The classroom is not dead!
Published October 2008
The demise of 'classroom' training was predicted around two decades ago, with the onset of the Information Age. So, why has Huthwaite not been swept away into history by CBT, webinars and all the other incarnations of e-learning?
For example, why are we now providing so many of our major clients with their very own 'global sales academy'? These often involve support from our Technology Enabled Solutions Group in the form of IT-delivered tools and processes. But at the academy's heart, in all cases, is a comprehensive set of classroom programmes delivered across the world in local languages.
The simple fact is that, when it comes to developing behavioural skills, however sophisticated the virtual world has become, it cannot yet replicate the characteristics of a well designed and delivered classroom programme. We are not against e-learning – as said, we use it to support many of our projects – but we do recognise its limitations.
- Many people intuitively believe that e-learning is a low cost option. However, good content and courseware involves significant investment and it is not always easy to maintain its topicality and scale it up across the globe later. Content that plays well in northern Europe may not in Asia or Africa.
- Self-directed learning, allowing the learner to access content at will, runs certain risks. Insufficient investment in its management and marketing can result in learners quitting the programme early. Some observers have estimated that up to 90% of web-based learning programmes are never completed.
- E-learning is good for imparting the knowledge of what to do, but struggles to provide the realistic practice and feedback opportunities that are essential to building the skills of how to do it.
The key classroom component that e-learning cannot replicate, where both design and delivery converge, is the physical presence and skills of the trainer.
Skilled trainers bring experience and gravitas, making the content credible. They reassure learners that they are in 'safe hands'. Insights are delivered with impact and are illustrated effectively - brought to life by means of examples, analogies and stories appropriate to that particular audience.
The trainers integrate the insights by helping learners to see the relevance to their real world. Finally, credible practice opportunities and expert feedback build the learners' skills.
In our recent research into the criteria that buyers of skills training apply when selecting a provider, the characteristics of the individual trainers was one of the top-rated guidelines. For more details contact our research consultant, Andrew Moorhouse. Huthwaite is uniquely placed to support a global academy, because we have trainers that meet these criteria across 40 countries who can consistently deliver our content in local language.
Perhaps there are some fundamental reasons why the classroom is not dead, and it's to do with the fact that we are human beings.
E-procurement hasn't caused the death of the salesforce. If it's an important product or service, people like to buy from people. Maybe the classroom survives because they like to buy their important ideas from people too.
If you'd like to know how to judge an effective classroom programme, go here for details of Huthwaite's design and delivery criteria.
