In the wake of the digital revolution and the increased prevalence of remote work, the educational landscape has experienced a seismic shift towards online learning. Businesses, educators, and learners alike have embraced the flexibility and accessibility offered by e-learning platforms. Yet, a pertinent question looms: Is online learning as effective as its traditional counterpart, face-to-face education?
The "Zoom boom" phenomenon witnessed a rapid surge in the use of Virtual Instructor-Led Training (VILT), particularly at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Facilities Management (FM), like many other industries, had to quickly adapt. Many training providers in the UK such as the British Institute of Facilities Management (IWFM) and City & Guilds rapidly moved their courses online. However, statistics and industry surveys suggested a subsequent decline in virtual-only adoption, highlighting that face-to-face training doesn’t seamlessly translate into effective virtual experiences. Despite this, FM training appears to have become undeniably intertwined with digital learning.
Advantages of Online Learning
1. Cost and Time Efficiency
Online courses offer significant savings on travel, venue hire, and instructor costs. For FM companies with large, dispersed workforces this has been a game-changer. For instance, some large service providers hybrid learning programmes for compliance training, enabling frontline staff to complete modules online without the need to travel to central training hubs, saving both time and operational costs.
2. Scalability
The scalability of online learning is unmatched. Many organisations have leveraged e-learning platforms to roll out health and safety training to thousands of employees across multiple client sites simultaneously. This would have been logistically challenging, if not impossible, through classroom-based training.
3. Flexibility and Control
FM professionals often work in shifts, across different buildings and regions. Online learning allows them to access training at times that suit their schedules. A notable example is the introduction of mobile-friendly microlearning modules that some service providers have adopted, allowing engineers to refresh technical knowledge on the go directly from their smartphones.
Advantages of Face-to-Face Education
1. Synchronous Learning
The immediacy of face-to-face learning is particularly valuable, especially in industries like Facilities Management, where practical, hands-on training is crucial. For example, a multinational property development organisational found that while theoretical safety briefings worked well online, manual handling and emergency response training were far more effective in person, where trainers could observe and correct techniques in real time.
2. Social Elements
Many training programmes rely on collaboration and peer-to-peer learning. Group discussions, role-play scenarios, and workshops often build camaraderie among teams. A leading workplace experience and facility management company’s leadership development programme, for example, deliberately retained a strong in-person component, recognising that team building and interpersonal skills are best nurtured through direct interaction.
Opportunities and Challenges
Technology has allowed companies to replicate elements of social interaction through video conferencing and virtual breakout rooms. For example, organisations such as the IWFM host online networking sessions and panel discussions where professionals can share experiences and insights. Despite the flexibility and convenience, some employees report struggling with motivation during self-paced modules, while others miss the immediacy of asking questions in person.
In the world of FM there are service providers who have experimented with augmented reality (AR) for remote technical training, particularly for instances where onsite training isn’t possible. While effective for knowledge transfer, the company noted that employees still preferred in-person troubleshooting workshops when learning complex maintenance tasks.
The Verdict
Online learning offers unparalleled convenience and scalability, but it demands self-discipline and a reliable digital infrastructure. Face-to-face training excels in immediate interaction, skill practice, and building professional relationships but is limited by geography and cost.
In the Facilities Management industry, the most successful organisations are embracing a blended approach. A compliance module might be delivered online, followed by a face-to-face workshop to practise emergency response. Leadership training might combine virtual coaching sessions with in-person strategy workshops.
Ultimately, the debate between online learning and face-to-face education isn’t about choosing one over the other. It’s about recognising the strengths of each and harnessing them together to create a holistic and comprehensive learning environment. For FM, where both technical competence and interpersonal skills are vital, this blended approach is shaping the future of workforce development.
