In the wake of the pandemic, the world witnessed a rapid and unprecedented shift towards doing almost everything virtually.
From shopping to office work – and yes, online training – the internet was the only means by which businesses could sustain themselves under lockdown. The movement to remote working and learning came to feel like a generational shift, and a concept that couldn’t easily be put back in its box.
As the pandemic abated and life inched back to normalcy, however, many organisations began to drop their commitment to remote working, claiming that being in the office together provided both tangible and intangible benefits. The same phenomenon can be seen in training, where we ourselves have found that most clients are as keen as ever to do things face-to-face. So what have we learned from this transition – and what does it say about how we prefer to learn and work?
Adapting to online learning
As with many industries, online training courses undeniably provided a lifeline for learning providers during the pandemic. They allowed participants to attend workshops, seminars, and classes while under lockdown, providing an opportunity for self-improvement and keeping people occupied during a challenging period. At the same time, they offered training without the geographical boundaries that it was previously somewhat constrained by, allowing people who could not reach the premises to learn from the comfort of home.
This was obviously necessary because of lockdowns, but it also offered some additional, hidden benefits. For some, attending training in-person could be difficult or off-putting, such as for individuals with disabilities or anxiety disorders, or stay-at-home parents. For others, travelling with other commitments would simply have been time prohibitive. Learning from home allowed them to fit in training with a relatively equivalent experience to being in the classroom.
The inability to take exams online also led to fundamental shifts in the way certain courses were taught and examined. Many exams for formal qualifications transitioned from closed book to open book exams, as a result of not being able to guarantee that people weren’t looking things up out of sight of their webcams. As a result, these exams shifted from regurgitating memorised information to a more understanding-led approach, asking learners to apply their knowledge to different situations.
The trouble with online training
For all of these advantages, there were an immediately obvious and equivalent set of downsides. The first was simply adjusting the business to offer online training, which was easier for some than others. Not only did some people struggle with the technological hurdles of providing proper training online – transmitting high quality audio and video – some courses were fundamentally difficult to teach online. This was obviously true with practical training, but also with anything that required an elaborate demonstration, or individual tuition.
One aspect that was less immediately obvious was how much many learners would miss the personal interaction with their instructors and fellow participants. In-person training courses can be inconvenient for some, but they offer a more authentic experience, fostering face-to-face connections. Sitting behind a screen invariably means interacting with other people less – something that can lead people to engage less with the material, and retain less knowledge.
Networking is also a valuable aspect of personal and professional growth. While online platforms enabled some networking opportunities, the power of face-to-face networking remains unmatched. In-person training courses by nature tend to bring together like-minded individuals, experts, and industry leaders, offering a fertile ground for building meaningful connections that could lead to future collaborations and career advancements.
Connecting, collaborating and communicating
Online courses are a means to an end when acquiring new skills, but we’ve seen in-person training become the preferred choice for learners since the return to classrooms. For some courses this is down to the hands-on aspects and immersion of in-person learning, which can lend people a deeper understanding of the subject matter. The ability to more easily engage with learners individually in a classroom also allows for real-time feedback from instructors, letting participants refine their skills, and gain confidence in applying their newfound knowledge.
The camaraderie built within a physical classroom setting is also difficult to replicate in virtual spaces. In-person training courses foster a collaborative learning environment, where participants can engage in group discussions, team projects, and interactive activities. These interactions can lead to the exchange of diverse perspectives, creative problem-solving, and the development of critical thinking skills – all improving both the training experience and the learners’ soft skills.
In our experience, many people are also simply suffering screen fatigue. Endless hours of staring at screens for work, socialising, and learning during the pandemic took a toll on people’s mental and physical well-being, and the hangover from this is still being felt. In-person training courses provide a refreshing break from the digital realm we all occupy for large parts of our days, allowing learners to immerse themselves fully in the learning experience without distractions or physical tiredness.
The pandemic was a catalyst for the widespread adoption of online training courses, revolutionising the way we learn and work. However, as we navigate the post-pandemic era, a growing number of individuals are rediscovering the value of in-person training courses. The human connection, hands-on learning experiences, and networking opportunities offered by physical classrooms are elements that online courses cannot fully replicate.
While the digital landscape will undoubtedly continue to play a significant role in education, the return to in-person training signifies a collective desire for authentic interactions, skill mastery, and a collaborative learning environment. Striking a balance between the virtual and physical realms will be crucial as we move forward – ensuring that learners have access to a diverse range of educational opportunities that cater to their unique needs and preferences.
