There are many ways to approach how you deliver your learning.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, many organisations have become heavily reliant on instructor-led programs. That can be effective but may not be suitable and efficient for every learner, especially when all learners are not alike.
This is where blended learning presents an exciting opportunity. No matter the learning style of the student, it can be an effective and engaging solution.
In a few words, blended learning is the meeting place of traditional instruction and cutting-edge online technology, but it’s so much more than that. It enables learners to have more control over their learning experience, leading to better results.
Particularly now, with the uncertainty of new rules and legislation that changes daily, blended learning has become a vital tool in helping both organisations and learners. With blended learning, organisations can stay afloat, saving costs and learners can continue their training and education.
Besides the obvious reasons for transitioning from offline to online courses, here’s what else you need to know about blended eLearning.
Blended Learning Gives Your Learners More Control Over The Learning Process
The problem with most traditional instructor-led courses is that all learners are taught at the same pace. This doesn’t give them much control over the learning experience, and can even be discouraging if they would prefer to consume the information at a different pace. With blended learning, learners are offered a mix of instruction-led lessons combined with the digital content they can process and consume at a pace they find comfortable.
Furthermore, with eLearning, learners can choose the time and place they want to learn and even select a learning path that appeals to them most.
Blended Learning Is More Engaging
Sitting in a classroom or doing one activity for long periods of time can be tiring. Your learners will stay engaged for longer if a different learning method is introduced.
With eLearning, your learners can take charge of their learning experience. This means their learning process can be largely self-directed, instead of being dictated to them by an instructor or textbook. This makes learning more rewarding overall.
Since not all learners learn the same way, a blended approach also allows you to cater to any learning style. Whether it’s more visual, gamified or quiz-based, blended learning can help your learners focus on what they’re being taught for longer.
Blended Learning Gives You Access To More Data
Are your learners absorbing the information they need to learn? With traditional instruction, it’s generally hard to tell until your learners complete a feedback form, quiz, or examination. The data only begins to accumulate over longer periods of time.
With the help of a learning management system, you can easily access and view reports on learner progress – at any time from any device.
This can also help you tailor lessons and feedback to individual learners. Not all your learners require help in the same capacity. The ability to give individual attention is a massive benefit to both the learners and the instructor.
Blended Learning Is More Interactive
In a classroom setting, teachers often don’t have time to give learners much individual attention. As a result, learners either try hard to keep up or give up entirely.
With a blended approach, instructors can offer more feedback via email, discussion boards, chatrooms, and so on. They can direct learners in exactly the way they need at the right time and encourage them in the way they need.
Again, an interactive environment makes learning more fun and engaging for the learner. The ability to collaborate with – and learn from – others can speed up their progress, which stimulates faster learning.
Conclusion
Today blended learning has become the standard rather than a new, innovative way to relay and deliver information to your learners. This is because it gives your learners a sense of autonomy over their studies. They can learn in their own time, at their own pace.
Blended learning can work in a variety of settings – not just in schools. If your institution, business, or organisation has yet to embrace it, it’s worth a look.
