The way people prefer to learn workplace skills is constantly evolving. Workplace training has evolved many times, from few formalized processes before World War 2 to the more formalized processes we have now, thanks to instructional design and the processes behind it.
Things have changed significantly even with technical training, such as software training. Learning new software involved low-fidelity simulations that weren’t like the real thing. Not only that but no story or scenario was woven in that made them memorable and easy to learn.
In-person instructor-led training used to be the gold standard, and virtual instructor-led training became popular, too. That’s all been changing, especially since the pandemic. Now, it’s expected that training will be virtual at a minimum when possible.
But that’s not even good enough for many because the preference is often eLearning, and for good reason, especially for technical training. There’s a reason why we don’t even venture into instructor-led training for any type of technical training.
eLearning is preferred by most employee and it’s also the most effective way to train employees in most circumstances.
The advantages of converting to eLearning from in-person technical training are manifold. Not only is eLearning cheaper at scale, it allows for a more flexible approach that enables easier access and more opportunities for employees to learn from anywhere.
It’s easier to offer better quality and more consistent training through eLearning than through instructor-led training.
eLearning offers numerous advantages over instructor-led training, especially regarding technical training, which is very process-driven. It’s beneficial when you get to do the process instead of watching someone else show you about it.
Companies can reduce costs by utilizing a learning management system (LMS) or maybe no LMS and provide their employees with a better learning experience.
With eLearning, companies can make training more effective, performance-driven, and packed with value. Careful planning will make it more memorable and motivate employees while increasing their knowledge retention.
Plus, eLearning also makes it easier for organizations to track and measure their employee’s progress and if they can perform the process they were supposed to learn.
The Benefits of eLearning For Technical Training Compared to Instructor-Led Training
eLearning has been popular for a while but has steadily gained popularity. Why? Because it’s incredibly convenient for employees and, at scale, typically a very affordable way to train employees for the company.
There are many other benefits, so let’s look at some of them and why eLearning is superior to instructor-led training for technical topics. For certain types of technical training, it’s the only option you should consider.
Cost
eLearning is significantly more cost-effective than instructor-led training in most circumstances, especially at scale. Whether you venture into virtual instructor-led or in-person instructor-led training, they’re both expensive, even though virtual is less expensive than in-person if everyone is in different locations.
eLearning can be rolled out into an LMS and sent out to hundreds and thousands of employees simultaneously. It can be completed within a day if employees have the time. But it doesn’t have to be high pressure like that. You develop the course once, and it can be taken over and over as long as its accuracy and currentness are evaluated regularly.
eLearning saves money compared to instructor-led training in most cases.
eLearning has a relatively fixed cost since you create the course once, and then it can be taken by 1,000 or 100,000 employees. With instructor-led training, companies have to bear the expenses of hiring trainers, renting training facilities, and providing printed materials sometimes.
For virtual instructor-led training, the trainer has to teach one group at a time, and the groups can only be so big with live streaming to everyone simultaneously. eLearning saves a lot of money and allows for scalability as more employees can be trained without incurring additional expenses.
We saved an organization thousands by converting one of their instructor-led classes into eLearning. The result was that it took employees less time, they all got actual practice, and it could scale infinitely while incurring minimal costs.
It’s also a lot more convenient for every employee. Let’s take a look at why.
Convenience
There’s nothing more convenient (and expected today) than learning on the job when it’s convenient for you. This flexibility is priceless, as we’ve seen in the appreciation of at-home or anywhere work. It’s no longer acceptable for employees to constantly flex around the company’s desires; employees get a voice now, too, and their voice asks for eLearning more than instructor-led training.
The modern workplace expects to learn asynchronously, of which eLearning is the primary way to accomplish that.
Of course, not everyone prefers eLearning, but the vast majority do. Unlike instructor-led training, which requires employees to be present at a specific time and place online or in person, eLearning allows for true self-paced learning. Employees can access the training modules whenever and wherever they want, which is particularly beneficial for those working remotely or with busy schedules.
The best part is that it doesn’t have to be done all in one sitting as instructor-led training does. You can stop for a few minutes while you grab something to drink or visit the toilet. This flexibility ensures employees can learn at their own pace without disrupting their work or personal commitments.
Personalized
In addition to cost-effectiveness and flexibility, eLearning offers a more personalized learning experience. With instructor-led training, the content is often delivered in a one-size-fits-all approach. However, with eLearning, it can be better customized for different groups of employees.
How do you customize eLearning? A pre-test can be highly effective because you can gauge what an employee already knows and then deliver only what’s relevant to them. Not only that, but it’s easier to develop multiple self-paced courses that are specific to each employee’s role.
eLearning can be personalized more than instructor-led training.
An excellent example of this is a set of courses we developed for a new system for keeping time and requesting time off. Field employees had one course on using an iPad, computer, or punch clock, while office employees had a course that only covered the computer. Each course had many specifics that differed for each group, so we could personalize it easily with two courses with some content overlap.
This personalized approach enhances engagement and improves knowledge retention as employees receive targeted training addressing their needs.
There’s also the option to have employees test out completely so they don’t waste time learning something they already know.
Consistency
No matter how well an instructional designer designs the class, the trainer ultimately determines the quality of instructor-led training. If the trainer is having a bad day, the session will flop.
eLearning ensures that every employee will receive the same content from a quality and quantity standpoint. Of course, it still has to be designed well, or you risk too much quantity, which typically happens more than not enough. That’s why we always start our self-paced course design from nothing.
Tracking
Tracking instructor-led training mostly comes down to whether employees attended or not and perhaps a survey at the end. But it’s still not easy to track more than that because employees leave once the training is complete.
With eLearning, there are many tools to track how well content was learned, including pre and post-testing. If an organization takes advantage of xAPI, a ton of data can be tracked (maybe too much).
This data-driven approach enables organizations to identify areas where additional support may be needed or make adjustments to improve the training experience as long as valuable data is collected and with a pre-determined purpose.
Practice
Most of these benefits have been general to eLearning, regardless of type. This one is specific to technical training. With a well-crafted eLearning course for software training, the practice can be realistic with simulated computer systems and realistic scenarios.
That’s why custom software training solutions can only be done effectively with eLearning. Instructor-led training only allows trainers to show people what to do and maybe occasionally allows one person to drive part of the process.
Employees can get realistic practice when eLearning is used for software training.
eLearning can accommodate realistic scenarios where a system is recreated in the course with a guide that helps them through. It’s even possible to test them on the actual process rather than test questions that are vague parts of a process separated from the actual process.
eLearning isn’t just beneficial but the only option that should be considered for software simulations to help employees learn company software. It’s the only method that can allow for realistic practice and for employees to do rather than passively learn and then likely forget because forgetting is just a human trait.
Overall, the benefits of eLearning as compared to instructor-led training are clear. It offers cost savings, convenience, personalized learning, and more. By switching to eLearning, your company can provide employees with a more efficient and effective training experience.
Comparing Instructor-Led Technical Training vs. eLearning
When it comes to technical training, specific considerations make eLearning an even more compelling choice than instructor-led training.
Instructor-led technical training often requires specialized trainers capable of answering questions and knowing the system, at least in general terms. This can be a significant barrier for companies looking to provide comprehensive technical training to their employees.
On the other hand, eLearning only needs one or a few experts on the system who work with an instructional designer to create the course(s). This means that employees can access high-quality technical training without the limitations of geographical boundaries or the availability of trainers. Companies need fewer experts who are also professional trainers, which is a difficult blend to achieve without significant costs or a lack of expertise in instructional design.
A few experts and an instructional designer can create eLearning that effectively trains thousands.
Due to technological advancements, technical skills are constantly evolving. With instructor-led training, keeping up with these changes and ensuring that employees receive up-to-date information can be challenging. Every time an update is made, many people have to be retrained.
With eLearning, there’s no escaping the need to update it with changing technology. However, even this is a bit easier because the instructional designer works with an expert to make those changes once and pushes that update to an LMS. This ensures that employees receive relevant and current information to excel in their roles.
Technical training often involves hands-on practice and simulations. While this may seem difficult to replicate in an online environment, eLearning platforms have advanced features that allow for interactive learning experiences. With a good process, you can make professional and realistic software simulations using rapid development tools such as Captivate and Storyline.
Realistic software simulations allow employees to practice doing their job in a safe environment.
Instructor-led training requires a training environment, and everyone either needs their own computer to follow along or watches passively. Occasionally, one person gets to try out a single step in the process.
When comparing instructor-led technical training with eLearning, it becomes evident that eLearning offers greater capabilities, up-to-date content, and interactive learning experiences crucial for effective technical training.
Factors to Consider Before Making the Change
Companies should consider several factors before switching from instructor-led technical training to eLearning.
Assessing the readiness of your employees and systems for eLearning is essential. While having an LMS is always nice, it’s not always necessary (but it’s not something you should choose lightly).
Some employees may be more comfortable with traditional instructor-led training and may require additional support or training to adapt to an online learning environment. It’s always best to survey your employees first to understand your organization’s overall desires on how they learn. While most employees today desire eLearning, that might not be the case in your company.
Survey your employees to make sure their overall preference is eLearning before jumping in too deep.
Companies should evaluate their existing infrastructure and technology capabilities. Reliable internet access, compatible devices, and user-friendly platforms are essential for successful eLearning implementation. Investing in the necessary infrastructure is vital to help overcome any technological barriers.
Not only that, but converting instructor-led training into eLearning isn’t as simple as taking slides from training sessions and converting them to eLearning. They’re very different types of training.
The good news is that working with a good instructional design consultant can help you make that transition effective. Even better news is that converting training can lead to shorter content and the already substantial cost savings of unlimited scalability.
Good eLearning design accounts for many things, including creating performance-based learning rather than information dumps. Establishing clear goals and metrics for evaluating the success of their eLearning initiatives is helpful.
Setting measurable objectives will enable organizations to identify areas for improvement. Regular evaluation and employee feedback can also help guide refining eLearning over time.
Understanding the Cost Benefits of eLearning
eLearning offers significant cost benefits compared to instructor-led training. By transitioning to an online learning platform, companies can reduce expenses associated with trainers, travel costs, venue rentals, printed materials, scaling for large numbers of employees, and time wasted.
In addition to direct cost savings, eLearning reduces indirect costs such as employee downtime during training sessions or travel time. Employees can access training materials at their convenience without disrupting their work schedules or incurring additional expenses related to travel and accommodation.
Another considerable cost saving (the biggest) is that eLearning allows scalability. Traditional instructor-led training often limits the number of participants due to space constraints in physical or virtual spaces for live-streamed sessions.
eLearning has a nearly fixed cost for creation and delivery no matter for 1,000 or 100,000.
With eLearning, companies can train a larger number of employees simultaneously with minimal cost increase in server utilization. This scalability benefits organizations with geographically dispersed teams or those experiencing rapid growth.
eLearning platforms often offer subscription-based pricing models, allowing companies to pay only for the course features and seats they need. This flexibility ensures that organizations can optimize their training budget and allocate resources where they will have the most significant impact.
The cost benefits of eLearning make it an attractive option for companies looking to provide high-quality training while optimizing their training budget.
Tips to Help Ensure a Seamless Transition
Switching from instructor-led technical training to eLearning requires careful planning and execution. Here are some tips to help ensure a seamless transition:
- Communicate the benefits: Clearly communicate the advantages of eLearning to your employees. Highlight how it offers flexibility, personalized learning experiences, and less training time compared to traditional instructor-led training. Answer the WIIFM (What’s In It For Me).
- Provide support: Offer resources and support to help employees adapt to the new learning environment. Provide tutorials or workshops on navigating the eLearning platform and address any concerns or questions they may have. You can’t jump right into eLearning being the dominant training type without managing the change and helping employees transition.
- Set expectations: Clearly define expectations regarding participation, completion rates, and performance metrics. Establish guidelines for checking for required training, accessing training materials, and completing assignments within specified timeframes.
- Foster engagement: Most company changes thrive when leaders are engaged and guide employees through the change. Leadership engagement fosters employee engagement.
- Monitor progress: Have a plan for using the analytics provided by the eLearning platform, and don’t just let them accumulate. Identify areas where additional support may be needed and provide timely feedback to ensure continuous improvement. Don’t forget to ask what employees think of the new system and the training, too. Surveys can tell you a lot if you don’t overuse them, and employees become survey blind.
These tips will help your company ensure a smooth transition from instructor-led technical training to eLearning, maximizing employee and organization benefits.
The Future of eLearning and Technical Training
The future of technical eLearning looks promising. It’s a perfect blend for effective employee training that creates organizational value. As technology advances, so does the potential for innovative learning solutions.
One trend that is gaining traction for uses with purpose is the use of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) in eLearning. These technologies offer immersive learning experiences that simulate real-world scenarios, allowing employees to practice their skills in a safe and controlled environment.
For certain types of training, VR and AR have the potential to revolutionize technical training by providing hands-on experiences without the need for physical equipment or specialized facilities. It’s also nice that failure can help employees learn better without causing damage or expense.
The future of eLearning is bright from VR/AR, microlearning, and AI for analyzing data.
Another trend that, when used right, is a great tool is microlearning. Microlearning involves delivering content in bite-sized modules that are easier to consume at the time of need. It allows employees to access information quickly and conveniently, making it ideal for just-in-time learning or on-the-job support. Both eLearning and training videos are perfectly positioned to provide employees with microlearning opportunities.
When done right, microlearning enhances knowledge retention and allows employees to apply what they’ve learned immediately.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is being integrated into eLearning platforms to allow algorithms to analyze user data such as performance metrics, preferences, and more to deliver customized content recommendations. This adaptive learning approach ensures employees receive training suggestions tailored to their needs, maximizing engagement and knowledge retention.
While there’s a lot to be desired by these algorithms, they’re slowly making progress.
The future of eLearning and technical training holds exciting possibilities. Integrating VR/AR, microlearning, and AI will further enhance the effectiveness of online training programs, providing employees with engaging and personalized learning experiences.
That’s all on top of the tremendous benefits that eLearning already provides for technical training topics.
Wrap Up
Whatever your reason for having instructor-led training, there are even better reasons why, at least for technical training, you should consider eLearning. eLearning has numerous benefits, such as cost, convenience, personalization, consistency, tracking, and technical training, specifically practice.
When comparing instructor-led technical training to eLearning, it becomes evident that eLearning is the only real option. As long as you’ve considered all the factors before you make the change, eLearning will likely be more effective for your organization in the long run.
There’s no better way to train employees for technical training than eLearning.
As with anything, though, eLearning can go wrong, too. When you work with a professional instructional designer, you’ll likely see better results and shorter training times. That means less cost and more effective performance improvements for your employees.
We specialize in custom eLearning development for technical training and would love to discuss how we can help your organization realize these benefits and more. Schedule a free consultation to discuss your goals and how we can help. By transitioning from instructor-led technical training to eLearning, your organization will be better aligned to take advantage of digital innovations.