What's The Point Of Switching To Blended Learning?
Distance training and face-to-face teaching are two training methods, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. If digital learning is favored by training services in companies to the modern and practical side, face-to-face has proven its value more than once thanks to human contact. It was to take advantage of the advantages of both training methods that blended learning was invented. Overview !
What is blended learning?
Le hybrid learning is a blended training that combines face-to-face (when the trainer provides classroom theoretical and practical classes to participants) and distance learning (when participants train through a digital training platform).
Face-to-face training is comprehensive and effective, but restrictive as participants need to be away from work to attend. This represents a significant shortcoming for the company.
E-learning training allows participants to train at their own pace without disrupting their working hours. However, the trainees miss the presence of a trainer who takes care of following up on the trainees and reinforcing the achievements. While tools like video conferencing are used in a virtual classroom, nothing beats human presence.
It is to reconcile the two methods that blended learning training was designed. Includes on-site and distance courses. This learning medium is therefore comprehensive and allows participants to organize their time as they wish.
Why switch to blended learning?
Combined training has several undeniable advantages in that it responds to changes in the world of training and technology, but also to the new needs of employees and companies.
Reduced training costs
Blended learning makes it possible to reduce training costs without neglecting human presence and direct knowledge sharing. In fact, the advantage of this training method is that it can adapt the courses according to the needs and schedules of the participants. Thus, companies can train a large number of employees and, at the same time, optimize their time through digital media, which represents savings in relation to travel costs.
A quick, efficient and instinctive training alternative
This teaching method is successful because of its effectiveness. The training is provided according to a pedagogical training program adapted to the trainees' needs and using state-of-the-art technology.
Flexibility adapted to the needs of the participants
Blended learning is a personalized blended learning method. Can fully adapt to intern's needs in order to promote their autonomy and optimize their organization.
Better follow-up
As virtual training lacks follow-up, blended learning training fills this gap, including face-to-face teaching. Thus, throughout the training, trainers can ensure the effectiveness of virtual classes by checking achievements during in-person training. It is not a question of restarting classes, but of reinforcing them and verifying that the message has really reached the student.
Blended Learning Strategy
Since the beginning of time, companies have relied on the instructor format to train their employees. However, over time, organizations face certain issues using this delivery method, such as logistical issues, high cost of lost productivity, inability to connect learning in the workplace, inability to provide reinforcement to learning and list goes on.
Learning professionals, it's time to adapt learning delivery methods to incorporate a blended learning strategy. The advent of the digital age has provided us with a wealth of resources to support and update our methodology to focus more on blended learning opportunities.
Blended Learning Defined
In summary, blended learning is any formal training/development program in which a person learns in part using technology, with some element of control over time, location, path and/or pace.
To understand the potential of blended learning, it is important to understand that blended learning is a hybrid approach to applying learning strategies that use live and web-based learning methodologies. Keeping in mind that while training departments use computers to support online training, they have generally not made full use of technology available to provide their workforce with a veritable “mix” of instruction that gives people some element of control over their learning.
However, be warned: a combined solution is not achieved simply because you have introduced several technical approaches in the curriculum. People tend to think they've created a blended solution because participants are completing pre/post work online, reading an article online, or watching a YouTube video. This isn't a mix, it's a technical mix.
With that in mind, let's discuss the 5 steps to designing your successful blended learning strategy
Mixed Design Delivery Methods
Step 1: Define your blended learning strategy
There are many things to consider when transforming from a 100% instructor-led environment to a blended solution. First, the learning function must be seen as a business partner who understands what the organization is trying to accomplish. Does the strategy demonstrate a connection between business objectives / KPIs and learning outcomes?
There are other factors to consider when implementing a blended learning strategy:
Peer and management support for self-directed learning
Budget conditions
Will your blended learning adopt a BYOD (bring your own device) approach?
Technological gap between participants
Is new technology or software needed and how will this technology be used and maintained?
How to support momentum and keep self-motivation high?
The expansion of key training functions such as technology management and revised facilitator roles
Step 2: Clarify Appropriate Delivery
Once learning outcomes are aligned with business goals, it's time to consider the appropriate delivery method. Here are four different types of blended learning delivery methods you can use.
But first, ask yourself a few questions:
Will the program be synchronous or asynchronous on delivery?
Will participants make the learning journey in groups or individually?
Where will discussions, comments and lessons take place?
Who will manage program progress and updates?
