Instructor-Led Training vs. E-Learning

According to Training magazine’s 2006 report for the U.S. training industry, 62 percent of courses were facilitated by an instructor, 15 percent were offered via online self-study, 14 percent were delivered in a virtual classroom, and 9 percent were furnished through other formats. In a 2008 report, the American Society for Training & Development (ASTD) found that e-learning content accounted for almost one-third of all content available to learners. This confirms what the ASTD called “a consistent upward trend in technology-based delivery methods.”

Both types of programs help organizations enhance the capacity of adult learners. Building capacity is an integral part of developing human capital. When employees increase knowledge and gain skills through workplace training, they become more adept at performing their jobs. Excellent training programs provide more than just an opportunity to learn skills and information for the workplace; such programs enable employees to apply skills to different situations.

Before you compare instructor-led training and online e-learning, you should consider that your workers have different learning styles. Two employees might work for the same organization, and their managers might add the same course to their training plan, such as learning inventory management techniques. The first employee might learn better through instructor-led training while the second employee might internalize information better through e-learning.

The employer should not have to choose in every situation between instructor-led courses and e-learning courses. It helps to compare these two training delivery formats and decide which matches your organization’s training needs:

Affordability – You can’t generalize that e-learning is more affordable than instructor-led training. What you can do is compare the cost of a trainer’s preparation and instructional time and material costs with the cost of an e-learning solution. It might be that a single course taught by an instructor is cheaper. But, consider what happens when this training must be offered more than once a year. Soon you might discover that a single payment for e-learning software or an annual subscription to an e-learning website is more cost-effective.

Multiple Modalities – A good instructor-led training course meets the learning needs of different learners, such as stimulation of the body’s five senses and involving participants in cooperative learning. Teaching using multiple ways of learning is similar to what a classroom teacher considers in the K-12 school system. However, a good e-learning program also supports different learning styles. A good e-learning program includes visual and audio stimulation and encourages the learner to get involved through use of the keyboard and mouse.

Learning Scenarios – In both formats, learners can apply what they’ve learned in different scenarios. You don’t need an instructor to present scenarios; a course offered online can present any scenario through video, audio, text, or a combination of these formats. An e-learning course can ask an employee to choose the best outcome for a scenario and offer feedback for the outcome selected by the employee. However, a professional can lead a discussion among participants about a scenario.

Flexibility – Arguably the biggest benefit of e-learning is the flexibility factor. When your company invests in e-learning, employees can learn at any time on a computer with Internet access. Choose e-learning for this benefit if you don’t need a trainer to monitor employees in a classroom.

Choosing between instructor-led training and e-learning is not always required. Some programs include both components – learners advance through online self-study modules and meet with an instructor in a virtual classroom.

About CBT Planet:

CBT Planet provides comprehensive computer training in a variety of effective formats including CBT training videos, live courses, IT certification boot camps, and online videos. Choose the training format that appeals to your current learning needs, learning style, or schedule and receive expert instruction regardless of delivery method. In addition, many of CBT Planet's computer training courses take a blended learning approach and offer the best of both worlds.