Online learning and training have grown with increasing value for organizations and their employees. According to recent research, 41.7% of global fortune 500 companies use some form of “eLearning” technology - educational modules while not being physically present in the same room as the instructor hosting the lessons. Additionally, almost all global firms (93%) are switching to online learning.

Advantages of Online Training

As organizations place more emphasis on employee training and development, the transition to online education is evident. Organizations find online training and development easier for employees since it provides the opportunity to learn at their own pace while also encouraging employee growth.

There are many advantages of online training courses and classes that work to help develop employees personally and professionally:

Flexibility

The accessibility and feasibility of online training is the top advantage of online learning. Online learning allows employees to learn remotely at their own pace. As long as they meet the requirements and deadlines, they can complete the training on their own schedule.

Online training supports self-paced learning. With the flexibility that online learning provides, they have more freedom to work around the other priorities in their life too, including family, career and more. Research conducted by NCES found employees’ preference for using self-paced e-learning lessons is 58%, which shows that most employees like to take e-learning courses in their leisure time.

Additionally, employees don’t have to worry about commuting or making it on time to a class. In-person training is not flexible. By providing classes or courses online, you eliminate the need to commute to a central location and make learning more convenient. A recent survey found employee training using eLearning can take 40-60% less time than traditional employee training requires.

There is also the option of providing live, online classes. However, I recommend small chunks (60-90 min sessions) spaced out over time to keep the sessions.

Preferred Learning Styles

Everyone has a different learning style and no two brains are alike. Some people are visual learners and others are active ones. One person may need to take copious notes and others may need to listen to a training twice in order to absorb the information fully. Online courses enable employees to employ the learning method(s) that work best for them.

Cost and Resource Savings

There are more pros to online learning for companies too, including cost and resource savings.

Online classes and courses are scalable for any number of employees, making it more cost-effective for the organization. There are no venue, speaker, transportation, accommodation or hospitality costs to consider. Additionally, all class or course materials can be available online and suitable for reuse. 

Now you’re thinking it is case closed in the argument of online vs. in-person training since online/remote learning has so many benefits! Yes, the advantages of online learning are compelling but there are disadvantages to consider as well.

Disadvantages of Online Learning

Less face-to-face interaction

Online classes and courses can feel impersonal. The content can feel boring, especially with training module after training module. Unless there is a learning classroom or a way to network with their peers during the course, they lose the interpersonal communication. On the other hand, in-person training has a facilitator who employs information and resources and provides engagement.

Media Richness Theory is a theory of media communication that compares the ability to reproduce the information being conveyed without any distortion or loss. The richness of media is judged by the capacity to include personal focus, provide feedback, conveyance of clues (including visual and auditory) and the medium in which you are communicating.

Face-to-face communication is the richest, followed by video, audio and texting. Based on this theory, in-person training is the richest form of training, followed by online training with live video (essentially replicating a classroom). Self-paced, online learning is the leanest. 

One way to combat the interpersonal feeling is to facilitate interactions between participants. Schedule live, instructor-led training sessions or webinars to balance our self–paced modules. They can also utilize the chat function and allow learners to continue communicating with one another. 

Online learning also comes with temptations and distractions such as browsing the web, checking emails or Slack messages, etc. When they are in a controlled environment, they are more likely to stay focused on the task at hand.

Technological Limitations

Whille many younger generations excel with digital technology, others may have a tough time with the online training, which could learn to reluctance and uncertainty among participants. New technology can be a learning curve for the tech illiterate. Remote learning should be as easy as logging into a laptop or computer and launching a web browser/program. A seamless, integrated learning experience is key for success.

On the other hand, if an in-person training experiences technological difficulties, they are forced to reschedule. In this case, remote learning is the preferred learning experience!

As businesses continue to recognize the potential and advantages of online training and learning in their workforce, the presence will only increase. However, there is something to be said about the power of face-to-face interactions and trainings. After all, training is about learning and interactivity and the value of human interaction can’t be mimicked by online training. However, there is no perfect approach or solution. Every organization is unique and what may work for one organization doesn’t necessarily work for another. When armed with the pros and cons of online learning, it’s easier to build a solution that works for your organization.