10 Best Practices for Blended Learning Strategies in 2017
“Blended learning” has become one of the buzz phrases in the realm of learning and development of late. Traditionally, the term refers to adding a digital component to instructor-led training or on-site education. Today technology has so many applications when it comes to digital learning that the blended approach has shifted to include the use of more than one delivery method to provide as well as enhance education and support. Many people believe that this is the way of the future. But why is blended learning becoming so popular?"
“For starters, learners are no longer limited to one medium or delivery platform to meet education objectives. Blended learning promotes a “continuous” learning approach to facilitate what is referred to as deep learning. Plus, it offers more opportunities for social learning, collaboration, greater participation and informal strategies.
Blended learning uses both synchronous and asynchronous methodologies to help learners cultivate and apply skills. There is also the potential for a faster development pace and fewer costs, depending on which approaches are selected. Lastly, digital education courses can reach a geographically dispersed audience and unlock possibilities for learners without physical access to learning establishments.
In the workplace, blended learning can help companies improve on-the-job performance and satisfaction. Below are the top ten best practices of blended learning strategies:
1. Learning objectives should take precedence over design.
While it may seem tempting to focus on a specific technology, choosing approaches that fulfil learner outcomes should always be the primary goal
2. Be sure to meet organisational drivers.
Consider what the underlying purpose of using a blended approach is – be it to reach a wider audience or to meet the needs of varied learners – and then design your strategy accordingly.
3 Aim for synergy.
The first step is to think about how components of your blended approach will fit together as a whole. Then link the learning experience from each component to blend into one another seamlessly so that they reinforce and augment each another.
3 Aim for synergy.
The first step is to think about how components of your blended approach will fit together as a whole. Then link the learning experience from each component to blend into one another seamlessly so that they reinforce and augment each another.
4. Consider learner preferences.
It’s important to survey your audience and discover where their preferences lie so you can design and develop a blended strategy that works. For instance, members who feel isolated from their peers may wish to be part of an online learning community where knowledge can easily be exchanged among the learners.
5. Design from scratch.
Experts suggest scraping existing courses and curriculums and starting afresh for best results. This is due to the fact that blended approaches require a fresh perspective and if you base your model on existing courses, you are likely to be constrained.
6. Contemplate all options.
Today learning designers have more options than ever before and with so many apps and technologies emerging each and every day, it’s vital to consider all options so you can choose the best one. It’s also worth not losing sight of on-the-job options, such as coaching, mentoring and shadowing experts.
7. Build social and emotional connections.
Creating an online community is a great way for audiences to interact and engage as part of your blended approach. After all, social learning is powerful so building an online space to facilitate this – when appropriate – will strengthen any blended learning solution.
8. Value asynchronous components as much as live components.
This may seem obvious to e-learning professionals but for individuals with an instructor-led background, there may be some bias towards thinking that classroom training is more powerful than blended approaches.
9. Use a pilot to evaluate your program.
Start with a pilot learner to see if learners understand how it works. Make notes of where they stumble or find frustration so you can implement a continuous improvement strategy.
10. Help prepare your learners.
Blended strategies will likely be new to many employees which is why you may need to provide an orientation and rationale for using your chosen approach. In addition, you may need to introduce it an organisational level and get upper management to support you.
As leaders of the learning and development industry, iLearn constantly seeks innovative ways to transform the educational experience and empower learners to have measurable impact on business growth.