to the positions of the planets considered in Vedic astrology: Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Rahu, and Ketu. 

For online training, Perculus’s astrology software helps you draw birth charts based on birth information. Then your trainee can learn to read these birth charts.

## Daily Horoscope
As one of the most popular astrology tools, Daily Horoscope offers daily predictions for one’s Moon sign and helps people think about and plan their days ahead. Even though it is usually called “daily,” the horoscope tool includes weekly and monthly readings as well.

Daily horoscope tools have additional features for improved user experience, including optional push notifications. You can also learn how horoscope readings are divided into specific themes such as health, financial situation, and romantic relationships. It is fun to learn how periodical horoscope tools work.

## Numerology Calculator
Numerology is the science of numbers, as the name suggests. It is based on the idea that there is a relationship between numbers and the characteristics of people. This interesting astrological study looks at how significant numbers such as one’s birth date or the numerical values of the letters in their name influence their life.

Numerology Calculator is a tool that comes up with a formula to create a numerology chart to analyze one’s numbers to reveal knowledge about someone’s character, relationships, and even the past and future. 

It is one of the ways online astrology training gives you information about yourself based on significant numbers that help you achieve success.

## Dasa Bhukti Calculator
Even though it is not so popular, Dasa Bhukti Calculator is quite insightful in analyzing how major and minor planet periods may impact a person’s life. Dasa is mainly about a planetary cycle that starts according to the location of the Moon in a star at the time of one’s birth, while Bhukti is about the minor planetary periods. 

So, Dasa Bhukti reflects planetary periods in which certain planets rule during specific times.
The tool calculates and displays the Dasa Bhukti periods where the positive and negative impacts of the planet's movement are seen. The effects differ according to the planet that rules and the position of the Moon. 

When you learn how to analyze Dasa Bhukti details through the tool, you can gain valuable insight into various significant aspects of someone’s life.
Planetary Transits

Planetary transits play an important role in astrology. It refers to nine planets in Vedic astrology having the capability to influence people’s lives in major and minor ways. These impacts are dependent on the planets' capacity for movement, i.e., Mercury moving very fast while Saturn is very slow.
Using date, time, and location information, the tool for planetary positions displays the locations of planets as well as passage patterns. It is among the merits of an online astrology training program to help you interpret the impacts of the transits of various planets.

## Sade Sati Calculator
Sade Sati is the phase of life that comes with unsettling feelings and bad luck. According to Vedic astrology, it happens when the most malefic planet, Saturn, passes over Moon and affects one’s mind negatively. Although Sade Sati brings hardships to one’s life and influences decision-making, other planetary positions are also considered in the analysis.

Sade Sati Calculator is the tool that lets you know if you are undergoing this period of Saturn passage in your birth chart. In this approach, the Moon sign is another factor in seeing the financial, social, and marital implications of the Sade Sati period. A certified online astrology training can teach you how to read and interpret the calculator.

## Key Takeaways
Online astrology training does not require much infrastructure. You can step into fully interactive courses with only a basic computer or laptop and an internet connection. Furthermore, you can enjoy the advantage of learning at home, where you feel most comfortable.

These tools are extremely useful to give you a solid basis in astrology study and exposure to predicting. The type of online training you are following will lead you through the most relevant software and apps on which you can play with these tools. 

With **Perculus**, you can move your online astrology training many steps further. 

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6 Best Astrology Tools for An Online Astrology Training

## The Importance of Virtual Training
Virtual training is a win-win for organizations and employees, allowing organizations to train employees effectively in various geographical locations. The importance of virtual training comes from its location flexibility. Employees can be on the same page to improve their work-related skills regardless of location.

Virtual training is vital for organizations that operate remotely, as it helps everyone to connect. Such a gathering indeed maintains the team spirit. But in the case that an organization operates on-site, then virtual training can be a powerful way to supplement employee development.

## Opportunities and Obstacles of Virtual Classrooms
For a better understanding of virtual training, we can first think about some opportunities and obstacles.

### Opportunities
**Convenience**

One of the most significant benefits of a virtual classroom is its convenience for trainers and employees. Participants can easily take part even in asynchronous activities with a single click. 

By offering a convenient and comfortable learning experience, virtual classrooms help employees allocate more energy to focus on the content rather than the logistical hassles of training. 

Moreover, it can provide new possibilities for team building, such as gathering everyone in a virtual gathering instead of separate physical events. 

**Technological Touch**

Once you have a handle on virtual learning technology, it can provide many benefits that on-site training programs do not offer. In this regard, a virtual classroom is a highly efficient tool as it enables you to design engaging training sessions. 

For example, you can efficiently share your screen, circulate functional digital materials, or ask a question without pausing the presentation. Furthermore, everything can be recorded or stored for future use.

**Reduced Costs**

Virtual training arrangements can reduce costs in most cases. For example, you do not have to pay for a hotel or any other necessary expenses for in-person meetings. Instead, you can spend your money more efficiently on technological infrastructure, which will pay off when you use this infrastructure for your training program. 

Of course, virtual training also helps employees save travel costs as well as time.

### Obstacles
The drawbacks of virtual training pale in comparison with its immense benefits. However, the points below should be considered and worked on for the smoothest training experience.

**Information Mismanagement and Security**

You should remember that virtual training offers a radically different environment and learning experience for the trainees. Indeed, some people will struggle to focus on the training with so many distractions. 

So, managing the load of information is super imperative. Training content should be relevant and applicable to the needs of trainees.

Furthermore, privacy issues are more prominent when it comes to virtual training compared to a traditional learning institute. Given that information is quickly circulated on the internet, virtual training applications and software must ensure data security and prevent information mismanagement.

**Lack of personal interaction**

The social context of learning may change when it comes to virtual training. Some people manage to learn well independently; however, some may find training more challenging without peer communication as an additional resource. 

This obstacle is easy to overcome when you offer the finest possible interactive learning environment to encourage collaboration.

**Scheduling issues**

It is great that people can follow a virtual training session from any corner of the world, but it comes with challenges in scheduling. With trainees from various time zones, you must find the most optimal options to make it feasible for everyone if you are a highly international company. 

For instance, scheduling different sessions, providing catch-up options, and recorded sessions are especially useful.

## How to Design the Most Effective Virtual Training?
To see what kind of virtual training arrangement is suitable for your business needs, you can start by conducting a training needs analysis. A training needs analysis enables an organization to specify its employees' training and development needs to maximize their performance. 

This kind of analysis is beneficial for addressing employees' knowledge and skill gaps.

After you determine your organization's current strengths and weaknesses, it is time to design the most effective employee training program. There are some considerations:
- How are the remote employees geographically distributed?
- How can you make your employees more technologically aware?
- Do you need to update your organization regarding the innovations in the field you operate in?
- How can you invest in the most cost-efficient training infrastructure within a reasonable budget?
- How personalized should the training structure be?
- How can you update virtual training materials quickly and easily as new developments occur in the sector?

With these questions in mind, you can decide on how to invest in your virtual training structure.

## Tips to get the most out of your virtual classroom
You can integrate these tips into your virtual training strategy to provide your trainees with the most fulfilling learning experience.

**Use a sturdy platform and get the right equipment**

It is useful to start with the essential technicalities. There are plenty of options when it comes to software and equipment; you should try to find the most cost-efficient and useful ones. Even though Zoom is the most popular platform for webinar training software, you can assess various tools to see what is right for your business.

You will need a laptop or desktop with a webcam for the equipment. These options are more practical than a tablet or mobile phone. You also need a decent headset and speakers. Of course, a reliable internet connection is another requirement. Make sure you support your connection with an ethernet cable and a power cable.

Since you probably have all the basic things you need, you don’t need to look for expensive cameras and tripods in the first phase. You can safely host your webinars with the equipment that you are already familiar with. Once you are more experienced, you will see which equipment you might need to replace.

**Get Prepared Well and Test**

Once you are done arranging your technicalities, you should practice the entire session with your tools to see if they all function smoothly. It is incredibly important, especially if your sessions are live rather than pre-recorded. 

If you are going to host a relatively big group of trainees, you can prepare a short instructional guide to encourage them to share their experience with the software. It will help trainees, trainers, and supervisors overcome possible problems.

Having a thorough command of your teaching materials is another significant point. It will help the training run smoothly and contribute to your professional image. It is critical to know how to teach your content, as well as in what order to present it.

**Have your B plans ready**

No matter how prepared you are, it is essential to have a backup plan in case you face unexpected problems. Before you face anything, you should consider how you are going to overcome any situation, such as losing internet access or hardware pieces going wrong.

You should also consider keeping in touch with your trainees in case any last-minute issue pops up. You should be able to let them know and offer an alternative event. This is as important as fixing the technical problems you have.

**Engage Your Audience**

You started with no issues, and now it is time to think about how to make the training session as useful as possible. Engaging your audience in various ways is the key to that.

First, it is advisable if all participants turn their video on. Attending a training session with video improves trainees' engagement as well as makes them self-aware. However, not everyone's private setting is available for last-minute video demands. 

You should let them know about your expectations in advance, possibly via e-mail. As a reminder, you can ask participants to turn on their video at the beginning of the session. In addition, you can tell them it's important to maintain eye contact even when it's virtual.

As you start, you should try to engage with your participants in the first couple of minutes to keep their attention alive. You can address them by their names and bring up a topic about the session. It also opens the way to give them the expectation that you will continue to talk to them throughout the session. 

Indeed, if you aim at engaging the participants approximately every 10 minutes, not always professionally but sometimes casually, you will keep your participants active.

Some examples of how you can keep attention on the session include asking about your participants’ previous experience with a topic, their associations of ideas, and their takeaways from the issues that you bring up. You can also ask them to vote on or scale some suggestions or ideas.

**Minimize Lecture Time**

We know that it is quite easy for the trainer to simply teach the material via lecture. This method, however, is the trap of virtual learning. Avoid falling into that. Remember that it is super hard for your participants to focus on a one-sided interaction.

Instead of simply sharing your screen and reading, you should keep your camera on and pay attention to your body language instead. Setting a timer for yourself to remind you to stop and ask questions or to initiate discussion is also a wise idea.

**Use Breakout Rooms**

Having breakout sessions is helpful to drive participation in virtual training and encourages some socialization between the participants. Plus, some participants might not feel comfortable being vocal in a huge group, so breakouts give everyone the chance to speak out. 

You should give clear instructions, so the groups know exactly what to discuss during their breakout session. When the instructions are unclear, people waste time trying to understand what is happening. 

If there is a task to work on, you should give participants time to think before you put them in a group discussion. Do not forget to spare some time to share their comments, results, and insights with the broader group at the end of each breakout room session. Otherwise, the participants might find the discussions irrelevant.

**Utilize Different Mediums**

Training should not be restricted to video streaming and screen sharing. Instead, to enhance your trainees’ experience, you can get creative and use graphics, animations, polls, chat boxes, and Q&A tools.

Gamifying training is a smart idea. You can easily add games to entertain your trainees, quizzes to assess their knowledge, and fun activities to break the ice between them, especially during the first sessions. 

These arrangements all come with easier coordination than you anticipate. Another valuable resource is augmented reality. Especially with scenarios or case studies, AR will help trainees think about the training content in real-life situations. 

**Pay Attention to Differences in Learning**

You will encounter differences in how the trainees learn and apply knowledge from the beginning until the end. For example, even if you use the greatest technological resources, some people might not be comfortable with technology. 

Therefore, you might want to consider having a documentation file and help center for them in case they run into technical difficulties. 

Furthermore, there might be some differences in how students learn on virtual platforms compared to on-site training experiences. One way to be aware of these differences is to track the data, testing results, and feedback. 

Maybe your trainees agree with the idea that the sessions would be more efficient if they were shorter. Keeping these data at hand is beneficial to ensure constant improvement in your training for different types of learners.

**Gather Feedback**

The virtual training design and delivery of material through a virtual classroom was a major accomplishment for you and your business. But remember that there is always something to improve. The most effective way to know what to improve is to ask for evaluation and feedback. 

After the training, you can easily conduct an anonymous survey to get trainee feedback. It will give you great opportunities to see your strengths and weaknesses in every aspect.

Keep in mind to find ways to address the feedback you gathered. You should show your participants that their feedback matters and will use it to shape how you design and realize the training sessions.

## Final thoughts
Allowing groups and ideas to come together from across the globe simultaneously, virtual training carries great potential for businesses to enforce development in their skills gaps and overall organizational structure.

Virtual training maximizes knowledge transfer effectively and inclusively, without being a hassle to anyone. When the sessions are designed carefully and led by an active trainer, virtual training sessions offer the same interactivity and quality as an effective face-to-face classroom environment.

In this article, we explore the potential as well as the obstacles of virtual classrooms and the best tips for designing engaging and effective virtual training programs. If you are organized, professional, and engaging, virtual training can help you gain a cutting edge in your sector.

Virtual classrooms seem to continue to be a vital part of the new normal in the digitally transforming and rapidly changing workplace across industries. You are welcome to contact Perculus to discover the opportunities and prepare your organization for the future.



Virtual Classroom - 2022 Essential Virtual Classroom Guide

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## What is Jitsi?

Jitsi is a free and open-source video conferencing platform that allows users to share camera, audio, and screen on mobile and desktop devices. It&#39;s one of the biggest open-source video conferencing solutions and offers a high level of customization with its architecture.

Jitsi can be installed on on-premise servers as software and served from your own servers, or you can continue with the online version which is maintained by 8x8 software. At first glance, Jitsi looks very easy to use, but it comes with a lot of challenges for virtual classrooms, workshops, and online training. So let&#39;s explain each of them:

**1. It requires a developer to run:** As easy as it looks, the out-of-package Jitsi only includes the essentials and requires developer time to customize, tweak and add the necessary plugins that fits to your needs. This can further increase the required deployment time and put an unnecessary burden on your developers.

**2. Its not designed for virtual classrooms:** Jitsi is essentially a video conferencing software, which lacks the fundamentals that are required to have a good virtual classroom. Jitsi currently lacks roster management, dedicated dashboard, drill-down student reporting, and session content management. This all comes at a cost to instructor as if one proceeds with Jitsi; they probably will have to use separate systems to get each of them.

**3. Requires maintenance:** Being on your servers means that you constantly have to check if Jitsi is running correctly, or enough resources has been made available for it.

**4. Quality degrades if you want to have higher participants:** While Jitsi is OK for small groups, the system integrity starts to shake down if you want to have higher groups or webinars with it. This further limits the usability of Jitsi.

## Jitsi Features

Jitsi is pretty basic when it comes to features. We even can summarize them in a couple of bullet points:

• Camera and Audio Sharing

• Screen Sharing

• Chat Messages

• 3rd Party Integrations (Requires Developer Time)

## Jitsi Pricing

Jitsi is completely free if you decide to use it with your own servers. If you want to go with an software provider and want to use Jitsi as a Service, the pricing is based on monthly active users and starts from $100.

Jitsi may be an expensive option for you if you want to get the most performance out of your money because it lacks the necessary features like built-in dashboard or user management.

Might be some of the cons that Jitsi comes with. This article focuses on what Alternatives you can go with instead of using Jitsi for having the best virtual classroom experience both for instructor and the students!

There is a good alternative for Jitsi if you want more features and better pricing. Let&#39;s look at our alternative:

## What is Perculus?

Perculus is a virtual classroom software that is specifically designed for learning &amp; teaching unlike other standard video conferencing solutions like Jitsi.

Perculus uses a number of training-focused features to improve session engagement, this allows Perculus to be precise and prepared.

If you think about &quot;Why would I pay for Perculus when I can use Jitsi for free?&quot; The answer is simple. **Perculus comes with every feature you need out of the package. You don&#39;t spend any time with development and upkeep.**

## Perculus Features

Perculus offers many more features than Jitsi. If we need to briefly summarize Perculus&#39; features:

• **Course Flow:** Flow allows you to build your virtual classroom material ahead of time in a PowerPoint slides like manner! Just upload your files, add your questions and prepare your Breakout Rooms before the session EVEN begins! When your classroom starts, just hit next for changing the material, never have to deal with wasting time with preparatory tasks during your virtual classroom.

• **Breakout Rooms:** Perculus allows you to divide your participants into groups. You can allow groups to work on specific tasks under your moderation. Different from the competition, you can even assign groups the participants even before the session starts.

• **Video Conferencing:** Perculus allows you to share your camera and audio with HD quality. Participants can share up to 50 cameras and you can easily manage the participant permissions like who is allowed to share camera and who is not. This allows you to create sessions without any hiccups!

• **Hybrid Mode:** You can use two different cameras from one computer, at the same time. During your virtual classroom Perculus allows you to share two cameras at once from a single device. This allows you to clearly show off what you are doing on the whiteboard, or the canvas!

• **Built-in Questions:** You can use open-ended or choice based questions with Perculus.

• **Drill-down Reporting:** Every session generates six ( S I X ) different reports! You can analyze your virtual classrooms based on participant attendance, question responses or simply who shared their cameras the longest!

• **Advanced Dashboard:** Perculus comes with everything you need. With one subscription, you also get access to our dashboard where you can manage/add users, create and plan sessions or generate reports.

• **Easy Integrations:** Perculus has LTI and API integrations ready-to-deploy at your disposal. This allows Perculus to seamlessly integrate with your current LMS or internal platforms.

• **White-label Ready:** Perculus can be customized to fit your brand. What&#39;s different from Jitsi in Perculus is ours is much more easier and does not require any kind of coding whatsoever!

## Perculus Pricing

Perculus comes with all-unlocked 14 day free trial with all plans. That means whatever plan you choose, you are not required to pay anything (Because we are pretty sure you will like Perculus).

Perculus also offers an Always Free plan. If it fits your needs, you can use it for free as much as you want.

If you want to take a step further and get the most out of Perculus with our priority support, advanced integrations and full-on whitelabelling, our premium plans starts at $10 a month per Instructor.

Perculus does not charges extra for number of registered users or number or sessions. Our pricing plans are made simple for helping instructors/trainers to get started as fast as possible, without spending any time thinking about the different tiers of plans and extras.

If you feel like you are ready, click the link down below to start your 14 day free trial with Perculus (no credit card required) and try our features!

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