What study type suits you?
Prior to the period of lockdown as a result of the covid pandemic, many training courses took place face to face, in studio/classroom settings. The world wasn’t as advanced in digital technology as it is today. We’ve seen technology advance faster than we’ve ever known in the last 4 years and as a result more people are choosing the flexibility of online learning just as much as many people opt for online shopping.
So is this the way forward? I looked a bit deeper in to this and wanted to share my findings of how beneficial learning online and offline actually is to help you decide what option might suit you when studying to become a personal stylist.
Until 2020, we delivered our 5 day personal stylist training course solely in a live studio setting, it was the only way stylists wanted to learn and we didn’t have advanced, easy to access technology to support the way in which the training course could be delivered in the same way, online. However, during the pandemic, no one had a choice on how they wanted to study and online options were suddenly the only way forward. We developed our training course over the period of lockdown and launched the 6 module styling course in a way I was happy with. Because taking the energy and learning from classroom to computer wasn’t an easy task and we found that not everyone wanted to adjust.
The way in which people want to learn has varied over the last few years, but more people want to do things in their own time at their own convenience, so we have had to ensure our training options support those who want to physically learn in person and those who want more flexibility learning from home. So what’s the difference?
Well first, it was really important to me when designing our online course, that nothing was lost; the practical tasks, the discussions, the support and the motivation were all really important factors to build in. After some trying and testing, I believe we created a formula that works for everyone. More on that in a moment, statistics first!
According to a recent study quoted by Thinkimpact, students can retain 25%-60% more information when learning online compared to 8%-10% when learning in the classroom, also that e-learning requires 40%-60% less time learning than traditional classrooms. I had a chat with a few people to learn why that might be. One source, who had studied an online course said that it was ideal for her because she didn’t have to take time out of her day job to study and was motivated by the idea of what lay beyond her studies. Another said that they didn’t feel pressured to take in so much information in a short space of time and wanted to enjoy the process over a longer period.
Dexway; online language teaching course creators considers that students learn more online than they do in traditional courses and quotes ‘Different studies have found that participants learn five times more material in online learning courses using multimedia content than in traditional face to face courses.
Because online courses give students full control over their own learning, students are able to work at their own speed. Generally students work faster than they would do otherwise and take in more information. They are able to move faster through areas of the course they feel comfortable with, but slower through those that they need a little more time on.
One of the most important factors for me when studying online, is that you need to have access to a range of different ways to absorb information in order to learn best. Something I ensured was taken in to account when we developed our online training academy.
So what’s the difference between our online training academy v’s studio study?
First, there’s no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ way, different styles of learning suit different people and different circumstances. It’s worth trying to identify what type of learner you are and what you will benefit the most from. In our studio learning environment, you access the same study material as you do online and we work through it step by step in both. In the studio, you will practice with others, engage in conversation and visit shops to put your learning in to practice while online you will be set tasks to carry out on a case study to benefit from the practical side of learning but, in your own time. You will also be asked to shop, but again, either online or at a location of your choice, in your own time. With some of our online options you may be learning in a group, have check-in accountability sessions and support throughout, this depends on which online course you have opted for.
With our online training academy, you have access to online written course material, videos breaking down the information step by step, demonstrations and tasks. You can choose how much support you wish to have throughout. You have lifetime access to the course material, the system shows your progress and you’ll never ‘lose’ where you are in your learning. The online course can take as little or as much time as you wish, but the material is designed to be the same length as a 5 day course. However, the major benefit with the online learning platform is that we can add additional resources for later viewing, giving you a complete learning experience. Either way, once you have successfully completed the course, your assessments and submitted your case study material, you are certified with the same CPD accredited certificate and offered ongoing support for your business.
So which option suits you? Our personal stylist training course hosts the same material but with different learning options to suit you. Here’s a breakdown of the variety of ways you can study:
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the options and just want to chat things through, I’m always first to pick up the phone and have a chat with you. To make sure you get to me before anyone else, you can book a call directly in to my diary here
For now, I’m wishing you the very best on your journey in to personal styling,
Emmeline x