Online Vs Classroom Digital Marketing Course – Digital marketing courses are on rising demand these days because of the wide range of opportunities and benefits they provide. The reason they’re becoming so popular is because anybody can learn digital marketing with little to no difficulty. You don’t need any prior experience or knowledge to learn it. Plus, you can master the skills in a short time.
Another reason for the growing popularity is because today, so many companies in many industries are demanding individuals who are skilled in digital marketing. Job vacancies in this industry are quite high but there is not sufficient awareness about it. This is because mainstream education in India is focused mainly on degrees in the medical or engineering field and the job market for these is running low.
Bringing awareness about other career opportunities that are far more beneficial has become important in many educational institutes. Hence, they are offering digital marketing courses for anyone interested to learn or change their career.
There are hundreds of courses – both online and classroom training for different levels – from beginner to advanced, short term or master courses, etc. The Coronavirus pandemic has forced many institutes to offer online classes, hence online digital marketing courses are on the rise. And online classes have become the norm.
Now the question is,
Which is better:
Online digital marketing course or classroom digital marketing course?
Let’s compare the pros and cons of online course with classroom training
Online digital marketing course
Online digital marketing course is a mode of learning that takes place on the internet without any physical interactions between the trainer and the students. The classes are virtual, conducted on zoom or other platforms.
Online classes or e-learning contain the same amount of content you consume in classroom training.
Pros of online learning
Location – Online classes can be taken from literally anywhere you wish. You can learn from the comfort of your home, or in your favourite cafe. It’s very convenient during situations like lockdown and pandemic.
Just because the place isn’t available or there is a situation going on like bandhs doesn’t mean the classes can not take place. The internet is everywhere. If you have access to it, then you can take online classes from anywhere.
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Better time management – Online classes save a lot of time you would have lost travelling back and forth to classroom training. Especially in cities like Bangalore, travelling within the location can take a toll due to traffic and transportation problems. Why travel so much when you attend the class online? Besides, it helps you manage your time better.
Also, when you start taking online classes, you become more responsible with your daily routine – you’ll learn to manage time between your personal life, other work and scheduling the classes.
Customised learning environment – Because online classes can be taken from anywhere, you can customise your environment to your liking and convenience.
That means, no more boring classroom with the 4 white walls and a ceiling. At home you can set up a study table or desk that is not only comfortable and free, but also decorative so that you can keep your focus sharp and motivation on.
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Having a pretty and comfortable space can help you learn better.
Flexibility – Online classes are very flexible in terms of time. They can be scheduled at your convenience and you can learn at your own pace. Physical classes or classroom training requires you to sit in a physical location for a long time but e-learning can give you more flexibility. And once you’re in a physical classroom, you might not have the chance to go through the same class again, in case you want to revise or relearn a module.
But in online classes, you can record the session and revisit it as many times as you want. You can also learn the entire course flexibly – one hour in the morning, two hours in the evening or so.
Work while you learn – Probably the best thing about the e-learning is that you can do other things while you learn something new. There’s no one to tell you what you shouldn’t be doing or can’t do in class because there is no one to stop you. And learning something new online won’t stop you from doing other things like working.
You can still work while you learn! Because online digital marketing classes are mostly audio-focused, you can multitask while listening to the trainer.You can work on your own digital marketing projects while learning so that you gain a better understanding of how things work.
Besides work, people these days are over-scheduled balancing personal work, family and social life. Online classes don’t hinder or limit any of these, providing you ample time and opportunities to learn digital marketing at your own pace.
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Better focus – Classrooms can become very monotonous after a while. And it can get boring sitting in the same place every day, listening to the lecture. You can even lose focus at times and have a hard time concentrating. But with online education, you are learning in a comfortable environment so you’re more relaxed. You tend to focus better with improved concentration.
Online classes can seem like you’re being given individual attention, which can be a good thing as you become more attentive and present in the moment.
Reduced cost – Some educational institutes are quite costly and not everyone can afford them. Digital marketing being one of the most stable and lucrative careers should be accessible to everyone irrespective of their background. So, opting for an online digital marketing course can cut educational costs by 2 times. Check any online courses, you will find that they are a lot more affordable than classroom training.
Cons
Relies on the internet – Online classes can only be taken if you have a stable internet connection. Otherwise the classes don’t go smoothly. It can lead to interrupted learning which can be frustrating. Some people don’t even have the internet. Online classes can not be the right option for them. And education should not be avoided because of unavailability of the internet.
Not taken seriously – Some people may not take online classes seriously as they’re so used to the classroom mode of learning that online learning can seem like a hobby. And sometimes in online classes, the students may mute themselves and turn off the video while pretending to be in class. They may not be present and can miss out on important lessons during the classes.
Distractions – There can be a lot of distractions when you’re learning from the comfort of your home – whether it’s your kids or family members. Online learning requires a quiet, calm and relaxed space but those living with family may not always find it convenient due to the distractions. Then there’s outside noise especially for those living in busy cities.
Another major distraction is your mobile phones! It’s hard to keep your hands off it. Since there is no one to regulate the rules or watch out for any lack of discipline, you may find it hard not to look at your phone every 5 or 10 minutes. You can feel the urge to check on your social media every now and then, or chat with your friends. Classroom learning can be very strict, thus reducing distractions.
Insufficient syllabus – Online learning is mostly shorter than classroom learning and can contain much less content sometimes. It cannot guarantee that you will learn everything you need to in digital marketing. You may like you missed out on some important things that weren’t covered. Or sometimes, online classes only focus on the important stuff and leave out the smaller things that could help you in some circumstances.
Insufficient practicals – Digital marketing is 70% practicals and 30% theory. You learn it by practicing it on your site or others. To know digital marketing thoroughly, you need a lot of how-to guides with demonstrations and examples. It may be hard to grasp the techniques in digital marketing through a screen.
Any mode of learning will have pros and cons regardless of how advanced it is. While online classes do have many cons, most people opt for it because it is more convenient than classroom learning due to their busy lifestyle.
Now that we have established the pros and cons of online classes, let’s look at classroom training.
Classroom training
Interaction – Classroom provides enough space for interaction between teachers and other students. The interaction is more beneficial as everyone gets to share their perspectives and clear doubts in real time. Some students feel more at ease when they come face to face with the trainers to learn as they can interact better and the learning seems more real.
In-depth learning – Classroom training covers all the modules in-depth. The trainers too feel at ease, discussing about the techniques, modules, and other important things in digital marketing when they are in the classroom. They can explain the concepts better in real life than on virtual as there is more space and facilities in the classroom. Which brings us to the next to the point –
Facilities – Classroom has basic facilities required for learning, like a blackboard, a projector, computers, etc. Students can learn faster and easier when these facilities are available.
On online classes, even with these facilities, not everyone may be able to see properly or listen to what the trainers are saying. The computer screen has very limited space to show the entire scene. Moreover, some students may not have well-functioning PCs which can prevent them from enjoying learning.
Experiential and practical learning – In classrooms, it is easy to give demonstrations where the trainers can explain clearly how to do a certain task. Classroom provides more opportunities for experiential and practical learning than online classes. You tend to gain more knowledge when you get practical training and also get more experience in the process too. It makes you think, analyse and be more creative.
No distractions – You won’t find any distractions in the classroom training, since mobile phones are barred. No one to distract you, no loud city noises, no kids running around or annoying family members. It’s just you and learning. So you’re able to focus more and give more attention to what is happening in the class.
More valued than online classes – Organisations and employers are inclined towards certifications from institutions and classroom training as they deem them to be more legit. Some online classes are considered as scams so your certification may not be valued that much.
When you take classroom courses, it assures that you were physically present in class, whereas in online training, you may not have been presented and just simply took the course to get the certificate. Hence, classroom training is considered more valued.
Cons
Location – Commuting to the classroom can be quite a task. You could be late due to traffic or due to unavailability of any public transport and miss a class. So it’s not always convenient to travel to take courses as the time spent on it could be put to other use. Moreover, it can be tiresome and stressful. Some institutes may not be located in a convenient area to some students.
No flexibility – Classroom training requires you to be physically present, on time and at all times. It comes with strict timings and schedules that may not always be convenient to those who lead a busy life. There’s no flexibility in terms of timings and schedule. If you miss a class, there’s no way to revisit or rewind it, like in online classes.
Costly – Classroom training in any institutes can cost more than online training. This is probably due to facilities provided by the institute. And since most of the Indian population consists of middle-class families, the courses may be affordable to many.
Which is better?
There is one particular way of learning. Nor there is no one right way of learning. It all depends on your preferences. Some are visual learners, some are practical learners, and some are audio learners. If you are someone who leads a busy life and find it hard to balance education on top of everything, but still want to gain some new skills, then online training can be right for you. Or if learning from home is not possible, then classroom training can be right for you.
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But today, in case of unforeseen situations like pandemic has shown us that education is not limited to four walls and can be taken online too. You can still learn a lot through a screen, as it gives a lot of time to research and learn at your pace. In times like pandemic and lockdowns, online classes are an only option.
Learn Digital Academy provides both classroom digital marketing course and online digital marketing course in Bangalore scheduled at your convenience. Contact us to know more!
