Baking is rapidly becoming a major part of Indian lives, whether through a hobby route or something more. From a staggering rise of home bakers to an array of bespoke bakeries mushrooming across the nation, baking has become a viable career option for many Indians.
Globalisation and the internet have opened our doors to an endless selection of baking influences, from the classic French to the innovative Japanese techniques.
This, in turn, has led to a growth in Indians pursuing offline or online baking diplomas or delving deeper into courses like an offline or online Bachelor’s degree in hospitality management from institutes like the Lalit Suri Hospitality School.
Digitisation has helped nurture an interest in baking, but it is important to know when and where to access this technology to your benefit. Looking for inspiration?
Head to a social media or online video library. Need to know a quick replacement for an ingredient? Your search engine works best on tight deadlines. But when it comes to learning about baking, we wouldn’t recommend an online baking diploma or an online Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management.
But why is that you may wonder? Here are a few reasons that explain why:
Lack of sensory learning
Baking cannot just be learnt by observance. It is a highly physical activity which engages all your senses. The ability to taste, smell, and touch the ingredients and final products is essential for understanding the nuances and intricacies of baking.
While online baking diplomas can show you your final finished product, they cannot give you a complete understanding of why it is correct.
That can only be understood when you smell it baking into the delectable product it needs to be, or when you touch and understand its texture and taste it to know what makes it special.
This can only be learnt when you experience the process in person, making it far easier for you to replicate and build on the teachings for your success.
Group Work and Collaboration Skills
At any step of your professional career, you will be working in a team. Whether you’re climbing up the ranks or leading the charge, it is important to learn how to work alongside others.
This is a major advantage in offline courses, where you will get access to group assignments, team building exercises and crisis simulations.
These experiences will help in familiriasing you wth the challenges that come with working in a team, making you a more seasoned professional when you step out into the field. Online bachelor’s degrees in hospitality management may not be too helpful in this regard.
Limited Access to Professional Equipment
When opting for online courses, you are dependant on whatever you already own, or you have to make purchases that could be heavy on the pocket since baking does require specific tools to achieve the best result.
In a physical classroom, students have access to professional-grade equipment and tools that are essential for learning advanced baking techniques.
Online courses may not offer the same level of access, hindering the learning process. But in offline courses, the college is outfitted with all the equipment you need to learn, making it a better investment.
Inadequate Real-Time Feedback
Baking is a precise art, and needs guidance and mentoring to ensure you’re learning your craft correctly. While online baking diploma or online Bachelor’s degrees in hospitality management offer video lectures and real-time interaction with the instructors, it may not have the effect of your instructor noticing immediate when you’ve gone wrong in your cooking process and teaching you how to make immediate changes to mitigate any damage to your dish.
This real-time interaction is vital for learning baking skills, as it helps students to quickly correct mistakes and improve their techniques.
The Bottom Line
While online baking diplomas and hospitality management courses offer convenience and accessibility, they fall short in providing the comprehensive, hands-on experience required to truly master the craft.
The lack of sensory learning, opportunities for group collaboration, access to professional equipment, and real-time feedback are significant drawbacks.
For those serious about pursuing a career in baking or hospitality, investing in offline courses provides a more immersive and effective learning environment, ensuring you are well-prepared to excel in the industry.
