In 2015, many Mass (CSL's) Construction Supervisor License holders opted for live continuing education for their CEU's. They tell us that that they don't learn as well with online training. They claim the interaction with other contractors in a classroom setting allows them to learn better. The live classroom setting allows contractors to interact with their peers who face the same everyday business realities.

A few months ago one contractor said that he went stir crazy gazing at a computer while listening to a monotone voice go over the material on the slides. His online training took him 18 hours versus the 12 hour CEU CSL classes we hold for hundreds of Massachusetts contractors.

In June, a women contractor told me she did the online course two years earlier and found it boring and non-stimulating. After I taught the class I asked her if she made the right decision to attend a live training. She said "in your training I was able to ask an experienced instructor questions that got answered live versus writing to an invisible instructor miles away.  I was able to learn from the other contractors in the room. The opportunity to have interaction with my peers was well worth the investment in live training.

Due to the internet and technological advances, online training is widely available in most professions. It is convenient and often less expensive than live training. If one can pay attention and stay focused the training will likely hit the mark. At a minimum if you follow the program you will get your CEU's. However you will not experience the benefit of the live interaction found in a classroom setting.

In the last 6 years we have trained thousands of residential contractors on various topics in a classroom environment. Our observations of our students and comments shared, tend to favor live versus online education.

Another contractor shared if I have to get CEU's to renew my CSL and learn something, I would rather do this with other contractors from an instructor who has experience in our industry.

I am wondering is this only prevalent in residential construction or do people in other professions share the same sentiment?

How do you prefer to receive your education and training; Live in a classroom with your peers or online in the privacy of your home or office?