| In recent years, e-learning has become a major part | | | | president of Employee University says, "Classroom |
| of many business HR strategies, but is it killing | | | | training gives employees an opportunity to mingle |
| employee morale and undermining the value of | | | | with leadership and folks from other departments or |
| teamwork? Some experts caution that too much | | | | units that they may not otherwise rub shoulders with. |
| solitary e-learning can lead to employee isolation and | | | | It's a connection thing; a teambuilding opportunity." |
| a breakdown of the team approach to business. | | | | Many of today's top employers like Google and Apple |
| As a former classroom sales trainer for GEICO | | | | understand and actively promote social learning |
| insurance for many years, I used a mixture of both, | | | | environments and team building activities as a way to |
| but can't imagine training employees on topics relating | | | | strengthen the company as a whole. There's no |
| to interpersonal relationships through solitary | | | | better way to learn how to work together than to |
| e-learning programs. In this article, I'll explore the pros | | | | learn together. |
| and cons of e-learning versus organized classroom | | | | The Downside of Classroom Training |
| training and when each format is most effective for | | | | Especially for large organization, classroom training can |
| success-driven businesses. | | | | pose a bit of a logistical problem. It's difficult for all |
| What really is "learning" anyway? | | | | employees that need training to fit it into their |
| To learn something is more than just to memorize | | | | schedules. Additionally, it can be tough to deliver |
| answers. To learn is to understand a particular | | | | consistency with training since the classroom |
| problem and to respond with a new behavior. Just | | | | experience and perhaps the trainer is different every |
| about anyone can memorize the answers to a set of | | | | time. |
| questions, the real test though is weather or not a | | | | However, there are many training videos available |
| person can respond with the right behavior at the | | | | today designed for classroom-based training that |
| right time in a real-world setting. | | | | come with leader guides, instructing the trainer when |
| When teaching sales training, I would start the course | | | | to pause the training video and which questions to |
| off with test-type training and assessments to | | | | ask to initiate discussions. Many training video |
| measure knowledge about the technical aspects of | | | | programs even include pre-packed assessment tools. |
| insurance. Many students would master this after | | | | Which to Choose: e-Learning or Classroom Based |
| about 2 weeks, but actually applying those answers | | | | Training? |
| in a real-world sales dialogue consumed the remaining | | | | In general, e-learning is best for subjects that require |
| 6 weeks of training. Even though the student's | | | | memorization. Speaking in terms of insurance, |
| "intellectually" knew critical answers, the act of | | | | e-learning was wonderful when teaching facts like |
| applying that knowledge to real world-situations was | | | | how to apply points to various drivers and when to |
| far trickier. | | | | apply discounts. |
| The Pros of E-Learning | | | | Classroom based training, led through discussion, role |
| It's no wonder that e-learning has become so popular | | | | play, or training videos in conjunction with discussion |
| in business. Courses can be delivered instantly, | | | | work best when teaching complicated ideas or |
| without worry of physical boundaries or scheduling | | | | methods of interacting with other people. Sexual |
| conflicts. In busy office environments, employees can | | | | harassment training, leadership training, sales training, |
| take training course at their desks while all of their | | | | interview training, and other types of real world |
| test results are instantly compiled and fed into a | | | | interactions are best suited for a classroom training |
| database. | | | | environment using training videos as a supporting |
| The Downside of E-Learning | | | | resource. |
| Although it's easy to administer and quantify test | | | | Businesses should utilize a variety of different training |
| results, most e-learning courses transfer knowledge | | | | strategies in their employee learning programs |
| through memorization. Learning how to effectively | | | | including e-learning, classroom training, and interactive |
| manage people or to function as a key player in a | | | | training videos. Assess each topic before deciding on |
| team are not concepts based around memorization, | | | | a type of training. If the subject is one that requires |
| but around actively participating in groups, something | | | | memorization of specific information or rules, |
| that is difficult, if not impossible, to convey through | | | | e-learning is ideal. If the topic is one designed to |
| e-learning. | | | | teach people how to interact with other and react to |
| The Pros of Classroom Training | | | | real-world social environments, choose classroom |
| Classroom-based training gives employees the | | | | training and utilize professional training videos and |
| opportunity to connect and grow with other | | | | assessment tools to keep training consistent. |
| members within the organization. As Darin Hanks, | | | | |