Continuous professional development is a necessity for project professionals whether they are starting out as project coordinators or are seasoned Chartered Project Professionals. It’s important to stay current with best practices but with hybrid working commonplace and a range of training formats on offer, how you keep your skills up to date is as important a decision as what you learn.
At Parallel Project Training, we offer flexible and robust learning systems, and understand the nuances of live-online, face-to-face, and e-learning formats. All of these approaches have their own unique set of pros and cons – the choice will ultimately depend on the individual learner, their team and any specific objectives.
Face-to-face training
The gold standard of corporate learning has been the physical classroom for decades. As a method it relies on direct human interaction and, of course, a shared physical space. This has a unique set of benefits that can be difficult to replicate.
The Pros
Networking and social learning
Arguably the biggest advantage when it comes to public face-to-face courses. Delegates from diverse industries, and from all over the country, can meet and share experiences, they can also build up their professional network. This type of learning makes for a melting pot of ideas and challenges and offers a real-world, rich context that takes delegates beyond the curriculum. When it comes to corporate
in-house training, where all delegate are from the same organisation, this helps create a powerful team-building exercise which fosters an approach to project work that results in a shared understanding and a cohesive approach.
Immersive and focused environment
When you have a dedicated training venue this can remove daily distractions. Those who attend are away from their desks and this makes concentration easier and engagement with trainers better. For more complex topics this can be more beneficial as focusing on the session without distraction can improve understanding.
Immediate feedback and dynamic discussion
A skilled trainer is able to read the room, and gauge understanding by body language and immediate questions. This makes it possible for real-time clarification and allows for deeper discussions of any areas the group might be struggling with. Spontaneous discussions and debates resulting from the classroom setting often lead to a better understanding. This is valuable when it comes to developing ‘soft skills’ which are essential for a Project Manager.
The Cons
Cost and logistics
Face-to-face training is often the most expensive option. For public courses, you should factor in the costs for travel, accommodation, and subsistence as well as the course itself. For corporate clients, if not held on site, there is also the cost of the venue, and the often-forgotten cost of a significant time away from the workplace. This represents a logistical challenge, particularly for teams who are not all based in the same location and for organisations with tight project deadlines.
Fixed schedule and location
Face-to-face training is rigid, unlike other options. You have to attend on a specific date at a specific time and place. For individuals with unpredictable work schedules, family commitments, or those living in remote areas of the country this can present a barrier.
Varying pace
A face-to-face course needs to cater to the entire group, and this can be a drawback when you have both fast and slow learners. Those who grasp concepts quickly could feel held back, and those who need more time may feel pressured to keep up. This can potentially leave unanswered questions.
Live online training
Virtual classroom training has improved and become more popular in recent years. It is now a highly effective and popular alternative. It seeks to duplicate the real-time interaction that occurs in a physical classroom without any constraints.
The Pros
Flexibility and accessibility
Delegates can easily join a course from their office, home, in fact from anywhere as long as they have an internet connection. This removes travel time and costs from the equation, making it a highly efficient option. For organisations with a workforce all over the country, live online training means everyone can participate no matter where they are.
Real-time interaction with a trainer
In a similar way to face-to-face, live online courses are led by an expert trainer. They make use of interactive tools, such as polls and breakout rooms to keep delegates engaged. This allows for immediate questions and feedback, important when it comes to preparing for a professional exam.
Reduced Costs
When you remove the need for travel, physical materials, and venues, live online training is usually a more cost-effective solution for everyone. This means more people can undertake the training and budgets can be used for other initiatives.
The Cons
Potential for technical issues and distractions
It is essential to have a good, stable internet connection. Technical glitches can disrupt the learning experience. Training in the home may be subjected to distractions from family and this can also make it difficult to maintain focus.
Limited informal networking
Breakout rooms are great for small group discussions but cannot fully replicate the sort of conversations that take place in a physical venue. For many, networking is an important reason to attend public training courses, and in a virtual setting this is simply not as easy to achieve.
Screen fatigue
Spending an entire day glued to a screen can be mentally taxing. Training providers need to ensure they design their live online courses with this in mind. This means incorporating regular breaks and offering a range of activities to maintain engagement and energy levels.
E-Learning
E-learning, i.e. self-paced online training, provides a completely different option. The learner is placed in the driver’s seat allowing them to progress with the course at their own pace.
The Pros
Ultimate flexibility
This is the most flexible option. A delegate could, for instance, study for their APM PFQ on those days when they have free time. This approach is perfect for people who have a very demanding, or irregular, work schedule who are unable to commit to a fixed timetable.
Personalised learning
E-learning platforms can be tailored to a range of individual learning styles. Someone who is a visual learner can focus on diagrams and videos, a verbal learner, on the other hand, can read the study guides and transcripts. This level of self-direction means individuals are free to spend more time on challenging topics and move rapidly through anything they grasp quickly.
Cost-effective and scalable
E-learning is usually the most affordable option because it removes the cost of a live trainer, location, and travel. For companies, it is also a scalable option. They can enrol a single employee or a whole team, providing training that is consistent across the board.
The Cons
Lack of live interaction and immediate feedback
When there is no live trainer and no peers, there is also nobody to provide instant clarification or offer a dynamic discussion. Questions need to be logged and this means they are not answered immediately, which can slow down the learning process. This can be a problem for anyone who is preparing for exams, who may be looking for instant feedback on questions.
Requires high self-discipline
The freedom of e-learning means greater responsibility from the person doing the learning. With no fixed schedule or the social pressure of a group of other students, it is easy to procrastinate. For those learners who thrive on external motivation and structure, this format can be challenging, often resulting in lower completion rates.
The ‘solitary’ experience
E-learning is a solitary experience and while there might be online forums, this lacks the collaborative energy that you will find in a classroom. Learners who thrive on group work and peer interaction, could find this demotivating.
Next Steps
As with many things in life there is no “one-size-fits-all” solution when it comes to picking the best training method. It is important for organisations to weigh up which method will work best for their team, taking into account budget, location and even the type of individuals who will be undertaking the training.
By offering all three approaches, we empower individuals and organisations to choose the best path for their unique circumstances ensuring they access the high quality of training they need to succeed in a competitive landscape.
