Is online training really effective? Since we founded Training & eTracking Solutions in 2011, this question has come up on almost a daily basis when we talk with agencies around the country.

Many people believe that the human element provides a more engaging training experience for learners. While it is true that some topics are better suited for in-house training (think CPR, First Aid, and Medication Administration), the fact of the matter is that when the subject matter is appropriate, online training yields higher training outcomes than in-house experiences. Here are three reasons why:

1. Online Training encourages more interaction! Think about this, you are in a classroom setting with 20 other students and a single instructor. The instructor presents topics and answers questions catering to the greater good is of the group. If one person has a question, the entire group experiences a dialogue that they may or may not need to be part of, which may discourage or distract learners from the course’s intended outcome. It’s hard enough to keep students’ attention in a normal training session, let alone during a subset of off-topic questions or conversations. On the other hand, if the instructor discourages questions in order to keep the course focused on the training outcomes, user queries may remain unresolved.

Online training brings balance and structure to this dynamic. By offering learners the ability to streamline their experiences, the students who seek further engagement can revisit sections of content or participate in additional interactive exercises. Students who are worried about becoming distracted by going too deep into other topics can retain a more focused approach through the streamlined experience, while still obtaining the same training outcomes as their more inquisitive counterparts.

2. Online learning encourages independence and initiative. As a department supervisor or agency manager, you don’t want to micromanage your employees or spend a lot of time hand holding. Creating a work culture that promotes independence and ambition starts the day that an employee is hired. This means that when you assign employees to participate in a training exercise, you want them to do it and have the means to objectively measure their performance without sitting with them in the classroom.

3. It’s applicable to an employee’s position. There’s no denying that we’re in the middle of an information technology revolution. Computer literacy is a requirement in every facet of our daily lives. From self-checkout counters and apps for buying move tickets on your smartphone, to electronic medical records and online banking, it’s nearly impossible to avoid daily interaction with technology. If your workers have never used computers before, eLearning will help to prepare them for the world in which they are about to work.

Is Online Training Really as Effective as In-House Training?