Bill Brantley points out recent research in which respondents identify their preferred learning methods. Conspicuously absent among the top 5 most preferred learning methods: E-Learning. Brantley summarizes:

For soft skills, the top five methods were:

1. On-the-job training
2. One-on-one coaching
3. Peer interaction and feedback
4. Discussion groups
5. Live classroom instruction

For hard skills:

1. On-the-job training
2. Workbooks and manuals
3. Books and reading
4. One-on-one coaching
5. Live classroom instruction

The research appeared in Retiring the Generation Gap by Jennifer Deal.

For younger workers, the #2 slot on the ‘hard skills’ list is hard for me to believe: workbooks and manuals? Guess I’ll have to read the book to get the whole story.