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Ask the Experts: When to Blend Online and Classroom Training
By Ron Kirsch, Ph.D., PureSafety
What mix of online training and classroom training usually produces the best results? Because classroom training is more costly to deliver, we are considering increasing our use of online training, but I want to be sure we are also providing the most effective training.
F.O., San Diego
The right blend of online training and instructor-led training depends on the employer and the employee's specific needs and the areas of risk and exposure present in the workplace. There is no magic formula, but a good rule of thumb is the 80/20 rule.You should be able to deliver about 80% of your training online. Online training is ideal for awareness, refresher and just-in-time training, and is well-suited to transferring knowledge in a self-paced environment. It allows you to appeal to multiple adult learning styles and deliver training in multiple languages. However, there are certain things that are best delivered hands-on or instructor-led. For example, respirator fit testing must be done hands on. You can provide a great deal of information about when respiratory protection is needed and how to properly select and maintain respirators through online training but you still need to do the fit test.
Ron A. Kirsch, Ph. D. |
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