Face-To-face Or Online Training, Which Is More Effective?
Over the past two decades, experts working on corporate learning and development have developed many new technologies and learning methods.
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| Face-To-face Or Online Training, Which Is More Effective? |
One of the changes that these methods have brought to the training of staff is the introduction of face-to-face training to online-based training. Employees currently in training have these two types of mediums, so they have a much better opportunity to learn and master new information.
The growing importance of virtual learning
Due to the recent epidemic, ‘Learning and Development’ experts have come up with many new changes in their course material or training. Employees who work away from the office are now getting the necessary information easily online.
Even executives at the top of the organization now have to adapt to online zoom meetings instead of direct meetings in the boardroom.
There is also a need to conduct an online 'Feedback Survey', through which they can express their views on any issue outside the meeting.
But in the corporate world, is online training better than direct training?
To understand the subject we need to understand the main difference between these two types of training. Only then can we understand which is more effective for the staff in training.
In direct training, employees can be given practical experience at the individual level
When there are multiple students in a classroom, instructors can instantly communicate with each of them on a personal level. In other words, there are some things in the training given directly, which are not in the online training. These include direct contact or eye contact, body language and open-minded questions at any time.
Once the training is done directly, the students also get a chance to know each other better.
For example, during class breaks, they can talk to each other, have lunch together, and do various training activities together. This builds understanding among the team members and increases sincerity among themselves.
Online training creates learning opportunities in flexible, easy and varied ways
A significant advantage of online training is that it can be done anywhere in the world at any time.
On top of that, because of Covid-19, employees are now more comfortable working online. As a result, they have become more accustomed to flexible schedules. In this way, they are able to concentrate on learning new things continuously and at their own convenience.
One of the benefits of online training or e-learning is the opportunity to experience personalized training. In many organizations, the ‘Learning and Development Team’ emphasizes training through games. For example, at the beginning of the training, students have the opportunity to make their own choices about how they will learn. Much like "Choose your own adventure" in games. And in this way all the great opportunities are created in front of the students, to learn on their own. They are also very inspired.
Which method of training works better?
The fact is, neither of these two methods is worse than the other. Which method is better depends on who is learning and what is being learned, i.e. what is the course material. But the best way is to combine the two methods. As well as saving costs, it will also be possible to provide flexible and individualized training for all.