Most childhood recollections of education involve sitting at desks doing tedious, repetitive activities. There’s a fair possibility that many employees will recall the same experience when they hear the term “training.” However, things don’t need to be this way anymore.
Over the years, blended learning has gained acceptance in various contexts, which involves, as the term suggests, a blend of traditional and modern learning techniques.
Blended learning has numerous advantages in the workplace. Continue reading this article as we discuss the benefits of a blended learning approach, look at traditional vs. modern blended learning, and much more to see if this strategy would benefit your organization.
What Is Blended Learning?
Combining traditional instructor-led training with self-directed computer-based learning is known as blended learning. It’s not a conventional learning idea, but it offers a much-needed and refreshing alternative to the recent training trend that primarily emphasizes online training.
The term “blended learning strategy” refers to the complimentary usage of eLearning in the established employee training model in corporate learning.
In contrast to a traditional setting, training is not required to be classroom-based in corporate environments. Blended learning allows instructors to communicate with learners online using webinars when a physical meeting is impractical or expensive. Blended learning, in this instance, mixes online, real-time interaction, and eLearning courses.
Blended Learning Vs. Traditional Learning
Face-to-face, instructor-led traditional learning has its advantages. It can meet each learner’s unique needs when directed by a knowledgeable instructor. Face-to-face training also has a social dimension. Participants can collaborate in real-time to hold conversations to resolve issues.
The problem with traditional learning is that not all modern learners feel comfortable learning via in-person sessions or have the time to attend them. Traditional learning lacks that one element that can provide flexibility to the learners that blended learning does. With blended learning, learners are occasionally required to attend live sessions while they can browse the courses online at their convenience. Elements like assessments, polls, surveys, and much more are delivered online in blended learning allowing the learners a more flexible learning experience.
Five Benefits Of A Blended Learning Approach
The benefits of the blended learning method are far more significant than one might believe because it impacts not just the learner but also the instructor and the learning experience itself. By bringing together the best elements of both methods, blended learning can resolve traditional training’s problems.
The “traditional” elements of instructor-led training can be offered online in real-time via live sessions and lectures in the case of blended learning. Employees can learn the basics of a subject through an online course and then practice their abilities in a real-time simulation with an online instructor. Let us see some advantages of employing a blended learning approach:
1. Boost Learner Engagement
Have you ever questioned the purpose of illustrations in books for younger readers? Firstly, it relates to the reader’s capacity for comprehension. Children are less likely to sit and read endless amounts of text. The content is easy to comprehend when there are images. Secondly, pictures speed up learning even when the subject matter is simple to understand. They also provide learners with real-world applications to the theory.
All forms of learning can be justified using the same logic. The blended learning strategy, for instance, engages learners in training through various content formats. A blended learning course uses visually upgraded, audibly improved presentations to maintain learners’ attention. The variety of training content formats ensures that all information is easily grasped, which is rarely the case in the chaotic setting of a real classroom.
2. Blended Learning Is Cost-Effective
Blended learning can reduce costs associated with the productivity loss brought on by employee time spent in training sessions or creating new training courses. Some consumable resources can be duplicated for employees, even though you have an eLearning expert who can create a new course. This can be an effective strategy to cut the costs associated with typical and rarely changing subjects, such as employee onboarding.
However, courses can be modified more rapidly or as necessary rather than rewritten by engaging a subject matter expert for quickly evolving topics.
3. Increases Productivity And Morale
Giving people flexibility and choice can go a long way toward boosting employee satisfaction. Utilizing various learning methods lets you comprehend what motivates your employees and helps them retain information. When using a blended learning strategy, you must have faith in your staff members to manage their learning in a way that suits them.
4. Blended Learning Could Be Enjoyable
Some employees may fight tooth and nail against traditional training but will gladly accept to attend it online. Similarly, some employees might be reluctant to participate in online courses but would say yes to conventional in-person training sessions.
Blended learning gives both types of learners—those who flourish online and those who choose conventional training—something they are familiar with. This boosts their engagement levels and allows them to explore new learning methods.
5. Self-Paced Learning Is Possible With Blended Learning
Everybody operates at different speeds while learning. Each of us must have struggled with quickly taking notes in school. The likelihood of that happening is eliminated by blended learning. The program’s online component may be completed at the employee’s preferred pace, and they can seek clarity or ask questions in person throughout live meetings. It strikes a good balance between crammed schedules, employee preferences, and learning speed.
Self-paced learning options are a massive advantage for highly technical courses. While precise details or problem-solving are saved for the instructor-led part of the program, busy professionals can study more or brush up on their understanding when they have time.
Conclusion
There are many advantages to implementing blended learning within your organization. Blended learning promotes learner engagement and effectively delivers employee training in various enterprises and industries. It raises employee morale and productivity by offering more flexibility. Using efficient, adaptive eLearning content, you can accommodate the needs of a more significant number of your employees with each learning program you implement.
