Web-Based Training Verses Instructor-Led Training Justina Miller COM 101 Chari Davenport June 18, 2003 In my department, we offer two types of training for automotive dealers. The first type is our Web-Based Training (WBT), and the second is Instructor-Led Training (ILT). These training courses have many similarities, such as learning objectives, total content, layout, structure and flow. They differ, however, in how each course is delivered, when the learning , and the cost of the training. One of the similarities between WBT and ILT is the learning objectives. Regardless of the delivery method, the learning outcomes for the student are the same.
Another similarity is the content, which may include text, graphics, quizzes, exercises, and tests. Slides comprised of graphics and text that are used to support ILT are the basis for the visuals presented in WBT. The layout, structure and flow of the two courses are also very similar. During both of the courses, information is presented to the student, an application exercise is conducted, a quiz on the learning module is given. A final summarizing exam is provided after all the learning modules are complete. While WBT and ILT have similarities, they have differences as well.
One of these differences is in the way the course is delivered. WBT is offered online, in a multimedia format where the student sits solo in front of a computer and interacts only with the content. ILT takes place in a classroom, where students receive lectures, ask questions of the instructor, and engage in discussions. A further difference is in the learning environment, including when the learning takes place. WBT is held at any time, at any place, on a computer with an internet connection. Not all students learn at the same pace, or at the same time (asynchronous).
However, ILT is scheduled, and directed, and class start and end times are based on availability of faculties and instructor. ILT is synchronous and learning takes place concurrently; everyone takes it at the same time with a group of people with which they interact (L. Ross, personal communication, June 12, 2003). The WBT version of our course is priced with a one-time registration fee of fifty dollars.
The bundles range from one hundred to three hundred dollars in price. The dealer chooses a bundle of three, six, or twelve courses. This is a pricing strategy based on volume, and the more you purchase the more you save. ILT pricing is on a per attendee basis. The price to attend one course in ILT is sixteen hundred and fifty dollars per attendee, with the dealer being responsible for hotel and airfare expenses.
The major difference between the costs of WBT and ILT is associated with travel and accommodations. One company had this experience: ‘We purchased a one-year subscription to [more than] 150 online courses. The cost per employee per course is less than $20 and is continuing to drop since we paid a flat fee,’ said the training and development officer at a 175-employee financial services firm in Iowa. ‘We receive ‘expert’ training at a fraction of the cost of a seminar.’ (Report on Customer Relationship Management, 2003, p. 5). We are exposed to the same content in both courses, and each offers an alternative cost solution.
Which course a student chooses comes down to the student’s learning style, personal preference, and course availability. Each training solution offers the student a variety of choices to fulfill his or learning needs. References Anonymous. (2003).
New data: e-learning is the most effective way to control costs. Report on Customer Relationship Management, 5. Retrieved June 13, 2003, from InfoTrac database.