Live Training, Self-Paced Learning, & Blended Learning: What is Right for My Organization?

Determining the right e-learning and training method for your organization isn’t easy, especially for those who are just getting started with their online training program. With so many different terms floating out there – “asynchronous” vs. “synchronous,” “instructor-led” vs. “self-paced,” for example (see ASTD’s E-Learning Glossary) – it’s easy to feel overwhelmed.

 

Nevertheless, don’t panic! To clarify these terms and help you choose what is right for your organization, we will examine three models of learning and training – live training, self-paced learning, and blended learning.

 

Live Training

The concept of “live” training is exactly what it sounds like – anything that is “live” is happening in real-time. This method of training is “instructor-led” and “synchronous,” whereby an instructor and his students are in the same learning environment together and proceeding at the same pace. This can be done in-person or virtually; a classic example of the former is in a traditional classroom or lecture hall, where one instructor is teaching an entire class at the same time. A similar model can occur in a “virtual” classroom.

 

Benefits of Live Training

There are many perks to employing live training, including:

• Ease of Face-to-Face Communication: One benefit is the ease with which students can ask questions and share experiences with each other and the instructor in real time. This process, which involves asking questions, participating in the discussion at hand, and responding to other students’ comments, is naturally easier when everyone is in the same physical environment.
• Convenience of a Predetermined Schedule: Another possible advantage is the presence of a predetermined schedule. Not only do learners know when and where they need to be for a training session, but everyone is receiving the necessary information at the same time.
• Increased Motivation to Participate: Research has suggested that “synchronous communication increases motivation” to learn by enabling an individual to “monitor the receiver’s reaction to a message, which makes the receiver more committed and motivated to read and answer the message.” In other words, because a degree of response or collaboration is expected from his or her peers, a learner may be more inclined to participate.

Shortcomings of Live Training

However, live training sessions do have its flaws. Some include:

• Limited Flexibility: For organizations that have many employees traveling or working remotely, live training sessions may be tough to plan. Requiring that everyone be in the same place (online or otherwise) at the same time can be inconvenient for both learners and trainers by not allowing for much adjustment in scheduling.
• Rapid Pace: In the case that a learner does miss a training session, it may be difficult for him or her to acquire and process the necessary information in time for the next session, especially if the courses are scheduled closely together. This concept also applies if a learner has difficulty grasping a concept. Instead of spending more time reflecting on a complex issue, he or she is expected to move at the same pace as the rest of the class.
• Expensive Costs: The costs associated with travel do not consist only of monetary expenses (which can be a big drain on an organization’s budget), but also the cost of time away from the office.

 

Self-Paced Learning

On the other end of the spectrum, self-paced learning is a form of learning that allows the learner to proceed at his or her own pace. This may also be referred to as “asynchronous” or “on-demand” training, training that is completed individually at different times.

 

Benefits of Self-Paced Learning

There are many great benefits of on-demand training:

• Flexibility: Self-paced learning is extremely flexible – trainers can simply prepare their courses ahead of time, and learners can access the content whenever they want. In a world where businesses are becoming increasingly mobile, this characteristic is a big advantage. Business professionals can keep up with their training courses when not in the office, and are able to participate in “just-in-time” learning, accessing the necessary information and skills when needed. Being physically “present” in a classroom is no longer a requirement, allowing for more freedom and flexibility in managing personal and professional circumstances.
• More Active Learning: Another advantage is the depth with which the learner can engage with the courses. Because the learner is now responsible for his or her own learning, there is a greater feeling of “ownership” for the knowledge that he or she needs to do his or her job well. Thus, learning is naturally more “active” than “passive,” which may occur in a traditional classroom where the instructor is responsible for imparting the knowledge.
• Greater Degree of Personalization: In self-paced learning, the learner can also choose to access a course where he or she feels most comfortable without distractions, which can lead to higher learning retention. In addition, with fewer time pressures, he is able to review the material he is struggling with more than once.

Shortcomings of Self-Paced Learning

Some limitations of self-paced learning include:

• Lack of Individual Motivation: The primary drawback has to do with the learner’s approach to learning; participants who are not motivated to work independently, who lack time management skills, or who are not familiar with the technology may find self-paced learning initially challenging.
• Barriers to Real-Time Communication: Without a physical meeting space, learners may face challenges to collaborating with one another in real-time, as each individual completes a course at a different time. Fortunately however, this factor is rapidly changing as social learning and online communities are becoming more prominent.

 

Blended Learning

Blended learning can be defined as the “the use of two or more distinct methods of training.” While the two most common types named are classroom instruction and online learning, or e-learning, blended learning can encompass other methods, such as informal, social, and “on-the-job” learning, as well.

 

Because blended learning strives to combine the best of many worlds (such as classroom and online learning), it shares many of the benefits of all (i.e. flexibility, active learning, face-to-face communication, real-time interactions, etc.) while being able to avoid many of the limitations of each. However, perhaps one of the greatest assets of blended learning is its diverse, “multi-directional” approach to learning. Unlike live training or self-paced learning, which individually may appeal to only a narrow portion of students, blended learning strives to be accessible to all learners. Those who prefer a classroom setting can still have access to that environment, while those who learn better individually can still participate in an online course. As a result, blended learning is often thought of to be fairly successful.

 

What other benefits or shortcomings do you see in each of these methods?