Classroom or online training? In this blog will state 4 differences between classroom and online training, explaining why online training is more valuable.
We have seen online training offers easy accessibility and is more flexible than its counterpart classroom training, but it is usually difficult to decide on the approach. Is online training more valuable than traditional training? Is that true? Yes! If done right and utilized well, online training can prove to be more valuable and effective than classroom training. Different online formats offer different benefits and organizations can utilize them according to their training needs. Formats like eLearning, microlearning, mobile learning, videos, gamification, etc. help in effective learning.
Let me help you understand why online training will be a better choice than classroom training. I will mention a few differences between online and traditional training giving you reasons why online training wins.
Online Training vs. Classroom Training!
Reasons Why Online Training is More Valuable Than Classroom Training
- Easy on The Pocket
- Flexibility in Learning
- Relevant and Targeted Learning
- Consistent and Effective Learning
Why Online Training is Better Than Classroom Training?
Easy on The Pocket
Setting up a traditional classroom is an expensive affair. The cost incurred to set up a venue, training materials, and other logistics is quite a lot. Getting the instructor’s time also becomes a task sometimes. With traditional training, most of the time it is not possible to cover all employees at the same time, hence the whole setup needs to be repeated. Which means the same cost multiplies. For a traditional method of training, the cost will go up as the trainers and number of trainees go up.
However, coming to online training there is no need for a venue and some online training formats do not even require an instructor. The only cost incurred is creating an effective learning design by applying instructional, visual, and audio strategies based on learner and content type. Organizations can use the rapid eLearning to design and roll out courses quickly and at lesser costs. In the case of online training as the number of learners increases the cost per learner will decrease. eLearning courses can be used for multiple batches of employees which saves cost and enhances training ROI.
Explore ways to replicate the classroom activities in the virtual space to enliven your virtual classrooms.
Flexibility in Learning
Post-pandemic many employees are working remotely also the way we work has drastically changed. Not everyone has enough time these days to take out time to attend classroom training like earlier nor it is possible to gather all employees in one place. Organizations are going global and hiring employees from different parts of the world, hence it is not possible to arrange classroom training. Today’s workforce needs flexibility and freedom while learning, and it is not possible with traditional methods of training.
Online training provides flexibility in various ways that are normally not available in the case of traditional methods of training. Online training has proven to be an excellent choice for employees that work remotely or employees who have responsibilities that makes it difficult for them to attend offline training. The employees have an opportunity to plan and finish work according to their schedule. Formats like microlearning and mobile learning offer an anytime and anywhere learning approach to the modern workforce, offering all the flexibility they need. Learners are very happy leaving their rigid classroom training schedules behind and taking control of their learning.
Relevant and Targeted Learning
Modern learners seek help from their smartphones to get things done in the moment of need. What they need is relevance and quality of content.
In traditional classroom training, organizations often follow a one-size-fits-all kind of approach. Learners are trained on what is most relevant and of importance for a group of learners. However, what could be new for some learners, might already be known to others. Also, there are high chances of learners forgetting what they learned and not applying the knowledge at their jobs effectively.
Online training, on the other hand, offers personalized learning journeys for learners that allow them to have a unique learning experience, depending on their learning needs and preferences. In addition, online training also offers the accessibility of learning resources to multiple devices like laptops, tablets, smartphones, etc. It ensures that learners have the required information at the moment of need. Mobile learning modules have especially proven to be beneficial for the workforce that is on the go and who spend a lot of their in the field.
So, be it first-time learning, continued learning, or learning in the moment of need, online training caters to all kinds of learning requirements and needs of your learners.
Consistency and Effectiveness in Learning
Classroom training happens in batches and with a trainer, it is very difficult to train all the employees together. As different trainers may be assigned different batches, depending on many factors training environment and learning could be different in every batch. Classroom training fails to offer consistency and effectiveness many times. It lacks uniformity.
On the other hand, online learning offers uniformity and consistency in format and content delivery. Learners throughout the organization get the same level of training. The courses can be designed the same for everyone but also according to different learning needs, everyone who takes the course gets similar content offering uniformity. Because learning is consistent it also proves to be effective. Everyone does get the same training throughout but also gets an opportunity to learn at their own pace. Also, with the help of multiple training formats like infographics, videos, gamification, etc. training can be made more interactive and immersive. This in turn enhances the quality of training.
Bottom Line
Now that we have stated these differences for you, we hope it is easy to figure out what works best for you. Now is the time to future-proof the organization’s training strategies. Get the online training blend right and see online training work its magic, formats like eLearning, mobile learning, microlearning, and many other digital assets will become your best friend. It is safe to say pandemic or no pandemic – online training is here to stay. Do you also plan to incorporate online training for effective learning, grab our eBook and get tips to enhance the quality of online training and virtual classroom, also explore how to generate excitement and motivation among learners in a virtual classroom.
