The State of Instructor-Led Training in 2018

As a society, we’re past the era where there’s an app for everything: now there’s at least ten. People use personal devices for reading books and articles, learning new languages, fact-checking during arguments, and doing actual work. But in a world where day-to-day education is ubiquitous with digital connection, is there still a place for face-to-face instruction? The short answer is yes, but the way that instructors interact with their students and provide learning content is experiencing a shift. Keep reading to learn how instructor-led training (ILT) in the corporate space is as relevant as ever.

ILT Still Reigns

Despite the still-growing hype about mobile, flexible, technological training, instructor-led training still leads the pack in terms of both use and effectiveness. According to the Brandon Hall Group, 66% of all professional training still occurs in instructor-led classrooms, and in-person and pre-recorded ILT show the best results of all the instruction delivery methods surveyed. In large to enterprise sized businesses, classroom instruction is used even more, at 73%, and in high consequence industries such as healthcare, this percentage rises to 80%. While it may not be as flashy as the new trends in corporate training, instructor-led training has major staying power, and will most likely remain the foundation of professional training, whatever advancements may occur.

Get more data and predictions in our 2018 State of Instructor-Led Training report. 

Technology Complements, Doesn't Replace

That’s not to say that advancements in training technology hasn’t impacted ILT. Quite the contrary, new technologies such as platforms that deliver digital corporate training materials and new applications designed for gamification and microlearning can be hugely effective aspects of an instructor-led course. Digital connectivity allows instructors to connect with students, social learning outside the classroom, and information retention aids like quizzes and flashcards, all of which can be used whenever students have time and a device.

People have embraced digital learning platforms in their personal lives, but businesses have been slower in their adoption. Popular language learning app Duolingo has over 110 million users worldwide, and 300 hours of video content are uploaded to Youtube every minute. Usage of these delivery platforms lags behind ILT in the business world, and moving forward in 2018, we’re looking forward to opportunities to use classrooms and technology in concert.

Reinventing the Classroom

Though it doesn’t have the excitement of newer technologies in corporate training, instructor-led training is far from outdated. The classroom is a familiar classroom to the majority of people in our society, but today, ILT classrooms have changed and improved from the ones associated with grade schools or universities. The concept of the flipped classroom can be dated back to the early 2000s, but it has recently begun to enter the mainstream.

In a flipped classroom, instructor contact time is spent on discussion and creating meaning rather than imparting information. Instead, information gathering type instruction takes place outside of the classroom via recorded lectures or webinars so that students are prepared to extend their understanding together with their peers. Where traditional classrooms can feel boring or intimidating, this flipped model is engaging, welcoming, and comfortable.

The familiarity that people have with classrooms has meant that instructor-led training on the corporate stage has not gotten as much interest - or credit - as it is probably due. But with new advancements in corporate training materials and programs, there’s plenty of room for innovation and excitement in ILT for 2018.