Instructor-Led vs. E-Learning: Which Training Method Is Better?

Your training method matters

Why is your training method important? Think of it through this transportation analogy: Both bicycles and cars can get you where you need to go. However, a bicycle yields greater health benefits and cost savings, whereas a car moves faster and maximizes comfort. Choosing the vehicle that aligns with your goals is critical to achieving them. 

Selecting the right training method plays a similar role in helping you achieve your workplace learning and development goals. Instructor-led training and e-learning are two widely used options. The first involves a live instructor leading employees through training in real time—while the latter unlocks asynchronous, self-paced learning.

Both instructor-led and online training have advantages and disadvantages that directly shape employee learning experiences and outcomes. In this blog, we’ll highlight the pros and cons of each, empowering you to choose the best method for your workplace training needs. 

What is instructor-led training?

Instructor-led training (ILT) is just as it sounds—live instruction led by a facilitator or teacher. The term covers both in-person and virtual training. Instructors and learners may meet in the same physical location or come together virtually in a live online classroom or webinar platform.

Pros and cons of instructor-led training

Instructor-led training offers many advantages, primarily surrounding the benefits of live discussion, while its disadvantages center around cost and scalability. Review a complete list of advantages and disadvantages of instructor-led training below.

Advantages of instructor-led training

• Instructor-led training facilitates live discussion, making it great for collaborative or highly complex training topics.
• Trainers can call on individuals to check understanding—and adapt to classroom needs accordingly.
• It’s easier and faster to answer questions that require a lot of back-and-forth exchange.
• Instructors can meet with employees at work to provide hands-on training and coaching. 
• Live gatherings can enhance employees’ sense of belonging and social connection.
• New employees gain knowledge and expertise by observing and imitating more experienced colleagues—a cognitive theory called social learning—increasing knowledge retention.

Disadvantages of instructor-led training

• This format incurs high costs due to facilitator fees, travel, accommodation, meeting spaces.
• Training is more disruptive, as employees must attend training at specific times that may disrupt their daily work and productivity. 
• Employees who learn quickly spend more time completing lecture-style training than they would if allowed to learn at their own pace.
• With multiple training facilitators, it can be difficult to control the consistency of program content, delivery, and quality.
• Updates are slow, costly, and difficult to implement, and significant delays can reduce training’s relevance and impact.

What is e-learning?

Often referred to as online learning or digital learning, e-learning is learning that is distributed and conducted electronically—typically distributed online through a learning management system, or LMS. In comparison to instructor-led training, employees can complete e-learning or online training courses anytime, from anywhere.

Pros and cons of e-learning

As you might surmise, e-learning—like instructor-led training—has distinct advantages and disadvantages. While virtual e-learning discussions might not be as engaging as in-person, ILT discussions, the right e-learning authoring tools can help you create equally interactive online learning experiences. 

Current technologies make it easy to add multimedia elements, interactive quizzes or practice activities, and clickable content (e.g., labeled graphics or step-by-step processes). Another perk: Sophisticated learning experiences are easy to scale—and quick to update.

Check out a complete list of advantages and disadvantages below.

Advantages of e-learning

• E-learning is cost-effective and scalable; authors can quickly distribute training across large and dispersed employee bases without the logistics or costs of live facilitation.
• Course updates are easy and immediate to implement, ensuring more timely and relevant training.
• Employees enjoy greater flexibility to take training at a time and pace that works best for them, resulting in faster completion and minimal work disruptions. 
• Employees can reference e-learning in the flow of work, pulling up training on their laptops or mobile devices to find quick answers at the moment of need.
• Course authoring tools make it possible to create highly engaging and interactive training, such as role-play scenarios, videos, 3D diagrams, virtual flashcards, and more.
• Without live instructors, it’s easier to control consistency and ensure continuity across training programs.

Disadvantages of e-learning

• Online courses provide less social interaction compared to live, facilitator-led discussions.
• Asking and answering questions happens asynchronously, so employees and course creators do not receive immediate feedback. 
• Poor course design or a lack of e-learning development knowledge increases the risk of text-heavy, static, or uninspired training.
• Training requires computer literacy, and some learners may experience technological difficulties.
• E-learning could be less hands-on than some forms of instructor-led training.

How do I choose between instructor-led training and e-learning? 

The best training method is the one that best supports your unique business goals and workplace development needs. Use the table below to compare a summary of benefits.

Instructor-Led	E-Learning
Allows trainers to adapt information to employees’ feedback and needs in real-time	Easier, faster, and more cost-effective to scale and reach remote employees
Employees can ask questions live and receive hands-on training	Employees can complete training anytime, anywhere, on any device, at their preferred pace
Instructors can engage employees through discussion, activities, and face-to-face role-play scenarios	Course creators can engage employees through clickable content, immersive multimedia, interactive activities, and virtual role-play scenarios
Great for live discussion and teaching collaborative topics	Great for documenting knowledge and teaching specific skills
Better at fostering social connection	Better at minimizing work disruptions
Requires a live facilitator and associated fees	Requires basic computer literacy

Consider using a blended learning approach

If both training methods meet different needs, consider taking a blended learning approach that combines the desired elements of both face-to-face and online training. For example, say you’re developing training on ethical AI use. A blended approach might look something like this:

• E-learning. Perhaps you start by sending employees a self-paced e-learning course to develop a shared, foundational understanding of AI. Employees take a quiz at the beginning of the course to determine their prior knowledge, allowing them to test out of sections containing information they already know.
• Instructor-led training. After completing the course, perhaps a facilitator meets with employees for a follow-up virtual discussion. This allows them to easily address questions, add context, or provide additional coaching according to real-time feedback.
  

In this example, you leverage the best of both worlds to create a program that combines cost-effective, scalable training with personalized Q&A discussion.

The right training method depends on your needs 

When deciding between instructor-led or online training for workplace development, businesses must weigh the pros and cons against their needs. Instructor-led training offers real-time interaction, personalized feedback, and hands-on experience, fostering deeper collaboration and social connection. Conversely, online training provides scalability, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness, catering to diverse learning styles and remote workers.

A blended approach uses a mix of both training methods to transcend limitations and combine strengths. Ultimately, the right choice is the one that best supports your employees’ needs, transporting them to understanding faster and more effectively.

For more insights on how to develop online training that supports business ROI, read our post, How Online Training Supports Business ROI.