Is Web-based or Classroom Instruction More Effective?
Organizations are increasing their use of Web-based instruction to leverage the potential benefits of delivering training to geographically dispersed trainees or to provide just-in-time access to aid job performance. Despite these advantages, if the ultimate goal of training is to teach new knowledge and skills, it is important to consider if Web-based instruction is as effective as classroom instruction. To address this question, ADL analyzed data from 208 training courses that examined trainee satisfaction or learning in both classroom courses and Web-based courses (Sitzmann, Kraiger, Stewart, & Wisher, 2006). A statistical summary of the data from 26,460 trainees revealed that when the Web-based and classroom versions of the course used the same instructional methods (e.g., lecture, discussion), there was no significant difference in trainee satisfaction or learning across the two media.
