Training & Education

Here are the most popular training delivery methods for effective employee training.

​​1. Instructor-led training (ILT)

Instructor-led, classroom-based training is the most traditional delivery method. This method is effective for training more extensive employee groups. 

Employees listen to lectures by instructors who typically utilize PowerPoints or blackboard presentations. To promote learning retention, courses can be divided into shorter segments or abbreviated with short activities. An internal expert can execute this method, or L&D teams may hire an expert better suited for training. 

Instructor-led training still holds importance because certain topics, such as advanced or technical skills, make more sense to teach in person. Instructor-led training encourages team members to build relationships with one another and improve the employee experience by providing more opportunities for collaboration.

2. Virtual classroom learning

A simple twist on traditional instructor-led learning is virtual classroom learning. This can be delivered in various forms, including video lectures, discussions, and text documents. Virtual classroom learning can happen synchronously, where all learners receive their lessons simultaneously, or asynchronously, where learners take classes at their own pace. 

One significant advantage of the virtual classroom learning method over traditional instructor-led learning is that it can be delivered and attended from anywhere and learners can still directly interact with the instructor. 

3. On-the-job training

Another training delivery method is on-the-job training, where a manager or another experienced team member provides real-time instruction on a specific topic. 

This method is cost-effective as it can be handled in-house and provides opportunities for building future mentoring relationships between employees. One drawback of on-the-job training is that it solely depends on the instructor’s ability to deliver consistent, high-quality training.

4. Blended learning

While L&D efforts have typically been delivered synchronously or all at once, the advent of blended learning has made it possible to blend synchronous and asynchronous learning.

Blended learning combines the best of two training environments – traditional face-to-face learning and eLearning – to meet the evolving needs of new-age learners.  Blended learning takes learning outside the walls of the classroom, making it possible to access resources both online and offline. 

This helps engage all types of learners – both those who learn better in a traditional classroom environment as well as those who work best with semi-autonomous, computer-based training. While classroom learning offers an opportunity for immediate face-to-face interaction, online learning offers self-paced personalized learning with interactive media such as games, videos, tutorials, quizzes, etc. all accessible from the learner’s home page in a learning management system (LMS).

5. Spaced learning

Spaced learning is based on the concept that learning is enhanced when knowledge is repeated after certain intervals.

Spaced learning breaks down long employee training programs into several sessions or modules of shorter durations, with spaced intervals in between. Parts of these sessions are reintroduced multiple times over the course of the next few days or weeks for learners to recall information, driving long-term knowledge retention.

Spaced learning helps employees avoid information overload and improves their overall learning experience. 

6. eLearning courses

eLearning is an effective and flexible training delivery method. Learning can be customized for individual needs, and works best when learners don’t need immediate feedback or live collaboration to be successful. eLearning includes learning resources like PowerPoint, virtual reality lessons, microlearning, gamification, and instructional storytelling.

This training method is cost-efficient because lessons can be reused as long as they contain the most accurate information, however, it is not as effective for activities such as team building.

7. Microlearning

Microlearning involves dicing course information up into shorter sections or topics that can be easily delivered and completed asynchronously.  Smaller learning sessions offer the right amount of information necessary for learners to achieve a specific training objective, making microlearning valuable in business contexts.

Microlearning is effective because learners apply the skills they’ve acquired before they lose attention, thus improving knowledge retention. This is also referred to as real-time learning.

Microlearning lessons work well when incorporated into a digital adoption platform (DAP), which dividing the course content into small chunks and integrates it into any software employees use while they’re working.

8. Gamification

Gamification is another variation of eLearning that has gained popularity in recent years. This training delivery method disseminates knowledge in the form of game-like lessons which reward learners for knowledge retention. This type of learning can also be delivered through virtual reality, augmented reality, or even a DAP. 

9. Collaborative training

Collaborative training is a methodology where employees share their knowledge and expertise, teaching and learning from one another at the same time. This technique helps enhance the overall training experience for employees by capitalizing on their skills, ideas, and knowledge.

Employees gain a better understanding as a group than they do as individuals by listening to other viewpoints, reframing ideas, and articulating their points. This makes collaborative training an effective technique for workplace training.

10. Real-time learning

Real-time training enables employees to learn while working. This training delivery method often requires some in-person guidance to teach employees how to complete tasks in real-time. For tasks that need to be completed on the computer, real-time learning content can also be delivered virtually via a Digital Adoption Platfom that integrates with any software or application. 

11. Video training and webinars

Video training engages employees and delivers sophisticated learning experiences at a lower cost than traditional training. Creating training videos enables employees to digest information in an easy-to-understand format that is easier to retain and that employees can go back and watch at any time.

Similarly, webinars are interactive and engaging and keep viewers’ attention longer than a traditional PowerPoint presentation.