How do you best learn?
- sarahelder
- Apr 21
- 3 min read
If you're a dietitian or nutrition professional, chances are you're constantly juggling CPD, clinic work and everything else life throws at you. And when it comes to keeping your knowledge up to date in the area of eating disorders, there’s no shortage of online options that arent always specific to nutrition or hitting the mark. One question keeps coming up when we having been developing our Eating Disorders and Nutrition workshop, study days and webinars - should we go for a live workshop or develop a pre-recorded course?
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Let’s chat through both and we'd love to hear your thoughts:
The Pre-Recorded Route: Convenient, but Is It Enough?
There’s no denying the appeal of pre-recorded training. You can start it when you want, wear pyjamas, and hit pause when life gets in the way. For busy schedules, it’s a dream.
What people like:
- You can go at your own pace, no pressure.
- It’s handy to rewind complex bits or take notes in your own time.
But let’s be honest...
- There's no chance to ask questions or get something clarified in the moment.
- It’s really easy to leave it half-finished when things get busy and never pick it back up (surely i'm not the only one with half completed courses on marketing and excel?)
- You’re on your own—no group discussion or insights from peers.
It works, sure, but it can feel a bit flat! It also reminds me of a business coaching session i went to where we were encouraged to create an online pre recorded session as a 'passive income stream' - 'just throw together some presentations you probably already have'. You can imagine - I immediately left the group as that doesn't fit with my ethos for many reasons - i'm sure I don't need to go into them!
Live Learning: The Power of Showing Up
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This is where live training starts to shine. Whether it’s on Zoom or in a room, being part of a live session gives the whole experience a bit more energy.
Why we love it:
- You can actually ask questions there and then—no guessing or Googling later.
- Having a date and time in the diary means you show up (and stay focused - but inase you don't there is usually the recording to fall back on!)
- You get to hear other professionals’ thoughts, stories, and experiences.
- It feels more personal. As faciltators we can adapt sessions as we go depending on the group.
And yes, it does require a bit more commitment. You’ve got to block off time and be there. But that structure often ends up being the thing that helps people really absorb the content and put it into practice.
From the professionals we’ve worked with, there’s a bit of a pattern: Many start with pre-recorded courses for the convenience and get some facts. But when they actually need to apply what they’re learning—whether it's clinical reasoning, case management, or working through grey areas- pre recorded sessions just arent hitting the spot! But we know, it all depends on what type of learning you are!
Why We Focus on Live Learning
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We’ve seen the impact live learning can have—especially when it’s supported by practical resources you can actually use after the session.
Our live workshops are designed to help you feel confident, connected, and clear. We include things like:
- Live Q&A and discussion
- Discuss case studies and we encourage you to bring your own too! - Discuss application to practice. - Hear how others are implementing the know up to date research in their area.
- A community feel—you’re learning with other professionals who are as passionate as you!
We know it takes a bit more time to show up live. But we also know that’s often when the most valuable learning happens. But if your all about the conveicnes - we've got you too (most of our session are recorded read for you to watch back if you need to!)
Thinking About Your Next CPD Step?
If you’ve been feeling a bit uninspired by passive courses or not quite sure how to apply what you’re learning, a live workshop might be just the thing. We offer:
Online delivery of our workshops, study days and webinars
In person delivery of our workshops and study days
Group Delivery for your NHS or private healthcare company
Recorded sessions if you missed any dates - check out our on demand store
Bespoke creation of workshops
You can check out what we’ve got coming up here:
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