Is Classroom or Online Workforce Training Best for My Client?

Top-notch education, stellar training programs and reliable post-graduation support — these are just a few of the elements you value for your hard-working clients.

However, in the face of new global challenges, workforce training and education have vastly changed in a short period of time. Educators and students alike have adapted to this new era of learning, which has been bolstered by the rise of Zoom and other video platforms. Online learning has certainly become more popular, but is it the best form of training for your client?

Online vs. In-Person Training

Every client is unique, with their own set of circumstances that shape their educational needs. When helping your clients decide between online education and in-person training, it’s important to consider the benefits and pitfalls of each model.

Classic in-person education certainly has its advantages when it comes to experiential learning. Many training programs require hands-on learning, demonstrations, and interactive education — and in-person classrooms facilitate these elements with ease.

However, as the recent pandemic has made clear, in-person settings are more likely to be disrupted by unexpected circumstances. From education to industry, COVID-19 has pushed many functions online — indefinitely, in many cases.

While this shift is rooted in the current moment of change, it has benefits that reach far beyond the here and now. Many clients who are eligible for workforce or WIOA funding have a litany of other responsibilities — personal and professional — that make it challenging to commute to an in-person classroom setting. These challenges can lead to higher discontinuation rates and leave clients feeling discouraged or unsupported.

Online education has made workforce training programs and certifications more accessible to more people. Digital learning creates a gateway for many people to earn qualifications, retrain for a new career, and more — at any juncture of life. As such, there are many benefits to online training, including:

Flexible Opportunities

By offering courses that take place over a long period of time, online education expands its offerings to individuals who work full time or are bound by other responsibilities. Online training allows them to study and gain qualifications at their convenience without disrupting their wages or other important priorities, such as child care or family obligations.

In the online setting, your clients can experience live demos, interactive elements, and dynamic lectures from their home when they might otherwise not have been able to complete the commute or plan around a designated class time.

Students of programs like MedCerts can enjoy high-quality training, post-grad support, and more — all online.

Unique Strategies

Though many students are most familiar with an in-person setup, digital technology provides space for novel learning techniques. For example, play-based or gamified learning creates a new and engaging way for online students to comprehend complex information.

These novel techniques are strengthened by the flexibility of pacing and scheduling that digital learning provides its students.

Effective Outcomes

Studies show that online learning is a viable and impactful form of education. Some learners even display a deeper understanding of the material when given the time and space to learn at their own pace online.

It’s clear that digital learning will continue to be an integral part of modern education. For many students, online courses are a better fit than in-person classrooms. Help your clients take the next step toward a new career by connecting with MedCerts.