eLearning vs Instructor-Led:
The L&D Debate
Digital or human? Self-paced or instructor-guided? The biggest question in corporate learning might be the wrong question entirely. As organizations invest billions in workforce transformation, the assumption is there must be a choice – but what if this either-or thinking limits our potential? That’s why it’s time to find out the truth through rigorous debate.
The Contenders:
- The eLearning team will advocate for scalable, cost-effective digital solutions that deliver personalized learning experiences at enterprise scale
- The Instructor-Led team will champion human expertise, real-time guidance, and collaborative environments that drive measurable behavioral change
This definitive debate will address the core challenges every learning leader faces:
- Which training topics truly require human instruction versus digital delivery?
- The real cost and ROI implications of each approach.
- And the fundamental question of when and how meaningful learning occurs in professional development.
Expect rigorous analysis, compelling evidence, and direct confrontation over methodologies as industry experts defend their chosen philosophy. From technical skill acquisition to leadership development, from budget realities to learning science – every aspect of modern workforce development will be examined and challenged.
Meet Your Speakers:
Saad Qureshi – Founder of Vybecoaching and Communications Skills Coach: Saad is a Communications Skills and Leadership Coach helping leaders speak succinctly, tell compelling business stories, paint the big picture, and influence upwards. As founder of Vybecoaching and Managerkind, he delivers both live and AI-powered communications skills training to Sales, Engineering and L&D leaders at over 40+ companies including LinkedIn, BNP Paribas and Sendcloud. A C-leader and hands-on product builder, Saad brings a rare blend of business and learning expertise, having generated £27 million in sales as a commercial leader while building 15+ years of L&D experience across higher education and corporate learning environments.
Giuseppe Perrone – Freelance Instructional Designer: Giuseppe Perrone is a freelance Instructional Designer creating transformative learning experiences through instructor-led methodologies for humanitarian organizations, businesses, individuals, and the UN ecosystem through the International Labour Organization (ILO). His unique approach stems from his background as a childhood hacker, bringing technical curiosity and human-centred design to create innovative, impactful learning solutions for complex global challenges.
Jeff Batt – Learning & Development Specialist: Jeff Batt has 17+ years of experience in the digital learning and media industry. He is the founder and trainer at Learning Dojo, a company dedicated to training you to become a software ninja in various eLearning, web, and mobile-related software applications. He has also worked for Amazon as a Learning Experience Designer and has been the Program Manager over DevLearn for the Learning Guild, helping program conferences. Jeff often speaks on developmental technologies such as xAPI, HTML5, augmented reality, mobile development, eLearning development tools, and more.
Kim Ellis – Founder and the CEO of L&D Free Spirits: Kim is a blended learning specialist based in Huddersfield, Yorkshire, specializing in contact centres and customer service training across industries including insurance, healthcare, online bookmaking and higher education. As founder of GO GINGER learning solutions, she creates bespoke learning experiences tailored to each business’s needs, focusing on interactive methods that create lasting impact. With a Diploma in Learning and Development from the Training Foundation (TAP), multiple NVQs in L&D, and experience as CEO of L&D Free Spirits, Kim also serves as an expert speaker on Call Centre Helper webinars and podcasts.
Tom McDowall – Founder of Evolve L&D: Tom McDowall is an L&D consultant, speaker, and founder of Evolve L&D, working with organizations and learning professionals to build the skills they need for the future of the industry.
A regular speaker at industry events, Tom is known for his clear, plain-spoken approach and commitment to raising the standards of L&D practice. His mission is simple: to ensure L&D is not only fit for today, but ready to thrive in tomorrow’s workplace.
Beyond the Either-Or: While our experts debate the merits of each approach, discover how Panopto’s video learning platform enables organizations to blend both methodologies – capturing instructor-led expertise with digital scalability of AI-powered content.
Who Needs to Pick a Side? CLOs, L&D directors, Talent Development Leaders, Training Managers, Learning Designers, and organizational decision-makers who shape workforce development strategy – join us for insights that will inform your next training investment decisions.
Choose your champion – but prepare to question everything you thought you knew about effective workplace learning!
