Which Works Best: Instructor-Led Training or Elearning?

Instructor-led training, or ILT, refers to traditional classroom training. It is the most familiar form of training where the instructor delivers learning face-to-face in real time. ILT can be delivered in the form of a lecture where the instructor speaks to a large audience. It can be in a small class too, where the instructor interacts with the learners closely. It can, also, take the form of a workshop where the instructor helps the class with hands-on training.

A great advantage of ILT is that learners can ask questions directly and request deeper explanations of any concepts that they have not understood. Instructors can adapt the discussions as per the skill level of the learners. There is a human touch involved and the learning experience is enhanced with the help of human interaction. ILT courses are relevant for complex or collaborative topics. However, there are certain challenges associated with it. They are costly and time intensive. Taking your employees away from their regular work will hamper productivity. The logistics involved in organizing the training can be a nightmare.

Elearning to the rescue

Elearning is training delivered through a digital device online. It is the solution to many challenges that ILT presents. Here are a few ways eLearning training benefits the organization as well as the learners.

For the organization

#1: Saves cost
ILTs involve a good amount of investment. You have to pay for the travel and accommodation of the learners and instructors. Then there is a cost involved in hiring the venue and training equipment, not to forget printed source material. But with eLearning, these costs are slashed. Since it is online, the learning is accessible anytime and anywhere. There is no need for your employees to travel to a physical venue and attend it. So, almost all the overhead costs are slashed. The initial costs of designing and developing the module are recovered in the long-term. The more the module is reused, the faster the cost is recuperated.

#2: Possible to scale up
ILTs have a limitation on the number of participants. You can only include a specific number of learners per session. The more complex the topics, the smaller the groups should be. But, eLearning can cater to a global audience all at once. Everyone can access the same material at the same time without much hassle.

#3: Provides consistency
Since ILTs are instructor driven, each session will depend on the mood and thought process of the instructors. They may decide to change their delivery style and method based on the audience involved. With eLearning, you can be sure of the consistency. All learners will receive the same message throughout.

For the learners

#1: Offers flexibility
In a classroom setting, learners have to take time out from their daily work and attend the training physically. As a result, they are pulled away from their regular work. They may need to stay later and finish up their incomplete tasks. With eLearning modules, your employees have the freedom to choose when they want to learn and from where. They can access the content while commuting or during their free time at home. They need not extend their schedule to complete both – work and training.

#2: Gives control
Elearning not only allows the learners to choose when they want to learn and from where, but what they wish to learn. Learners choose which topics they want to go through and which ones they wish to skip. Even the pace in which they want to review the content is up to them. They can use their choice of mobile devices. They have the content at their fingertips in case they feel the need to go back and brush up on the material.

#3: Allows reinforcement
ILT sessions usually end after the instructor wraps up. But, you can continue to engage your eLearners even after he is done with the online modules. After the primary training, you can reinforce the knowledge with the help of job aids and other spaced repetition collaterals. You can consider creating custom learning content for this purpose.

At Designing Digitally, Inc. we specialize in creating interactive eLearning that keeps learners engaged and involved. Our talented instructional designers condense your content into ways that help your learners absorb it easily. We complete a thorough needs analysis to identify the appropriate learning objectives, and then create targeted learning modules.

If you are interested in making the switch to eLearning, schedule a free consultation with our online learning professionals today.