Just to be clear, I want to state before the record, before I whittle on: digital learning has changed the game. And for the better. Whether it’s an on-demand video, a quick ChatGPT prompt, or a 15-minute masterclass squeezed in between meetings – we now have learning at our fingertips, tailored to our time and pace.
But.
If we stop there, we’re missing something vital. Something human. Something that no algorithm can replicate. And it used to be the predominant way we delivered learning.
The moment that matters
Over the past three weeks, I’ve been running a programme with senior HR professionals from the Northern Ireland Civil Service. The focus? Data and analytics in HR decision-making, with a heavy emphasis on data storytelling. It’s a subject that can feel complex, even dry, from a distance. But in a room full of professionals, it became anything but.
Across three days in Belfast, what stood out most wasn’t the frameworks or the slide decks. It was the discussions. The application. The sparks. Comments like:
- “How would this framework apply in our situation?”
- “I didn’t even know that was happening in our organisation!”
- “How would our stakeholders react if we introduced this?”
These are the moments where real learning happens. Not just comprehension, but connection. Not just knowledge, but meaning.
Why the room still matters
In-person learning brings things that digital can’t replicate:
- Shared energy: When one person gets it, others lean in. Momentum builds.
- Real-time relevance: You can pause and say, “Let’s talk about how this works here.”
- Social cues: Confusion, curiosity, agreement, resistance—you can see them, and respond.
- Application through dialogue: Learners don’t just consume; they co-create. They reflect, compare, debate.
Face-to-face learning isn’t just about delivery. It’s about design. It turns a session into a shared experience—where knowledge doesn’t just transfer, it transforms.
Lots of folks talking on LinkedIn about how classroom learning should be consigned to the dustbin are missing something significant.
It’s not either/or
Please, let’s not turn this into a binary debate. I’m a digital native. I believe in customer-centricity. I believe learners should be able to access knowledge in whatever medium suits them best—on-demand, self-paced, snackable, digital.
But when the goal is understanding, application, and transformation? That often needs humans. In a room. Learning together.
The evidence is thin – but the experience is rich
We’d love to point to rock-solid research on which modality works best. But much of the evidence is fuzzy. In advertising and behavioural science legend, Rory Sutherland’s book,. Alchemy he argues that not all things can be proven through data (ironic, given the topic I was covering with this wonderful group.
Context matters. Debate matters. Discussion matters. Application matters.
So let’s trust what we know: that the richest insights often come not from watching, but from wondering aloud with others. From seeing your organisation through someone else’s lens. From being asked, “Yeah, but would that work for your team?”
You don’t get that from a 15-minute video.
The magic still lives…
Face-to-face learning isn’t retro. It’s not a throwback. It’s not a luxury.
It’s one of the most powerful tools we have for building shared understanding, confidence, and competence in the workplace. Especially when the topic is tricky. Especially when what matters most is how we apply it.
Digital is brilliant. But let’s not forget what happens when you put smart people in a room and let them learn together.
That’s where the magic still lives.
Cognitive Union is a progressive, boutique learning and performance consultancy. We work with forward-thinking businesses. Transforming their people. Shaping their culture. Helping them embrace change and take on the world. Find this blog useful? Sign up to our email newsletter (bottom of this page) where you can receive articles like this and other insights (not publically published), and you can also follow us on LinkedIn.