Human-Led Training May Be More Effective than Digital Learning

Why It Matters

Personalization gaps erode engagement and performance, forcing L&D leaders to redesign programs for higher business impact. Blended, AI‑enhanced models promise scalable, motivating learning experiences.

Key Takeaways

• Only 32% of U.S. digital learning is personalized.
• 94% of learners value personalized learning.
• Human-led sessions boost attention to 84%.
• Asynchronous digital learning ranks lowest for motivation.
• Blended learning seen as optimal solution.

Pulse Analysis

The latest Insights Learning and Development report highlights a stark disconnect between learner expectations and the reality of digital training in the United States. While only 32% of e‑learning experiences are currently personalized, a overwhelming 94% of respondents say personalization is critical, and 64% rate it as extremely important. This shortfall translates into lower engagement, with asynchronous modules receiving the lowest motivation scores and merely 16% of learners feeling highly motivated. Companies that ignore this gap risk diminished knowledge retention and weaker performance outcomes. Addressing this gap also supports diversity, equity, and inclusion goals. Human‑led training continues to outperform digital formats on core engagement metrics. The study found that 84% of learners paid closer attention during live sessions, and 49% identified instructor‑led classrooms as their preferred modality, with 56% deeming it the most effective. These figures underscore the trust and psychological safety that face‑to‑face interaction provides—attributes that many virtual platforms still struggle to replicate. For L&D leaders, the challenge lies in scaling these human elements without sacrificing the personalization that modern workers demand. Moreover, live facilitation enables immediate clarification of complex concepts. The emerging consensus points to blended learning as the pragmatic path forward. By combining scalable asynchronous content with strategically placed human‑led touchpoints, organizations can deliver personalized experiences while maintaining cost efficiency. Artificial intelligence further enhances this model, offering adaptive pathways, real‑time feedback, and skills‑gap analysis that inform when and where instructor interaction is most valuable. As AI adoption climbs, firms that design thoughtful hybrid programs—anchored in trust, motivation, and equitable technology access—are poised to achieve stronger talent development and measurable business impact. Companies that measure learner outcomes will refine these blends over time.

Human-led training may be more effective than digital learning

Lara Ewen · Contributor · Published Feb. 13, 2026

A student studies via online learning sessions from his room at the University of Cambridge, on Jan. 29, 2021, in Cambridge, England. Most learners value in-person training, a recent report from Insights Learning and Development and the Association for Talent Development found. Leon Neal via Getty Images

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Dive Brief

• Only 32% of digital learning in the U.S. is currently personalized, according to a new study commissioned by Insights Learning and Development and conducted by the Association for Talent Development. Despite this, 94% of learners surveyed said they valued personalization and 64% said it’s extremely important to have learning personalized to their needs.

• Human‑led training was called “the gold standard for motivation and trust,” with 84% of learners saying they paid closer attention in live sessions, per the report. Nearly half of learners (49%) said live, instructor‑led classroom training was their preferred modality and 56% said it was the most effective.

• The study surveyed 445 TD professionals and 471 learners across industries in the U.S. and revealed “a clear disconnect between the recognized importance of personalization and how consistently it is delivered in practice,” per a press release sent to HR Dive.

Dive Insight

Although personalization “is widely seen as essential for engagement, motivation and business impact,” learning and development professionals can struggle with integrating this into their training sessions, ATD said.

Respondents rated asynchronous digital learning as the least motivating and the least psychologically safe, with just 16% saying it motivated learners “a great deal.” In addition, 22% of learners reported “inadequate access to the tools they need for digital learning,” which the report said highlighted the importance of “minimum viable tech readiness” in any company’s digital‑first strategy.

“As L&D looks further into 2026, the challenge is no longer choosing between digital and human learning but designing the right combination of both: scalable where it must be, personal where it matters most, and always anchored in trust, motivation, psychological safety and meaningful human connection,” — Ross Esplin, product and innovation director at Insights Learning and Development.

The study also revealed what it called “the growing potential of artificial intelligence to support adaptive learning pathways, skills‑gap analysis and real‑time feedback.” As AI adoption increases, two‑thirds of organizations now offer learner‑facing AI tools, per the report. However, human‑led learning still outpaces digital in terms of trust and motivation metrics.

“Blended learning emerges as a promising bridge between personalization and scale, but its effectiveness depends on thoughtful design, learner readiness and equitable access to technology,” — Ross Esplin.