Blended Learning

What is Blended Learning?

Blended learning refers to a teaching method that combines the traditional in-person training model with e-learning. This creates a comprehensive teaching approach supported by a wide range of in-person resources and technological tools, resulting in specialized, interactive, innovative, and effective learning experiences.

How does Blended Learning work?

Also known as B-learning or mixed learning, this teaching method represents a shift in the educational paradigm by merging the benefits of traditional teaching with various technological resources for online education. Its focus is to create deeper and more efficient learning processes, drawing advantages from both approaches.

An in-person approach promotes participation, collaboration, and doubt resolution while online teaching optimizes time, reduces costs, and offers interactive and multimedia content to reinforce effective teaching.

Advantages of Blended Learning in training programs

Given that technology is undeniably integrated into our daily lives, it’s crucial to leverage these tools and develop a Blended Learning program that yields significant results. Here are some key advantages:

• Flexibility and autonomy
• Personalized learning
• Interaction and collaboration
• Time optimization
• Reduced training costs
• Use of technological resources
• Overcoming geographical barriers

Developing a Blended Learning model

• Context and objectives

To develop a successful blended learning model, it’s essential to have clear objectives. Consider your target audience, allocate time for the training process, and identify the tools needed to achieve the goals.

• Design a training program

Once your objectives are established, create your training program. Think about the course schedule, how you’ll distribute the knowledge to facilitate Blended Learning, and achieve optimal performance.

• Appropriate resources

Identify your needs and make a list of the resources available and those required. This includes in-person training resources like classrooms and trainers, as well as online education tools such as webinars, digital libraries, videos, online courses, and Learning Management Systems (LMS).

• Evaluate results and implement improvements

After implementing your training program and upon its completion, be objective and evaluate to identify potential enhancements. Remember that these methods aim to improve, streamline, and ultimately create efficient training programs.

As you can see, Blended Learning is an excellent teaching alternative if you’re seeking an innovative methodology that leverages the advantages of in-person training.

Which blended learning models are perfect for corporate training?

By now, you may have realized that blended learning is a method that offers many alternatives and advantages. But it has different modalities. Some of the most common in corporate training are:

Flipped classroom

It focuses on achieving more active learning and sharing educational content (video lectures, reading assignments, podcasts, etc.) online with professionals, so they can review it at their convenience. This method uses face-to-face classes to expand on the concepts, perform problem-solving exercises, and practice or discuss the topics. Flipped classrooms provide more efficient use of time and a more participatory environment. It is the opposite of traditional education: everything that used to be face-to-face is now done online.

Face-to-face driver model

With more similarities to traditional learning, the instructor-led training model offers face-to-face classes supported by additional materials that will be shared by the instructor online. Therefore, most of the training is in-person and digital resources reinforce learning.

Online driver model

This model offers all training elements in digital format, combining elements in real-time, such as webinars or group video calls, with self-paced features, such as e-learning courses, videos, games, or multimedia educational content.

Rotation model

As the name implies, with this model, the training rotates between the face-to-face and online modalities. It is a programmed blended model that offers students a certain pace of learning while simultaneously making training less monotonous.

#4 E-learning tools you need to create your blended learning strategy

With blended learning, the trainer must facilitate the contents, stimulate learning, and make the virtual classroom dynamic by encouraging participation, offering personalized support to learners, and considering their needs or difficulties. To guarantee a perfect b-learning strategy, these are some tools you must use:

1. A learning platform

All companies that want to implement blended learning have one of the most potent e-learning tools: a learning management system or LMS. This software allows you to publish, manage and share e-learning content with employees, and evaluate the success of the training. Ideally, you need a user-friendly and intuitive LMS which also allows you to offer a more personalized experience. Want to discover one? isEazy LMS is the latest technology in LMS, offering you the best of an LXP. Give it a try and manage all your training projects seamlessly!

2. An authoring tool

Authoring tools are indispensable for a successful b-learning training program as an LMS. This software facilitates e-learning content creation with multimedia resources, such as videos, images, simulations, gamification, and more.

If you want to discover an intuitive and user-friendly tool, check out isEazy Author. A course creation software specially designed to create professional e-learning courses in just minutes, with eye-catching designs and a great variety of multimedia, interactive elements, and even gamification resources. Create addictive courses and boost participation with word games, memory quizzes, trivia, and fun exercises to encourage your learners inside and outside the classroom.

3. Collaborative tools

B-learning encourages autonomy and self-learning and also opens the door to collaborative learning. Your LMS should offer your learners spaces to work together as forums or virtual aulas. But some other collaborative tools that help improve teamwork and exchange ideas are Trello, Asana, OneDrive, and Google Drive.

4. Communication tools

Lastly and equally important, tools that facilitate communication. When choosing your LMS, look for features like chats, forums, virtual classes, or aulas, among other communication features. But other tools can complement your teams’ training and are also essential for a hybrid workforce: Google Meet, Discord, Teams, etc.

Choose isEazy for your blended learning strategy!

If you’re interested in developing a mixed training program in your company, isEazy LMS is a platform capable of managing all your training projects, communication, and corporate knowledge. Try it for free!