E-learning vs.Classroom learning

Under the guidance of Prof. S. S. Patil

0310 DipakRamawat

0316 Ruta Joshi

0333 TapsiSood

Training plays a very important role in an organisation. It helps in increasing the knowledge level.

As we know that we can change only what we can control, it is important that the training is imparted in a correct and effective manner. Here we are considering the pros and cons of face to face or classroom learning and of e-learning.

Face-to-face means ‘being in the presence of another’ or ‘in person’.The traditional method of teaching and learning is synchronous and typically involves the employment of a classroom where the professor and students interact face-to-face with one another within a certain time and space.

The traditional classroom method has been one of the most proven and widely accepted way of teaching students over the years. The whole classroom system was started with an idea of providing knowledge to students on face-to-face basis.

A few advantages of this method are:

  1. The most important advantage is that the message can be communicated in the most efficient and effective manner on a face-to-face basis.
  2. Since the teacher and students get together to share knowledge, the level of interaction and participation is very high in this method.
  3. Students are privy to in-person classroom interaction and gain immediate feedback from the teacher and other students through questions and discussions.
  4. Students work together in person on assignments, test reviews and class projects.
  5. The ability to network with teachers and other students in your field is a valuable benefit associated with a face-to-face education.
  6. Other than that, the physical environment is created in this method for learning since students have to come together at a particular place and at particular time to get the knowledge. For some of the courses, it is important to have the physical class meeting so that students can have better clarity about the subject matter and improve the understanding in that particular course.
  7. Apart from that the traditional classroom method is recognized and valued all over the world when it comes to getting a job.

This method of education has few drawbacks as well. A significant drawback is that face- to-face education is highly teacher-driven. Students may easily assume a passive role during the lesson, in a form of dependence on the teacher. Thus, they might become inactive in classes not being able to assimilate much knowledge.
Also when there is a large number of students in the classroom the amount of personal attention a student can get from the teacher or instructor is almost negligible.

E-learning –

With the advent of technology we have seen that many companies today opt for e-learning methods which are also cost competitive.

E-learning delivers content through electronic information and communications technologies (ICTs). This delivery method increases the possibilities for how, where and when employees can engage in lifelong learning.

Positives of e-learning techniques -

  • With e-learning, a company candeliver trainingwithout having to gather participants together in a single classroom. Live, instructor-led training can be presented while the participants are still at their own desks.
  • The participants meet in a virtual or electronic space. There, they can receive direct interaction, skills practice, and real-time instructor feedback. Because it is easier to bring participants together, e-learning can offer the benefits of just-in-time training, reduced travel costs, and less productivity downtime. Overall, the advantages of e-learning can be very appealing to a business.
  • It can be customized as per the requirements and there is no time pressure.

Forward-thinking employers are starting to embrace e-learning to become more productive and innovative, regardless of the size, resources or sector of their organization. At the same time, they are using e-learning to create self-directed, lifelong learners among their employees —and to save money.

Main barriers to e-learning:

  1. the cost of developing and purchasing e-learning initially, and then the ongoing cost once an e-learning intervention is underway;
  2. lack of time—employees don’t have enough time to devote to workplace learning, and employers don’t have enough time to develop and maintain e-learning solutions; and
  3. Content issues —employers either couldn’t find the content they needed on the market, or had the content but found it was designed for traditional methods of delivery, and unsuited for e-learning.
  4. Band width and infrastructure related problems.
  5. Waxing and waning of motivation.
  6. Loneliness as the employees generally undergo e-learning in their own cubicles which lacks the classroom ambience.

Employers are finding ways to overcome these barriers. They identified the following success factors:

•building an organizational learning culture;

•conducting extensive research and careful planning;

•partnering with other businesses and educators to save money and time and to share expertise;

  • starting small and testing e-learning before scaling up to a broader audience;

•aligning e-learning solutions with core business processes and learning competencies;

•ensuring teamwork and communication between information technology and human resources;

•training trainers and managers in how to use e-learning and support employees;

•clearly communicating the value of e-learning; and

•Integrating e-learning with knowledge management, performance management and communication systems.

Benefits to organisations -

•An increased relevance of learning and training to the organisation’s skill development needs

•Workplace learning often does not interrupt the normal production processes; indeed, it can often be part of the normal production processes

•It can help in attracting (high quality) new employees – if the organisation is known in the local community as being one which provides high quality development for staff

•Similarly, it can help in retaining (high quality) employees, if they feel their skills are being developed

•Because it is organisation-specific it can help in transmitting and underlining the organisation’s culture and values

Benefits to individuals -

•Improved job satisfaction, as a result of skills development and a feeling of self-worth and an improved self-image

•Typically workplace learning (contrasted with formal off-the-job training programmes)usually provides improved opportunities for people who have missed out on training opportunities in the past

•The development of skills which increase employability

•The development of skills which give people a higher value (including financial value)in the external labour market

•The acquisition of work-relevant skills which help to ensure that people are increasingly adaptable in conditions of rapidly changing national economies – and which is therefore a help in retaining employment and reducing the chances of becoming unemployed

Taking an example for calculating the ROI from e-learning and classroom learning -

After going through the pros and cons of face to face and e-learning techniques we find out that –

  • E-learning techniques are usually preferred as they are cost competitive.
  • E-learning techniques lack the personal touch in the training.
  • Face to face helps better understanding but is not as flexible as e-learning.
  • E-learning techniques can be customized.
  • There are no time constraints in e-learning.
  • Face to face learning accomplishes involvement of the candidates which is neglected in e-learning.

Various factors have to be considered while choosing the perfect method of training –

  1. The surroundings and environment within the organisation.
  2. Respect regarding rewards.
  3. Propensity to learn, ability to learn.
  4. Employee training should link to the strategy of the organisation.
  5. Availability of trainers, facilitators, learning agents.

Blended learning -

Thus we can conclude that blended learning i.e. a perfect mix of face to face and e-learning is a very good option to be followed by the company rather than focusing on a single aspect of learning. It will allow the company to give the training a personal touch as well as be flexible.

Blended learning will ensure the optimum utilization of either of the methods and will help in conducting the training program in a very organised manner.

It will also ensure maximum output from the trainings.