Adopting a blended learning approach: the why and how
Blended learning is receiving more and more attention. But it doesn’t get enough yet. Successful online training is a fundamental component of blended learning. But just how important is this part, and how do you make e-learning and blended learning truly effective?
A blended learning approach is a combination of traditional face-to-face education and e-learning. By adding online training created with an authoring tool, students’ learning improves in quality and they grow their in-depth knowledge. Students’ efficiency also improves because students can take their time to learn and focus extra on topics they struggle with during their spare time without the need of the teacher.
Read our blended learning guide.
How e-learning is applied in a blended approach
You can apply online training to blended courses in various ways. Which way is the best for employees at your organization, depends on the strategy and needs.
Pre-teaching
Pre-teaching allows learners to study the preliminary material before the actual training session. This enables learners to stay prepared and avoid repetition of the basics in the classroom. Consequently, the trainer’s time can be used for discussion and queries in-class time.
Flipped classroom
In order to improve the quality of learning, blended learning suggests doing homework in class with the lesson taking place at home using e-learning. Why? When students learn facts and processes at home, teachers can focus on applying the knowledge and making sure every student understands. By doing the learning at home, students can also take their time and learn at their own speed.
Repetition
Not all repetition is bad. Humans forget 90% of what they learn within the first few hours of learning it. Repetition is the key to beating this forgetting curve. A blended learning approach enables the repetition of learning content in multiple formats – e-learning courses, quizzes, group work in class, etc.
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Additional benefits of online training within blended learning
A blended learning approach improves the quality of students’ learning, is more efficient than just classroom training, and helps beat the forgetting curve. But these are not the only benefits of blended learning. There are more.
Co-authoring
Creating e-learning has a huge benefit for teachers. Authoring tools have the option to add co-authors, which allows teachers to work together. When two or more teachers capture combined knowledge online, there is more chance of hitting the mark for learners.
Automatic grading
Teachers can obtain students’ scores within seconds after tests and online course participation. With this data, teachers can see who is learning well and who is still struggling. With traditional learning, the only way to find out who is struggling is for students to admit it and they very rarely do this for fear of ‘sounding silly’ or being mocked. Once the teacher knows, they can use flipped learning to do homework in class and really help those who are struggling to retain the information and understand it successfully.
Improve motivation of your learners
Blended learning and e-learning courses can be fantastic for motivation because students are awarded more control over their learning. They can improve their own development by spending time online whilst receiving the right support they need from the teachers. This is also good news for teachers. They can better utilize their own skills and be aware of when students lack the understanding of certain topics.
More focus on students’ strengths and weaknesses
Online learning allows for more personalized learning. Teachers have data for the strengths and weaknesses of each student. That gives them an opportunity to bring everybody up to the same level. With simple tests and scores, teachers can assess performance within seconds!
Start implementing these changes in your organization with our tips for an effective blended learning approach.
10 Blended learning tips
The very nature of a blended learning approach leaves considerable scope for interpretation and discussion of the most effective strategies. However, we’ve gathered our top 10 expert tips to help you design your blended learning strategy or approach.
1. Consider the rationale
Ensure your original rationale for pursuing a blended learning approach is central to your strategic planning. Whether it’s the size of your training audience or their differing requirements, ensure your strategy addresses this.
2. Learning Objectives
Hold your blended learning objectives as the key to your strategic design and approach, rather than falling into the trap of simply designing your blended learning around the availability and use of a specific platform.
3. Think about what your learners want
Always think about your learners as you design any strategy and, if you haven’t already, use surveys to understand them better. This will ensure your blended learning approach can be tailored to their preferences and specific background.
4. Think collaboratively
The core principle of the blended approach is to ensure all the different components work together to achieve the learning outcome. Keeping sight of this when designing your strategy will ensure each building block fits neatly into place.
5. Consider building from the ground up
It’s often all too easy to simply repackage or re-purpose existing materials. But the real power of a blended approach is its ability to shake things up and take a new look. Don’t be afraid to discard what you’ve done in the past when designing your blended approach.
6. Match your tools to your learners and your trainers
Consider different technologies and platforms that are out there for you to harness, as well as the options already available to you from your in-house experts that can act as coaches, mentors and provide job shadowing opportunities.
Before you decide on your blended learning tools, though, consider your learning goals, your learners’ needs and of course your budget. An overly complex authoring tool, intended for instructional designers, will not suit subject matter experts who are new to e-learning. Likewise, opting for a mobile app-led program may not suit all learners.
7. Value all aspects of the blended approach equally
It can be easy to place too much emphasis or value on the classroom parts of your strategy; however, the key to your blended approach is knowing and understanding the importance of all the components in delivering your learning objectives.
8. Think about collaborative learning
There’s real power in collaborative learning when it works for the learning objectives and the cohort. Don’t overlook opportunities where this can be utilized to enhance the learning experience.
9. Run a pilot scheme
When you’re rolling out a large blended learning strategy, a pilot will be key to achieving your learning objectives. Use this to identify pitfalls in your approach; the learning’s you take from this should inform continuous improvement.
10. Get buy-in from your learners and management
It’s likely a blended learning approach will be new to your organization, to help alleviate anxiety and skepticism it will be important to rationalize and properly position the benefits of blended learning to all relevant stakeholders.