Web-based training has gained a lot of popularity in the workplace over the past decade. But does that mean you should completely skip hosting in-person training? Is one type of training better than the other?
Consider the pros and cons for both in-person training and web-based training listed below to reach a conclusion that’s best for your organization.
Pros to In-Person Training
- In-person training offers more face time with an instructor and fellow trainees, where trainees can ask more in-the-moment questions and engage with their peers. In-person instruction also allows students to view live demonstrations and to engage in more hands-on training with equipment.
- There are more opportunities to remind students of assignments that are due soon when they attend training in person, as well as upcoming assessment dates and material to cover for assessments. Such reminders help students who aren’t as organized and self-motivated.
Cons to In-Person Training
- Learners with tight schedules have more issues attending in-person training sessions that are scheduled at specific times in specific locations. A lot of adult learners have personal obligations before or after work hours to consider, and some managers won’t want their employees to attend training during work hours.
- Students aren’t as engaged with in-person lecture type formats of instruction, which is the typical structure of in-person training. Content for in-person training should still be interactive and engaging if you want trainees to remember and implement what they’re learning later when they’re back at work.
Pros to Web Training
- Web-based training allows trainees to fit learning in between their day jobs and personal lives. Learners appreciate opportunities to learn at their own pace on their own schedules.
- Learners can access different training content at any point during their courses with web-based training, which helps with their overall recall of the material. They can access videos multiple times, as well as documents, and check out comments in chat rooms.
Cons to Web Training
- A lot of learners don’t have the self-discipline or self-motivation to keep their own study schedule for web-based courses. And as a result, they won’t complete required course material on their own time, or will wait until the last minute to review material.
- Learners may access web-based training content out of the intended sequence if they have access to all the material to the entire course at the beginning. They may skip to the last lesson posted in their course to cram for the final assessment, skipping over valuable information in all the other previous lessons posted.
As you consider the above pros and cons for in-person and web-based training, keep in mind that the right type of training depends on your organization’s specific needs. Blending the best components of each type of training (also known as “blended learning”) is an option worth considering as well.