Is the USP of live teaching over the hundreds of thousands of free YouTube videos that obvious?
Lately, I’ve been pondering the point of attending “live” online teaching sessions—especially when there’s no collaborative element. A recent example sparked this thought: a two-hour live webinar by Diarmuid Early on writing powerful custom functions in Excel. The marketing highlights that the session is live, as if that’s supposed to add immense value. But does it, really?
A better format could be a well-structured and well-produced recorded video, followed by a live session to answer any questions a week later, after the students have had a chance to apply what they have learned in a real-life problem at their work.
We’re constantly being told that “LIVE is best,” but I’m starting to question that. If there’s no real-time interaction or collaboration involved, is there any actual benefit to attending a live session over watching a recording?
Let’s break this down. When watching a pre-recorded session, you can pause, rewind, and take in the material at your own pace. It gives you time to absorb the content more effectively—especially if the session is long or dense, as technical webinars often are. In contrast, watching something live without the ability to participate or ask questions doesn’t seem to offer any distinct advantage.
Sure, live sessions can sometimes include Q&A, but even then, is that worth a $200 price tag? If you’re not actively involved, what’s the difference between attending a live webinar and watching a free recording?
This feels reminiscent of the often heard “deadline tonight” sales tactics—creating a sense of urgency around a digital product that never actually disappears. It’s all smoke and mirrors.
I’m not saying there’s never a reason for live sessions; in fact, live and interactive can be incredibly valuable in the right context. But when it’s just a presentation with little room for participation, I struggle to see why the “live” element justifies the cost.
Perhaps this is a larger point worth exploring in the realm of online education: why pay for something that doesn’t offer more than a well-produced recording? It’s important to discern the real value being offered.
At least when I sell something, I ensure it’s unique—and that’s a standard we should all hold in this increasingly saturated space of online learning.
This is a podcast by Hiran de Silva. Narrated by Charlie.
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