The pros and cons of virtual classrooms

Virtual classrooms or traditional in-person training: which is right for your organisation?

During the last year, training in virtual classrooms became commonplace, as training providers and businesses alike searched for ways to safely continue training people during the Covid-19 pandemic.

As we tentatively begin to ease back into normal life post-lockdown, many businesses will need to decide whether to continue training staff in virtual classrooms or return to face-to-face training.

To help you decide, this article explores the pros and cons of learning in a virtual classroom.

What is a virtual classroom?

Here at CBAT we offer a wide variety of courses taught online in virtual classrooms.

Our online lessons are hosted live by experienced trainers in virtual classrooms on the platform Zoom. This means that the lesson can be conveniently accessed by students from any location where they have internet access on a computer, tablet, or smartphone.

Students simply need to log in to the virtual classroom at the time of the training session to receive a live and engaging lesson.

The technology we use here at CBAT for our e-learning sessions means that trainers can provide a high quality and engaging lesson that even allows for group work and live, on-screen assessments.

The pros of virtual classrooms

Convenient

The main benefit of training online in a virtual classroom is how simple, convenient, and undisruptive it is. When there is no need to travel to attend the training session it saves a lot of time and stress. Training online in a virtual classroom is all round easier to fit in with your existing work and life commitments.

Cost-effective

Signing employees up to online training is also a cost-effective option for organisations. Employees travelling to attend traditional, face-to-face training sessions may incur expenses for travelling, food, and overnight stays. Traditional training can also be more expensive as it costs more in overheads.

Safe

During the last year, the Covid-19 pandemic has meant that travelling and meeting people in-person has needed to be kept to a minimum to keep people safe and prevent the spread of the virus. Training in virtual classrooms has provided a safe way for organisations to keep developing their staff and growing their business.

Accessible

The location of the training provider is not significant when you choose to train in a virtual classroom. Organisations can access high quality and professional training no matter where in the country (or world!) they are located.

Engaging

Technology now means that online learning can be just as engaging as in-person training. The virtual classroom technology we use here at CBAT allows students to interact with the tutor in real-time, perform and receive feedback on on-screen assessments, and even breakout into groups during the lesson to perform group tasks.

The cons of virtual classrooms

Technical difficulties

Virtual classrooms rely on technology to be successful. If a student’s device or internet connection is playing up, then it could mean that they miss the live session or have an interrupted experience.

Impersonal

Some people may find the fact that they are not meeting the tutor or other students face-to-face makes the experience a little more impersonal than it would be in a traditional classroom.

Learning atmosphere

With traditional teaching, the tutor has control over the student’s learning environment and atmosphere. When learning in a virtual classroom, it is up to the students to ensure that they are concentrating and are taking the session in a suitable environment where they can focus and will not be disturbed.

More screen-time

Smartphones, computers, televisions, tablets; most people now use screens a lot in their day-to-day lives. Some people, especially those that use screens all day at work, feel that they would rather have an in-person experience instead of spending more time looking at a screen. However, many people embrace using technology for training purposes and would see this as a benefit, it depends on personal preference.

Learn online with CBAT

Here at CBAT, our online training courses are run by our top trainers, ensuring that students receive a high quality, professional, and engaging learning experience.

We can even create bespoke training courses if required to ensure that your requirements are met, and you are receiving the best value for your money.

To find out more about the health and social care training courses that we offer online in our virtual classrooms, give our team a call on 01772 816 922.