Traditional Classroom Functionality

The point of departure for the classroom delivery vehicle is the refinement and streamlining of content into effective, focused lectures. Although this method is appropriate for certain subjects, there are limitations.

The cost of holding classroom sessions can be high if people have to travel great distances to attend. Travel, hotel and living costs often constitute over 50 percent of a training budget.

"Learning in the classroom forces every student to do just that - to be in the classroom. And schools themselves have constraints: many universities, for example, want to take advantage of the growing demand for education but often can not physically accommodate the demand - classrooms are only so big. The constraints of conventional learning are even being felt as low as the primary and secondary levels. Many parents dissatisfied with the current state of education are looking toward alternative teaching methods to supplement public education."
(Unattributed. "E-learning Special Industry Report." Canaccord Capital. June 2000, 3.)

The time commitment needed for traditional classroom delivery is increasingly considered a drawback in this kind of approach. With downsizing, rightsizing and outsourcing, there are fewer people with time to sit in a classroom. In addition, staff scheduling is often a nightmare when attendance is low or if the training must be scheduled according to employee commitments.