Let me count the ways….

Training can occur in many different ways the workplace. Here’s a quick list of a few:

• First, there is the asynchronous online training, an online course taken at a time chosen by the learner.
• Webinars are similar, but that are taken at scheduled times and typically attended by a (virtual) group. Typically, a webinar consists of a subject matter expert talking to a PowerPoint presentation.
• A webinar can be saved as an archived webinar and then viewed asynchronously later.
• Instructor-led training (ILT) is classic classroom training.
• Peer-to-peer training (or mentoring) often occurs on the job.
• Self study is a solo activity – perhaps reading a book or an instruction guide or doing a Google search.
• Video conferencing is increasingly being used to conduct virtual meetings.
• Application sharing allows workers who are not in the same location to view the same screen. It’s sort of a virtual form on-the-job training.

These are some of the common ways that training types can be distinguished:

• Is the activity synchronous or asynchronous, meaning is it a scheduled activity where learner(s) participate at the same time, or can learners participate in the activity when they want to?
• Is the activity online or face to face (meaning in person)?
• Is it a group or individual activity?
• Is it a formal interaction (e.g., based on a script or prepared training materials) or an informal interaction?

The table shows how these training types can be distinguished along these lines.  In some cases the distinction isn’t clear-cut (for example, on-the-job training could be a group as well as an individual activity), but this is one way to look at the different types of training activities, and a good reminder that there are many different ways to support learners.

Training

Your list would probably differ from mine, and maybe you would distinguish among them differently than I have. That’s fine, because the important point is that there are many different ways to train, and all of them have a place in the work environment. Classroom training has the potential to offer the best training experience, but is expensive and doesn’t scale. Online training is a great way to conveniently reach a large audience with a consistent message. Webinars can be a great just-in-time alternative to online training, as they are inexpensive to produce, but interactivity is low and quality is highly dependent on the presenter. Peer-to-peer mentoring and on-the-job training occur all the time in the workplace, and for good reason. In fact, wikis, blogs, and other user-generated content are an extension of this, allowing mentoring to occur on a larger scale.

Ideally, you are drawing on all these training modes: using classroom training for key subjects that need to be covered in person, using online training to extend the reach of your training program throughout your organization, using webinars to inexpensively and quickly provide training on targeted topics, and supporting the various forms of informal training that are key on a day-to-day basis.