Web-based Training - Pros and Cons

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Advantages and Disadvantages
While looking at the Web as an addition to your arsenal of teaching tools, one of the first questions to ask yourself is, "Is it even worth it?" As an instructor what advantage would you have building a Web-based course anyway? If current training methods produce satisfactory results, why even consider Web-based training? Even with good results could you use it to improve your standing in the training market; to use it as a tool to provide better product support, or generate profit?

The Web offers many benefits, here are a few. Keep in mind that this isn't an exhaustive list.

• enhanced communication between training staff and/or students
• collaboration between instructors on site and with instructors at other institutions
• up-to-date information is available much faster
• greater ease and low expense in delivering course materials
• duplication of effort can be eliminated
• documents and other training sites can be cross-referenced with hyperlinks
• courseware can be used on systems with different operating systems
• controllable access
• less technical support is required
• reduced printing costs since the information is available electronically
• no longer restricted to text alone; interactivity, color, and depth to coursework are easily created

Quite an impressive list, isn't it? At the same time, the Web isn't perfect. In deciding whether or not you want to use the Web as a training environment (or even if you've decided that it's right for you), there are some problems with it. Some of them will disappear in time, as experience is gained with the technology, and others will remain until the technology improves:

• instructors must learn and adapt non-linear thinking
• instructors and students must be trained in the use of the selected Web-based tools.
• instructional methods may be restricted as a result of browser and bandwidth limitations
  • current browsers are limited in how they can format content
  • slower performance for sound, video, and intense graphics due to limited bandwidth
• a trained staff is needed in order to administer the server and provide server access
• links outside of your course material can change
  • content in external documents can change or disappear altogether
  • too many links can cause the student to get lost
• it is too easy to focus on the technology than on the needs of the student

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Last Modified: February, 2005