Advantages and Disadvantages of Instructor-Led Training
Today, there is a wide range of online courses that companies can use to train their employees. Students can learn at their own pace or participate in instructor-led classes. It’s essential to understand the advantages and disadvantages of instructor-led training in order to choose the program that’s right for your organization. The benefits of virtual instructor-led training are extensive, and this type of training is especially advantageous for those wanting to learn in a group setting. Instructor-led training (ITL) offers numerous opportunities for peer interaction and collaboration.
Additionally, virtual instructor-led training (VILT) opens the door to better communication between students and teachers. VILT is training delivered in a virtual environment. VILT environments are designed to simulate a traditional learning experience and the training can occur synchronously or asynchronously. While many people are perfectly capable of teaching themselves and getting through the course material on their own, there is tremendous value in being able to address your concerns and questions with an expert instructor. This can lead to better learning outcomes and help students get more out of the course. The biggest downside to instructor-led training is that it doesn’t always grant learners the flexibility of completing course material when and how they need to. Students that work during the day, for example, won’t be able to attend classes or discussion groups during that time and will thus be limited in terms of course participation.
Instructor-led training may not be the right option for those that prefer learning at their pace. This is particularly true for advanced students or those that already have a good handle on course material and want to move through the training quicker. Companies that do choose instructor-led courses should be sure to follow instructor-led training best practices or virtual instructor-led training best practices. They might also view virtual instructor-led training examples for a better understanding of what this type of training entails and how it differs from self-paced learning.
Instructor-Led Training Disadvantages
Instructor-led training is a great option for those that want to learn directly from instructors. However, it can be less than ideal for learners that prefer to move at their own pace. Instructor-led training disadvantages range from being rushed through or held back from course material to inflexible scheduling. Weighing the disadvantages and advantages of instructor-led training is crucial to deciding between the two. By choosing the training type that’s right for you or your employees, customers and partners, you can ensure better learning outcomes.
To better understand instructor-led training advantages and disadvantages, you can also browse instructor-led training examples. If possible, you might even participate in a tutorial, see what each type of learning entails, and determine which model is right for your organization. When it comes to training, there is no one-size-fits-all solution, and so it’s important to consider your individual needs, as well as those of the others that are going to be participating in the program, to achieve success. There are many different types of online learning platforms available today, and so no matter what your needs, you should be able to find the program that’s right for you.
Advantages and Disadvantages of In-Person Training
In-person training remains one of the most popular types of training, even with more people working and learning online than ever before. But what is in-person training? As the term suggests, in-person training is offered in-person as opposed to virtually. Students and instructors meet at a designated training site. So why is in-person learning better than online? Googling “why in-person learning is better” statistics can give you an idea of why this option is favored by some.
This is especially important because, when considering in-person training vs. online training, you should weigh the pros and cons of each. If you’re leaning towards in-person training, you should think about the advantages and disadvantages of in person training. One of the primary (and obvious) benefits of in-person training is that students get the opportunity to meet with their peers and instructors in a physical location. Students that struggle to grasp concepts through online training programs may be better served by in-person instruction, as they can interact directly with peers and instructors to get the help that they need.
Understanding the pros and cons of in-person learning vs. online learning can empower you to make better decisions for yourself or those in your organization. It can also be helpful to view in-person training vs. online training research for more specific data on who can benefit most from what.
Benefits of Instructor-Led Online Training
The benefits of instructor-led online training are innumerable. It offers students the best of both worlds: the flexibility to learn from home and the benefit of learning from an expert instructor. By considering the advantages and disadvantages of instructor-led training, you can become more informed about each type of learning and choose the training program that’s right for your business. Although there are many benefits of online training, there are just as many, if not more, benefits of instructor-led online training.
As such, the decision to participate in instructor-led virtual training or not often comes down to personality and preferred learning style. Those that want to learn at their own pace and in their own way might go with a self-paced online course. On the other hand, students that enjoy hearing directly from instructors should consider an ILT course. It’s important to gather feedback from those in your organization to get a better sense of every person’s learning style.
While it may be impossible to cater exactly to each individual, you can better understand the group dynamics as a whole and whether your employees would benefit most from instructor-led or self-paced online training. Instructor-led training isn’t for everybody, but neither is standard online learning, and so it’s important to determine which training program is going to be best for those you work with. This can result in teams that are better trained and better educated.
Examples of Instructor-Led Training
Viewing examples of instructor-led training can be a great way to learn more about this type of training before jumping in and getting started. It can also help you understand the advantages and disadvantages of instructor-led training. For instance, one common type of ILT is webinar training. This can be great for those that want to learn from an instructor but who don’t require constant real-time interaction with their teachers. Traditional lectures are another popular type of ILT. Lectures can either be given in real-time or recorded and uploaded to the training platform at a later time. Another example of instructor-led training is virtual instructor-led training or training delivered in a virtual environment. VILT often relies on virtual IT training labs in which students can interact directly with simulated environments.
Recorded lectures function similarly to webinars and are ideal for students that want the benefit of learning from an instructor without having to meet at predetermined dates and times to hear them lecture live. There are a variety of instructor-led online training courses, so whether you’re looking for a webinar, lecture, or anything in between, you can find something that meets your needs. Weighing instructor-led training advantages and disadvantages can also be helpful when trying to decide between training types.
Instructor training is most similar to traditional schooling, and so if you found your school classes to be effective, then an online instructor-led training program may be right for you. Conversely, if you are an independent learner that values flexibility over teacher-student interaction, then a self-paced online course will probably be the best choice.
Instructor Led Training vs. E Learning
When considering instructor-led training vs e learning, you should consider your students’ needs and preferences. For example, would they appreciate being able to log onto a training platform at any time of the day and complete course material? Or is it more important that they have immediate access to their instructor? E learning in training and development is largely self-paced, whereas instructor-led e-learning typically involves group meetings and assignments that must be completed at predetermined times.
One of the greatest benefits of instructor-led training is that students get the chance to learn directly from instructors, ask questions—whether through video or chat—and collaborate with their peers. Of course, there are a few disadvantages of instructor-led training that should be considered as well. First, some students may struggle to keep up with the more rigid pace of instructor-led training. Some might struggle to keep up, while others may feel held back. While the benefits of instructor-led training generally outweigh the negatives, it’s extremely important to consider both sides before making a decision.
Skytap allows users to create virtual training labs for all types of learners. You can offer both instructor-led and self-paced training courses that can be provisioned in minutes—even if you lack IT support. With Skytap Virtual IT Labs you can minimize training costs with flexible pricing and provide 24/7 training to students, no matter where they happen to be located. Skytap’s virtual training lab software enables businesses to get creative with their training programs and design courses that meet the needs of their employees, customers and partners. Rather than requiring that everybody meet on site and set dates and times, you can offer them the flexibility of online learning. This can result in cost savings for your business and improved learning outcomes for your students.
