TL;DR: Face-to-face training offers significant advantages over online learning, particularly in a post-COVID world where distractions are rife and attention spans are challenged. In-person training improves learner engagement, builds confidence, encourages social interaction, and helps embed learning through practical application. While online courses have their place, in-person training delivers better long-term results for both learners and employers, enhancing performance, retention, and return on investment.
What are the benefits of face-to-face training over online courses?
In a world where remote learning has become the norm, many businesses are still weighing up the pros and cons of face-to-face training vs online courses. We understand the hesitation; pulling team members away from the workplace can seem like a disruption. But here’s the truth: when it comes to long-term impact, confidence-building, and meaningful learning, in-person training often outshines online alternatives.
At Whyy? Change, we’ve seen firsthand how face-to-face training transforms learners, not just in what they know, but in how they apply their knowledge and show up at work. This article breaks down the key benefits of in-person learning and why it could be the smartest investment you make in your people this year.
Since COVID, many things have remained online, one question that many employers are continuing to ask is… “What are the benefits of face-to-face training over online courses?”
We hear you. You don’t want the most valuable asset in your business, the people, to be absent… even for half a day a week.
However, there are so many benefits of face-to-face training that we really think it’s worth considering.
Online Training Courses
Please don’t think for one minute that we are against online training.
For some subjects, it is perfect, and some training providers do a fantastic job of online delivery.
However, it is a totally different experience for the learner than an in-person training course.
We see employers asking their team to take long-term training courses, such as apprenticeships, online.
This leaves the learner sitting at their desk with headphones on … being distracted and interrupted by other members of the team, seeing emails land in their inboxes, their phones ringing… disruptions are everywhere and constant.
And, in the main (and perhaps this is us being a little controversial), this is exactly why the employer wants them to take an online course…so they are still present and able to work.
But with limited concentration, how much genuinely goes in!?!
If you do a quick Google, the stats tell you that whilst some people do prefer online training (when they are not situated in the workplace on the call), there are many downsides too.
Apparently, eLearning has contributed to a 30% increase in failing grades (again, according to Google).
Learners report finding it difficult to develop problem-solving and critical thinking skills, and miss social interactions and practical learning.
It can also cause increased stress levels and mental health issues.
Online Courses – The Result for the Employer
Whilst the member of your team remains present during their training, we’d ask you to consider why you wanted them to undertake the training in the first place.
We’re going to make an assumption and say it’s for them to up their skill level and implement their learning into the company.
This is an investment for you, their employer, both in cost and in time.
So, if they’re not concentrating and taking the new information in, what is the outcome going to be?
They may scrape through their qualification, if they’re lucky, but will they actually have had the opportunity to develop their new knowledge and be able to apply and use it?
Of course, some will.
But even for the most determined of learners, online training whilst in the workplace can be challenging.
5 Benefits of Face-to-Face Training
- Feeling Valued
- Varied Experiences
- Clear Mind
- Making Theory Practical
- Confidence Boosting
In-person training suits the majority of people.
Yes, it can take people outside their comfort zone initially – going to a new location, meeting new people, worrying about if they’ll understand the course…
But then we all know that magic happens just outside our comfort zones.
The benefits of face-to-face training are there for both the learner and the employer to see.
1. Feeling Valued
When someone is encouraged to take a course or apprenticeship, they feel valued by their employer.
Allowing someone half a day a week to attend a face-to-face course is an investment and your team member knows that.
2. Varied Experiences
When attending an in-person training course, the learner is mixing with people they wouldn’t normally.
And even if everyone on the course is from the same company, the chances are they won’t usually work together.
Because of this, they hear others’ experiences, and this helps to embed the training.
3. Clear Mind
When someone attends a course away from the workplace, they have space and time to think in a way that they don’t when they’re undertaking their everyday role.
Thinking clearly is so important when taking on new information and learning new skills.
4. Making Theory Practical
Good in-person delivery isn’t a tutor talking at the learners.
It is making the sessions interactive. Having discussions. Playing devil’s advocate. Doing exercises which embed the learning into practice.
This is something that, with the best will in the world, cannot happen in online training.
It happens by creating a safe space for learners to talk openly about the challenges they face and building peer group relationships with others on their course.
5. Confidence Boosting
Great in-person courses may take people out of their comfort zones initially, but then they grow.
Yes, their knowledge grows.
But what can be more impactful is that their confidence soars.
By working in groups with people they don’t know, by presenting results of exercises back, by standing at the whiteboard and running a task, by opening up in discussions… suddenly they start to believe in their own abilities, and the impact of this cannot be underestimated.
Why choose Face-to-Face Training Courses?
Allowing a member of your team to attend face-to-face training will pay dividends.
Here at Whyy? Change we see the learners on our apprenticeship and short courses transform before our eyes. The shy become confident. They constantly tell us how they are implementing their learning into their roles.
They tell us how they are interacting with others in the workplace in a different and more positive way. Their line managers tell us they are transforming before their eyes.
Face-to-Face Training FAQs
What is face-to-face training?
Face-to-face training is a traditional learning method. It involves trainers and learners being in the same physical space, allowing for direct interaction, real-time feedback, and hands-on learning. This approach supports better engagement and immediate clarification of doubts, making it effective for many learners.
What are online training courses?
Online training courses are delivered over the internet. They let learners access videos, webinars, and interactive content from anywhere. This flexible format allows self-paced study, making it convenient for those with busy schedules or remote access needs.
What is the difference between face-to-face classes and online classes?
Face-to-face and online classes differ mainly in delivery and flexibility. Face-to-face classes happen in physical classrooms with real-time interaction and fixed schedules. Online classes are virtual, offering flexible access to materials anytime. In-person learning allows immediate feedback, while online learning suits those needing convenience and self-paced study.
Is face-to-face training better than online?
We might be slightly biased, but face-to-face training isn’t always better than online training. Each has unique benefits. Face-to-face is ideal for soft skills, real-time feedback, and social interaction. Online training offers flexibility, easy access, and personalised learning. The better option depends on learning style and training goals.
If you’d like your team to experience the benefits of face-to-face training, why not have a chat with us? Simply complete the form below to get started.
