Barista Training: Online vs. Live

Barista Training: Online vs. Live

We people are a funny lot.  Though we always want to appear reasonable the fact is that we each have positions of thought that we refuse to budge from regardless of the evidence. 

So let's 'dialogue' about the virtues of online training vs. live, instructor-led training.

Position #1 - Live, instructor-led training is best because it:
- allows the learner to see, in-person the subject skill or knowledge.
- allows for instructive dialogue between learner and instructor.
- provides immediate feedback to the learner.  With a good instructor this results in 
  better psychomotor (hands on) skill development.
- provides a way to train multiple learners at once.
- can involve all of the senses - touch, smell, hearing, taste.

Position #2 - Online training is best because it:
- can be delivered flexibly.  No travel required. Available anytime.
- allows the learner to see the subject skill or knowledge.
- provides immediate feedback to the learner but only in the cognitive and affective
  domains.
- provides a way to train multiple learners anywhere in the world.
- is easily tracked and measured.
- consistency delivers the same cognitive training every time.  This is the content that kills instructors - "This is a portafilter."  Stretching vs. steaming the milk.

Big differences between these 2:
- Live, instructor-led training can be more effective in developing hands-on skills but lacks consistency from instructor to instructor.  It is also limited by room size, equipment needs and geography.
- Online training is scalable, consistent and measurable but is strongest in cognitive learning and testing.  It cannot guarantee hands-on skills.

Position #3 (My Position) - Blended Learning is best because it:
- assures consistency of delivery of cognitive information.
- frees the instructor up to share their own experience and focus on specific hands-on skills.
- measures both cognitive understanding and hands-on application.
- appeals to all learning styles.

NewBarista offers a blended barista training with online training and testing together with live, instructor-led training which focuses on hands-on barista skills.

The NewBarista curriculum is consistent either way but allows us to leverage the strength of each delivery method.

Take care!
 

About Author

For over 30 years Mr. Evanson has built training and business systems for fast growth, multi-location businesses. Current and past clients include Westin Hotels & Resorts, Starbucks Coffee, Cinnabon, Premera Blue Cross, Car Toys and Tommy Bahama.

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