Face to face learning
This is where the teacher and the student meet in a set place for a set time, for either one-on-one
learning or, most commonly, in group class lessons similar to what happens in school.
Face to face learning is a really effective way to learn knowledge and skills because it often
combines different ways of learning including writing, reading, discussion, presentations,
projects, group work, film clips, demonstration and practice.
The Advantages of Face to Face Learning in the Classroom
You'll be able to concentrate harder on your learning because there’ll be less distraction
than if you were at home.
You can gain greater understanding, stories and real-world examples from teachers and
other students
You have a greater chance of completing your course successfully by doing it in a
classroom situation. (Completion rate of teacher-led classes is almost 5x higher than that
of on line learning)
You may feel more comfortable and learn more easily in a familiar, traditional classroom
situation.
You can access more information and richer understanding through teacher and other
students’ body language and voice.
You have the opportunity to connect with, problem-solve, and network with other
students from a wide range of backgrounds.
Online Learning
An online learning course is one you take online using a computer, without being with a teacher
or other students in a classroom. You have greater flexibility and can study from home.. Most
courses don’t need you to be online at a certain time of day or night, but you must actively
participate in the course during the course time frame.
The Advantages of an Online Learning course
You can study in the comfort of your own home, or wherever you want
It costs less – no need to travel for training, and no parking expenses
Courses fit around your life, family and other things you do
You will avoid being late to class, or getting distracted in class
You can learn from your peers
You have access to the course 24/7
It may be more relaxed for you than in a classroom setting
You are able to build up your skills interacting with technology
It suits if you have different learning styles
The delivery methods are different and engaging
Online learning is easier with interactive platforms
The online world has certainly revolutionized the way we convey information and deliver
knowledge to our students, and it has facilitated the rise of numerous digital platforms that make
learning more fun, engaging, and rewarding for the tech-savvy student. However, it’s not just the
students that benefit from online learning, as established professionals have a chance to leverage
eLearning to advance their careers and obtain the necessary certifications to move forward in
their industries.
Having the ability to advance a career through online courses is even more important during the
COVID-19 crisis, especially as essential medical personnel need to get PALS certified and
recertified quickly to continue the struggle against the pandemic. As you might have guessed,
this opens numerous opportunities for professionals in various industries as well, as online
learning helps save time while delivering the materials and training they need to advance their
careers in their respective fields.
Personal online courses vs group classroom lectures
Another major difference between traditional and online learning is that the latter allows you to
take a more personalized approach to conveying knowledge and information. While you are
forced to address the entire classroom or auditorium in an attempt to engage the whole village,
online teaching allows you to address the individual and tackle their unique needs, knowledge
gaps, and to put the learner in the centre.
This is even true for group online classes, as they usually contain fewer participants and are
broken down into groups. You can use this new format to allocate enough personal time and
attention to each individual student
Online students depend heavily on guidance and
communication
One of the biggest challenges of online learning is, unfortunately, the common lack of guidance,
communication, and support from the tutors. The physical classroom allows you to interact with
your students before and after class and answer any questions they might have, but online your
students can feel like they are unable to reach your outside of the digital classroom. This is why
you have to emphasize communication and make yourself available to your students via email
and even direct messaging apps to answer all of their questions and concerns quickly.
Top 5 Reasons Why Online Learning Is Better Than Face-To-Face
Learning
Can online learning be more effective than traditional learning? What are its main benefits? In this
article, we show you the top 5 reasons why online learning is better than face-to-face learning. Read on
to find out how you can unleash the power of online learning to create great learning experiences!
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Why Is Online Learning Better And More Effective?
72% of companies believe that online learning puts them at a competitive edge. Further, a study
by IBM reported that those enrolled in eLearning courses learn 5 times more material compared
to traditional courses. Today, the benefits of eLearning are recognized by many companies,
universities, industry leaders, employees, and students. Online courses are a convenient, cheaper,
and engaging way to learn compared to traditional courses. So yes, online learning is quite
popular and it’s not difficult to see why. But is it really more effective than the traditional
method? Let’s take a look at the top 5 reasons why online learning is better than face-to-face
learning.
1. Demand For Digital Content
Online education is estimated to reach $325 billion by 2025. Thus, learning can’t remain
confined to face-to-face methods. Many companies and their employees struggle to justify the
time spent in traditional classroom training. Moreover, employees prefer digital content. Many
employees are busy and overwhelmed. Despite this, they still want to learn. They want high-
value content that is customized and relevant to their needs. And if they don’t find such content
available, they will get impatient and start searching for answers on their mobiles. So, you have
to make digital content so that your learning materials are available to your employees when they
need it.
2. Less Time Commitment
A 2017 Brandon Hall Group report found that eLearning can decrease employee training by 40-
60%. This is important since busy schedules and limited free time are among the reasons many
don’t enroll in traditional courses. But with online learning, employees have total control over
their learning. They can re-read the course modules and go through the available online
resources, such as eBooks, audiobooks, online tutorials, external links, etc. This flexibility makes
it possible for employees to learn at their own convenience and capacity.
3. Tracking Of Learning Patterns
Jane Hart’s Modern Workplace Learning 2019 survey says that 76% of employees learn from
articles, videos, and other online resources. While you can easily track this with online learning,
the same can’t be done with face-to-face training. The analytic tools in an LMS can provide you
detailed reports about every learner’s performance and progress. You can track the interest levels
of your employees. You can also check their engagement levels and consumption patterns. These
include course delivery, progress, and completed tests. This can help you to create online courses
and training programs as per the learning patterns of your employees. All this isn’t possible with
face-to-face methods.
4. High Retention Rate
eLearning can boost knowledge retention by 25-60% according to the Research Institute of
America. This is because online learning materials are visually stimulating, concise and more
interactive. Plus, features like gamification, surveys, quizzes, and assessments present in a
modern LMS make it even more interactive. Online courses increase your employee retention
rates compared to traditional courses. As courses with multimedia content (images, videos,
audios, links, etc.) are more engaging and are easily accessible on any device. They also give you
more control over how you take in the material. So, your employees can work at their own pace
which is faster than a traditional course.
5. Social Learning And Collaboration
Social and collaborative learning isn’t possible with traditional methods that only allow for face-
to-face or telephonic interactions. Social learning accounts for 75% of the informal learning done
in the workplace. Online learning enables participation in online discussion forums. You can
conduct virtual classroom sessions, attach eBooks and other media. In the age of social media,
this type of interactive platform will encourage your employees to like, share, and comment on
course content. They can post their views, queries, and doubts. Thus, starting a discussion thread
with trainers and other learners. This can help with developing engaging sessions and can extend
learning beyond the formal course environment.
Final Word
So, we now know that online learning is far more effective than traditional learning. Though the
latter has advantages, like group learning and face-to-face interactions, it’s now very outdated.
Thus, online learning is the way to go as it has many benefits for both your company and your
employees. Plus, it has made learning more efficient, personalized, and accessible to learners
when they need it.
MindScroll LMS
MindScroll is the simplest cloud LMS to deliver, track and certify your online courses and training. It has
features like virtual classrooms, training management systems, online test engines, and collaborative
learning tools.
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What Is Online Learning?
Online learning can be any type of learning that takes place over the internet. This could be a
supplemental course, a full degree program, or self study. More times than not, online learning is
asynchronous, as students do not have to learn at the same time and place as their instructors are
teaching.
What Is Face-To-Face Learning?
Face-to-face learning is the more traditional way of instruction, where students and teachers
attend an in-person session at the same time. The instructor leads the class, and usually, students
are passively learning.
Measuring Up: Online Learning vs Face-to-Face
1. Asynchronous Learning vs Synchronous Learning
One of the most significant differences between face-to-face learning and online learning is that
face-to-face learning is synchronous, or done at the same time. All instructors and
students/classmates are present in face-to-face learning.
With online learning, however, that is not necessary. Online instruction can be either
synchronous or asynchronous.
Delivering Knowledge vs Facilitating Learning
In face-to-face classes, instructors are usually just delivering knowledge, and then assessing the
understanding of that knowledge at a later date.
This is compared to online learning, where instructors are seen more as facilitators of learning —
helping their students understand the material through provided online materials.
Key Differences Between Face-to-Face vs Online Instruction
There are so many important differences between face-to-face learning and online learning. Here
are just a few:
Benefits of Face-to-Face Learning
Face-to-face learning has been the standard way of instruction for centuries. While online
instruction is becoming increasingly popular, in-person study may still be the best option for
some people. With face-to-face learning, instructors are better able to gauge understanding and
interest of students, and it is easier to generate group excitement about a subject. It is also easier
to hold students accountable.
6 Reasons Why Online Learning is More Effective
Is online learning as good as face-to-face learning? It may be even better.
1. Students Learn More
Online courses give students full control over what they are learning, so students are able to
work at their own speed. They are able to work quickly through areas they understand, and spend
more time on areas they do not.
2. Higher Retention Rates
Many studies have shown that retention rates for online students are much higher than for
traditional, in-person students. Online learning increases access and makes it more likely that a
student can finish a course or program when physical limitations are removed.
3. Lower Time Investment
In online learning, students save a ton of time by not having to commute to class. There is also a
need by face-to-face instructors to fill the allotted course time, when students could be using that
time to work on something more valuable for their learning. In online learning, students are
spending less time overall, and making that time towards their education count.
4. Frequent Assessments Reduce Distractions
In a classroom setting there are many distractions, but at home, those same distractions are
removed. Online, students’ disruptive behavior is no longer a factor in classroom culture, and
there is no need to hold up the lesson for just one student. In addition, many online courses make
use of more frequent ‘knowledge checks’ or mini quizzes which can keep students on track.
5. It’s the Green Way to Study
Online learning not only cuts back on paper and electricity use, but also on carbon emissions
commuting to a campus. Online courses use 90% less energy and have 85% fewer carbon
emissions than traditional, face-to-face classes.
6. Tracking Learning Patterns
Online learning helps educators and instructional designers track learning in ways that face-to-
face learning cannot do. Through analytical tools, educators and researchers can see what really
works and what doesn’t, and use that information to inform future curriculum and instruction
design.
So, you want to know is online learning as good as face to face learning? Just check the facts
listed, and we think you’ll find that the answer is… Absolutely!
