Blended Learning: an introduction
Blended learning is one of the most discussed (and implemented) practices of recent years. But it is not an entirely new phenomenon. In fact, the term blended learning was first coined in the late 1990s and refers to “the thoughtful integration of classroom in-person learning experiences with online learning experiences.” [1]†
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought blended learning across the country to the forefront. Blended learning approaches are increasingly promoted and adopted by school systems and higher education institutions in the United States. However, these environments and organizations are not the only ones realizing the value of blended learning. Blended learning offers several distinct advantages over traditional methods of employee learning. Lately, there has been a dramatic increase in adoption by companies and other organizations as a way to educate, retrain, and upskill employees.
According to a survey of companies in EducationTraining Industry Report 2021 [2]† In addition, a majority of respondents (56%) said they plan to return to classroom training while retaining some of the distance learning introduced during the pandemic.
Examples
Some examples of blended learning are:
- A live, instructor-led virtual classroom that enables the personalized attention of a personal classroom, yet accessible from anywhere online, along with periodic in-person training.
- A learning management system (LMS) that monitors employee progress through eLearning video courses, allowing management to provide feedback and assistance as needed, along with live classroom sessions.
- In-person classroom training supplemented with custom eLearning videos focused on conveying information and providing training unique to a company’s needs.
advantages
By combining virtual and online learning approaches with face-to-face, in-person instruction, blended learning models can deliver “the best of both worlds” in employee learning and corporate training. Benefits include:
1. Increased Effectiveness
Blended learning allows students to complete certain courses using online resources, saving time in the classroom by allowing students’ understanding to be assessed afterwards. In addition, blended learning can encompass a variety of different learning approaches and the curriculum can be adapted to employees’ key learning styles, be it visual, auditory, reading/writing or kinesthetic.
2. Increased Engagement
A blended learning model breaks the monotony of typical corporate training and provides students with a variety of digital tools and supportive resources to gain knowledge and truly retain information. Such a model provides a truly interactive learning experience, enhancing learner engagement by providing different options for self-study and by carefully combining digital and hands-on training techniques.
3. Flexibility:
Blended learning approaches provide managers and employees with flexibility and convenience, and they empower employees by letting them learn at their own pace using digital tools. Learners can watch microlearning tutorial videos and create online assessments at their own pace to ensure they retain the material.
4. Lower costs
There are many costs associated with in-person, traditional classroom training, including costs for travel, transportation, accommodation and meals. IBM estimates that nearly 40% of the cost of classroom training is spent on travel and lodging. Business leaders and executives can cut costs and increase Return On Investment by using a blended learning model for a company’s business training.
More statistics about blended learning
- According to Education Magazine’s 2021 Training Industry Report, the average US company spent $1071 per employee on training costs in the past year [2]†
- A recent Gallup poll shows that 45% of full-time employees in the US work all or part of the time from home [3]† And a May 2021 Mercer survey found that 70% of companies said they planned to adopt the hybrid work model. [4]† As more and more American workers are able to work remotely, blended learning will only continue to grow.
- A 2019 study on blended learning found that where human interaction was present in a blended workplace learning program, it was associated with more active behavioral engagement, higher cognitive engagement, and stronger and more positive emotional engagement than when human interaction was absent.
Blended Learning for Employee Training
Blended learning is a powerful approach to business training, learning and development that has a number of clear benefits for companies. Whether you want live virtual training led by an expert instructor or prefer employees to train and learn through the most up-to-date, targeted eLearning videos, a blended learning approach can help your company achieve its retraining , further training and other training goals.
References:
[1] What do we mean by Blended Learning?
[2] Training Industry Report 2021
[3] Remote working Persistent and trending Permanent
[4] Most U.S. employers with flexible work plans are opting for hybrid work, says Mercer
Originally published at www.intellezy.com.