Is Online Training Really Effective for the Human Service Providers?

It’s no secret that healthcare and social work professionals juggle many tasks. When the responsibilities pile up, training and education are often put on the back burner.

In careers that rely so much on human interaction, professionals may wonder whether gaining skills in an online setting is effective. The truth is, online training is an ideal solution for professionals that are looking to expand their knowledge in a job that requires human interaction.

As more and more workplaces are cutting back on education budgets, online training is a preferred method for gaining new skills and learning up-to-date information. Unlike seminars and workshops, online training allows busy professionals to learn in their spare time and at their own pace, making the ease and comfort of online training a huge benefit to careers driven by human interaction. People have unpredictable schedules so fitting a seminar or workshop into an already busy schedule is difficult. In terms of time management, online training is the best bet for professionals facing a time crunch.

Online seminars and training programs allow students to learn at their own pace and this ability to pace training increases retention. While a live training program may allow professionals to gain experience through interaction, an online program allows each participant to advance at his or her own pace, ensuring that every participant understands the material and giving time for interaction and discussion before moving on to more advanced practices.

A concern that’s often raised when speaking of online training is the lack of human touch. For professionals in a career that requires daily interaction with patients and clients, this concern is valid but easily addressed. Online training actually encourages more interaction than a classroom. In a classroom setting, conversation is largely one-sided from the professor or dominated by a handful of students eager to make their voices heard. In online training, participation is required of every participant. Introspective professionals who need time to formulate questions have that luxury available to them. Quieter students who may not feel comfortable addressing a crowded lecture hall can address an online forum instead. Ultimately, more students can engage in the discussion and ask questions in an online setting, increasing the amount of scenarios they will encounter in the field.

The fact is, quality online training can be as effective or more effective than live training for professionals in healthcare and social work. Busy schedules coupled with tighter financial restraints means that live seminars may not always be an option. the pacing and ability to participate are two major factors that simply cannot be offered in live training. Professionals with a focus on human interaction should explore online training options before dismissing this cost-effective and time-conscious approach to training and education.