Classroom courses or Online E-learning?

When it comes to thinking about learning a new skill there are probably tons of things on your mind, from what you want to learn to how you want to learn it. Whether you’re learning out of a desire to broaden your knowledge base or as part of your job, there are a few important decisions necessary to help you make the most out of your studying. Perhaps the most important decision comes in regards to answering the one big question that dominates the education world – classroom or e-learning?

E-learning

According to Computer Weekly, e-learning was the darling of the training market in the late 1990s, loved by employees and employers alike for its flexible approach and ability to keep costs down. E-learning allows people to choose when and where they study, allowing them to work at their own pace and take on tasks when it suits them. Take a look at our blog post about the benefits of e-learning for more information about why it can be a good choice.

E-learning is popular across the world, with figures showing that during 2012 in the USA e-learning was the fastest growing market in education. This boost in revenue for the distance learning market was attributed largely to technology advancing in leaps and bounds, with statistics showing that between 2000 and 2012 there was an 870% growth in the number of internet users. This has undoubtedly affected the way that we as a population research, store and utilise information.

There are also facts to back up the success of learning from a distance, with Rosenberg (2001) arguing that e-learning ‘can take anywhere from 25 to 60 percent less time to convey the same amount of instruction or information as in a classroom.’. As people work through the online course at their own pace, there could be a significant reduction in overall training time. This is because you don’t have to wait for other people to understand – or worry about getting distracted by them.

Online learning can provide an individually tailored learning experience, allowing people to be fully on top of how and when they learn. This means they can make the most of the times in which they feel productive, rather than having to force their productivity to fit into an allotted time. There are some disadvantages however, such as having to rely on technology or an internet connection, for example. It also requires a high level of self discipline and time management, which may be difficult for certain types of learners.

Classroom learning

It is undeniable that learning in the classroom, where you are face-to-face with a teacher, can offer huge benefits. This personal contact allows people to pick up on nuances like facial expressions and visual clues, as well as just the facts, which can aid in learning. There are also things like discussions and Q&A sessions, which only really happen in a classroom where multiple people are interacting together. Plus, being in a classroom also allows teachers to read people’s faces – making it easier for them to judge whether people are really taking the information in.

This person-to-person interaction is a huge part of the appeal of studying within a traditional classroom format. Having multiple people learning in a shared environment can promote an open and interesting exchange of ideas, which could throw up additional topics and discussion points which would never have been broached in an online format.

Classroom learning does have its setbacks however, with many lamenting the way that having a number of people learning at the same time takes for granted the individual differences between learner’s needs. This can mean that it’s difficult to provide individual attention, and can also mean that everyone is forced to learn at the same pace. This results in faster learners possibly getting bored, or slower learners struggling to keep up.

Advantages and disadvantages

There are advantages and disadvantages to all types of educational formats, so it’s most important to work out what is going to work best for you. Learning relies heavily on an individual’s motivation, so the key to getting the most out of your chosen training is to make sure that it’s something you’re interested in and something you want to know more about. Learning new skills, whether that’s through e-learning or within a classroom, relies on the effort you put in, so make sure that the format you choose allows you to work at your best.

Whether you’re a motivated at-home-learner or enjoy learning through discussions with others, SAMS are on hand to help. We have a wide range of courses in both e-learning and classroom format, so whether you want to learn about office safety or boost your asbestos knowledge, just give us a call.