June 2003 — Features

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The Realities of Web-Based Training

By Jennifer Minotti, Ed.M., & Paul Giguere, Ed.D., Education Development Ctr Inc

  • WBT often requires more effort and time on the part of instructors and designers in developing and adapting curricula to the Web-based medium. This type of training also frequently requires a shift in teaching and training strategies.
  • Participants must spend additional time familiarizing themselves with the new technologies before they can  engage in the content; some never get past this initial stage.
  • Instructors often need to provide additional assistance to students who are new to the technology and medium.
  • Participants often spend more time in online discussions, brainstorming, writing and doing problem-solving activities than they do in face-to-face classrooms.
  • Time lapses (when engaged in asynchronous discussion), while waiting for responses from instructors or colleagues, may be frustrating to the WBT participants.

Learning and understanding

  • Materials must be engaging, self-describing and easy to use in order to avoid confusion on the part of students, because the instructor is not always present to answer questions right away.
  • Some individuals feel isolated and lonely learning in this medium due to the lack of a shared physical space with other trainees and the instructor.
  • Meanings can often be misconstrued without face-to-face and real-time cues.
  • Some individuals remain skeptical about learning in a new way; instead they prefer learning in the traditional format.
  • Individuals may find it hard to concentrate or stay on task by not being in a structured classroom setting.
  • Some individuals may find the hypermedia environment confusing or difficult to follow.

Cross-platform and varied software

  • Individuals may feel threatened or intimidated by the new technologies involved.
  • Expertise with technology is now almost as important as knowledge in the core subject area.
  • Bandwidth limitations that involve intensive graphics, video and audio often slow down WBT.
  • It is difficult to ensure exact design and formatting across platforms and numerous browsers.
  • Online training is often not viable for everyone, such as those with limited or no access to the Internet or technology.
  • Some instructors are resistant to learning new technologies that they believe will soon become obsolete.

Cost