Traditional Learning vs. eLearning: Which Is for You?

Whether training an entire corporation or simply updating themselves on a few basic skills, HR instructors today face one major decision: Should they learn through an online course or one in a traditional classroom? 

More than 6.7 million adult students took at least one online class in 2011, a number up sharply from 1.6 million in 2002. Around 87 percent of higher education schools offered at least some online curriculum or blended models.

While both types of education offer pros and cons, online learning has the benefit of being more cost-effective. Online courses also offer the flexibility to take classes on a day and time that is convenient for you, which can be key factor for those with a full workload of responsibilities. Below, you’ll find the pros of traditional learning vs. elearning so that you can make an informed decision about which type is right for you and your educational goals. 

Pros: Traditional 

A traditional classroom has a few advantages: 

• Some of the more experienced teachers with many years of teaching under their belts may not be comfortable with new technology. By only taking online courses, you’ll miss out on those professors who aren’t comfortable teaching in an online environment but might have specialized knowledge.
• You’ll have the opportunity to network with other learners in your area. This can lead to advancement in your career.
• Your employer may be more willing to pay for an in-person class.
• A degree from certain institutions might be more recognizable. 

Also, some people simply prefer the setup of a traditional classroom because it is familiar. Similarly, even today not everyone has easy access to the internet and technology. And finally, everyone learns a bit differently. Those who are auditory learners may do better in a classroom setting listening to a professor lecture. If you are a kinetic learner, taking an in-person course with a lab or workshop might help you learn more efficiently.

Pros: eLearning

An elearning environment also offers clear benefits, though, such as:

• You won’t be limited to classes offered in your area. Instead, you can take classes from almost any university around the world, online courses on almost any topic, and even technical industries may have in-depth online resources.
• The cost of online courses can be much cheaper than traditional ones. Some open access courses won’t even cost anything but your time. These are offered by big universities such as MIT and are called MOOCs.
• You’ll have the flexibility to study and complete coursework on your own schedule. 
• Online education might be more current. Instead of relying on textbooks that might be out of date by the time they are printed, elearning modules can be updated almost instantaneously to keep up with changes in information and technology.
• You don’t need a new wardrobe, a car or a backpack. You simply sit down at your computer keyboard and type. 

In addition, online courses have a honed focus, helping you develop the specific skills needed to move up in your current job. Many online elearning modules offer a sort of boot camp to learn specific skills in a short period of time. 

Traditional Learning vs. eLearning

The education field is constantly evolving because of new, emerging technology. As new trends emerge, new studies reveal the best tactics to train or guide employees. The best way to on top of your shifting career field is learning through a course.

If there are benefits to both elearning and traditional classroom learning, how on earth are you going to choose? While you’re making the decision, check out the free online options — credit and non-credit alike — available for those with more or less flexible schedules. 

Ultimately, only you can decide whether elearning is right for you. You might even find that some classes are better suited for in-person classes, while others work better as e-classes. The most important thing is making sure that the courses that will educate you the best — so you can put that information to work training others.