Classroom vs.

online learning:
HOW TO NAVIGATE TRAINING YOUR TEAM
CLASSROOM VS. ONLINE LEARNING

Find your solution for success

In a rapidly changing technology world, training your team is a no-brainer. But the route you take
to keep your staff sharp can be less obvious. While classroom training, seminars and conferences
have dominated in years past, online learning solutions are growing in popularity and presenting
unique advantages that companies should consider.

So whats the best way to keep your business ahead of the competition? Lets dive in.

CLASSROOM VS. ONLINE LEARNING: A HEAD-TO-HEAD COMPARISON

Pros of the classroom environment

When choosing a training program for your organization, remember that everyone learns
differently. For some, the distraction-free classroom environment takes them away from the tasks
on their to-do lists and meetings on their calendar, letting them focus on the objective at hand:
learning that new skill.

In-person learning allows students to ask questions in real-time and learn from questions their
peers are asking. This lively discussion environment can make learning interactive, keep students
engaged and encourage new ways of thinking.

head-to-head comparison | 2
 Classroom cons Cons of online learning

The same lively discussion that may be ideal for some Weve said it once, and well say it again: everyone
learners, may be an anxiety-inducing nightmare for learns differently. The majority of online learning
others. Introverted students may avoid getting their solutions work predominately on a screen share
questions answered altogether in this environment, model, with interactive elements to complement the
leaving them at a disadvantage. But even extroverts presentation. While extra features can help learners stay
may have a hard time excelling when classroom engaged, some learners may struggle to focus or stay
curriculum updates come slower than trends evolve. motivated when their learning is self-paced.
With new software, vendor announcements and exam
The online learning advantage
requirements changing so often, classroom instructors
must make sure they're proficient, and the materials For those who can overcome the minor drawbacks of
and resources used to teach are up-to-date as well. online learning, the benefits are great. In contrast to
Once a syllabus is put to paper, a mid-semester classroom programs, it's significantly more affordable,
vs.
software update may be harder to fit into the lesson with lower tuition and no travel expenses.
plan, leaving students missing out on vital skills.
Another benefit to employers is that online learning
And your employees arent the only ones missing keeps your employees in the office and productive.
out. While you send your team to that seminar, your Rather than taking time off for a seminar, your team can
organization experiences lowered productivity and a devote time during the workday (or after work as 88%
hefty bill. For example, a 3-day seminar can cost as of Pluralsight subscribers do1 ) to learning, while keeping
much as $3,500 per employee when you add up travel, up with daily responsibilities. In fact, instead of killing
accommodations, tuition fees and associated costs.1 time, companies that use online learning tools report a
Can you afford those losses every time an update rolls 50% increase in productivity.2
out that your employees need to be trained on?

head-to-head comparison | 3
 LETS STACK THEM UP

Individual employees prefer online learning as well. 88%

say online learning helps them more than classroom-
based learning in their day-to-day work.1 Not only do
team members use online learning to gain new skills,
they also reference course modules, discussion boards
and other digital resources to troubleshoot and solve
problems fastsomething that can't be done with
classroom learning.

head-to-head comparison | 4
 DID YOU KNOW?

81% of subscribers attribute Pluralsight

to improved job performance. 1

THE ON-DEMAND DIFFERENCE Basically theres just no good way to send one An answer to every problem, at your fingertips
employee off to a conference and have them come
Learning isnt a one-and-done experience. In todays In contrast, online learners can reference educational
back and educate 20 others on what they just learned,
fast-changing tech environment, going to a week-long materials whenever they hit a barrier, and they also
says Spenser Aden, Director of Product Architecture at
seminar once a year will be insufficient. Think back to experience better overall retention than classroom
Healthstream.
what was trending in your field last year. Is it the same learners. Both retention of course material and speed of
thing your team needs to succeed right now? Furthermore, when professionals attend out-of-office learning can increase up to 60% with the use of online
training, they learn set topics. If those new skills arent learning tools.3 It's widely believed that technical skills
Ready to go when you need it most
needed immediately when they get back to work, its have a two-year half-life. Having a learning solution

To surpass your competitors, your employees need likely theyll get forgotten to make room for whatever that serves up relevant training daily will help you stay

unlimited, instant access to relevant training and your employees current responsibilities are. innovative and keep up with this rapid pace of change.

information whenever they run into roadblocks. With

on-demand learning, your entire group can access the
same quality training anywhere and anytime.

the on-demand difference | 5

 Tailored training to meet your needs Develop well-rounded employees

Another difference comes in the flexibility and Pluralsight gives your employees the chance to explore
individualization available with online solutions. Since topics and build skills in areas outside their immediate
everyones base knowledge is different, employees can discipline. And when given the opportunity, theyll take
skip past lessons theyve already mastered and only it. 91% of our subscribers expand their skills in more
devote their time to acquiring new skills or becoming than one area, allowing them to add more value to your
more advanced. In contrast, a classroom curriculum business.1
has one speed. This lack of customization forces some

91
Your business benefits from a versatile staff, but your

% students to struggle to keep up while others feel bored.

For the cost of sending a single staff member to one

employees will appreciate this too. Retaining your
staff becomes much easier when you invest in their
in-person training class, they can have a year's worth of professional development. 89% of employees say
Pluralsight classes," says Adam Kavan, Associate Director theyre more likely to stay with their company if their
of Networks and Systems at Professional Research employer invests in their training.5
Consultants (PRC). "And they get a much bigger choice
Fast, efficient and expert-authored
of materials. Theyre not just learning one thing.

of subscribers expand their You dont always have to choose between quality and
THE PLURALSIGHT SOLUTION
skills in more than one area, quantity. Pluralsights library contains thousands of

allowing them to add more Businesses and individuals worldwide trust Pluralsight courses with new ones added daily to give your
to achieve their technology learning goals. Heres why. team the most timely and relevant content. Our courses
value to your business.1
are authored by industry experts, ensuring your team
is learning the most accurate information from the best
source. In fact, 81% of subscribers attribute Pluralsight
to improved job performance and 55% have used their
new skills at work within one week of learning them on
Pluralsight.1 Thats instant results.

the on-demand difference The pluralsight solution | 6

We are involved with Pluralsight today because of Our online courses and learning tools help employees at more than 12,500 companies including:
who was generating content and because what they
generated was as good online as it was in person, if
not better, says Spenser. What Im really looking for
is content thats relevant and content that is good NEARLY

quality. I think from the very beginning when we started 14 OF THE

TOP
15 70%
working with Pluralsight, thats what weve found.
global software leaders (by revenue) of the top aerospace
train with Pluralsight companies use Pluralsight
The professionals who author our courses are not only
great presenters and educators, but theyre active
developers, IT professionals and creative artists who
use the skills they teachand we only hire the best.
Our author network includes Microsoft MVPs, VMware
vExperts and more.
9 OF THE
TOP
10 12
Epic savings all around
most profitable U.S. technology of the leading healthcare
companies use Pluralsight companies use Pluralsight
According to a Bersin report, it costs on average $1,847
per year to train tech employees, but Pluralsight is just
a fraction of that.

And its not just costs youre cutting. Training with

Pluralsight saves you time, increasing your productivity
and employee output. On average, each learner 8 15 OF THE
TOP
20
save 83.7 hours per year, which is a 4.13% boost in defense contractors
of the leading finance
productivity through time savings.1 Pluralsight saves organizations count on us to stay use Pluralsight
you time because of our on-demand, unlimited access ahead of the competition

to quality learning resources. 71% of subscribers and

managers rate Pluralsights online training better than
any classroom training theyve taken in the past.1

the pluralsight solution | 7

 95% of managers say ongoing training
is critical to their staffs success. 6

Tools to make training easy

Pluralsight is much more than just online courses. Weve Reporting & analytics: Pluralsight also makes it easy
built a series of tools and features to help you maximize to monitor employee usage, progress and proficiency.
your team's potential and allow them to get the most Reporting and analytics help you see adoption and
out of their training hours. recognize employees who are taking their learning to
the next level.
Mobile & offline apps: Squeezing in a little learning can
be tough for a time-crunched professional. Our mobile Learning Checks: Your employees can track on their
and offline apps make it easy to catch a clip during progress as well. With Learning Checks, employees can
lunch or the commute home. measure their retention of course material.

Learning paths & playlists: With thousands of courses, WHAT'S THE RIGHT CHOICE FOR YOU?
it can be hard to know where to start. Teams can
95% of managers say ongoing training is critical to their
learn together or strive toward building specific skills
staffs success.6 With online learning like Pluralsight, you
by following learning paths and playlists. Our expert-
can achieve business goals and keep your team skilled
curated learning paths list courses in the correct
and strong. When knowledge is power, how will you
order to achieve a certain skill, no guesswork required.
ensure your team is the smartest?
Additionally, plan managers can build their own playlists
and share them with their staff. If you know a team
member isnt super strong in a specific area, you can
build a playlist to get them where they need to go. Its
completely customizable skill development.

the pluralsight solution What's the right choice | 8

Powerful training you can
trust to keep your
organization competitive.

To learn more about Pluralsight and get a free business pilot, visit
pluralsight.com/business

Sources

1 2015 Impact Report, CEB, Inc.

2 Bersin

3 2013 Research Institute of America study

4 The Value of Training, IBM report

5 Harvard Business Review

6 2014 Pluralsight survey of 20,000 tech pros

0603-15