blended learning
What you need to know about blended learning .

What you need to know about blended learning .

Drive engagement and performance with blended learning programs
Traditional blended learning was introduced to address the needs and learning styles of a wide variety of learners by incorporating two key dimensions of learning into its approach:

Self-paced, online learning, where students are essentially guided through the learning process; and,
face-to-face learning in the classroom, where students receive direct, real-time instruction from instructors assigned in the classroom.
Although seemingly opposites, these two approaches can actually complement each other. For example, both can be compatible with learning technology, such as online learning. However, both programs are invariably delivered through a ‘push’ modality, in which trainers prepare and deliver structured and formal learning content to learners. On the other hand, we can find an alternative example in the learning model 70:20:10

, which argues that 70% of learning is experiential, 20% is social and only 10% is formal. Consequently, in real-world environments, people learn in ways other than formal learning (courses, readings, questionnaires, etc.), such as through social interactions and activities at work, among others. These are considered ad hoc and informal learning instances that may not necessarily be planned by design, but are highly practical and effective.

What is the blended learning approach?

Blended learning is increasingly being used to describe an online learning approach that combines traditional classroom methods and independent study to create a hybrid teaching methodology. It combines offline learning (classroom, traditional) with online learning in a way that complements each other to provide students with the opportunity to enjoy the best of both worlds.

Two key principles often associated with blended learning include:

Students who share information and work with others directly in a collaborative and social environment to produce a more enriched learning experience.
Collaboration among students improves when group activities rely on information gathered from resources or online lessons.
Blended learning activities that include formal online course components that are followed by interactive social learning activities are well known for producing more enriching learning experiences.

Traditional learning vs. modern

Let’s combine these two ideas and see how modern blended learning programs can take advantage of this model. Traditional blended learning is made up of the following components: Classroom learning (instructor-led) – Live classroom training will never go out of style, but it is often overwhelming, expensive, and time consuming. The retention of knowledge

after intensive classroom training it can be very low. Additionally, this approach to learning takes people away from the field, a factor that can hurt the productivity of some teams. That said, in conjunction with online training, classroom training can significantly reinforce the learning material by providing the opportunity to practice required skills in a more structured and organized environment.

Instructor-Led Training Technology (ILT) : The ILT virtual classroom , on the other hand, is incredibly convenient, as participants can access and take courses from anywhere, reducing time off the field. The best virtual ILT classroom offers students frequent opportunities for collaboration through chats, polls, discussions, and interactive exercises. Learning online, at your own pace: With this approach, training is accessible and actionable whenever and wherever it works best for the learner. This means that an individual’s peak hours of activity can remain uninterrupted. Students access training at any time

even when running. Online learning is proving to be a great way to reinforce training, as it can be delivered in short, small modules, on demand and from any device. Finally, this approach not only enables trainers to manage and distribute learning content on an online training platform, but the solutions it offers often provide tracking and reporting capabilities for a better 360-degree view. of the progress and effectiveness of the training.

The problem with traditional blended learning is that it is primarily focused on driving formal, structured courses for students. Up to that point, here are a couple of things to consider: How do people naturally learn in an organization? Most learning occurs through interactions with colleagues and managers, as well as experiences on the job, tasks, and problem solving, as opposed to formal structured training programs. By its nature, formal learning tends to draw students away from their workflow rather than support them for learning within the workflow. It just doesn’t provide all the required information at the point of need.

 

Where do workers go to obtain information that is critical to accomplishing the task at hand? In these cases, users generally do not take formal courses to obtain essential information. Instead, they run research, ask questions, and find the people they consider to be experts. On the other hand, modern learning, based on the 70:20:10 learning model, is bi-directional: it involves both push and pull learning. When we add informal learning modalities to the equation, we incorporate an attraction modality into the learning process.

The benefits of blended learning in business training and development programs
As a tool for business training and development, blended learning provides organizations with the opportunity to implement learning activities comprised of an ideal mix of online and on-the-job learning experiences . For business training, the many benefits of blended learning include:

It’s inexpensive: For many companies, blended learning reduces costs considerably by providing reduced training costs in the form of fewer facilitator fees, lower classroom expenses, and reduced travel and accommodation requirements.

Makes Classroom Training More Efficient – A hybrid learning approach helps instructors make the best use of classroom time. Students may be asked to complete certain parts of the online learning content, such as basic concepts or theory, and this allows instructors to spend more time clarifying questions and assessing students’ levels of understanding in the classroom.

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