Food for thought: Training: do we have to do it together?

Some years ago (dot.com boom time) I was discussing the virtues of web-based training with the training director of a major IT company. "It's great in theory", he said, "but people won't put the time in to do it."

His view was that a training event provides the time and space for learners to give their whole attention to a topic. Being with a group also facilitates learning.

Now all students know that self study has its place - we learn from books for example - but for the most part, it seems that corporate training is event driven. If you look at our web site at click here, you will see that we express the training we deliver in terms of courses. On most of our courses, however, there is structured pre-course work and we help participants plan post-course activity.

We are now beginning to distinguish between what we call "synchronous training" (we have to do it together in a group) and "asynchronous training" - the student can do it alone, when it's convenient. Obviously this lends itself to a blended learning approach.

The challenge is, of course, (as the training director observed) whether the students will engage in asynchronous activity. Trainers all know the course participants who fail to do the preparatory work required!

Later this year we'll be launching one or two courses based on a blended learning approach, so we'll be able to report on how successful we have been in encouraging asynchronous activity. In the meantime, I'd be interested in hearing your comments and experience.

Let me know what you think. Replies to me at calvert.markham@elevationlearning.co.uk

Calvert Markham