Blended Learning: Combining Online and Face-to-Face Training

Professional training allows employees to update their skills or acquire new ones to adapt to technological developments and changes in the company. It also aims to motivate them and create a working environment favorable to the exchange of ideas. This is one of the essential keys to remaining competitive, boosting the productivity of your company, and enhancing its image.

To achieve these goals, you can choose from several learning methods. Distance and face-to-face training have produced significant results in the past, but they no longer meet the growing expectations of companies. In recent years, blended learning has been in vogue. Lemon Learning teaches you more about this type of training.

Definition and Key Concepts of Blended Learning

Referred to as hybrid or mixed learning, blended learning is a concept that has revolutionized the professional world. This innovative educational approach combines face-to-face and online training. This does not mean that this formula is made up of 50% face-to-face lessons and 50% virtual classes. The trainer may favor online sessions. Once learners master the basic concepts, they continue with short masterclasses in a classroom. It all depends on the content of your program and the objectives previously defined with the employer.

Blended learning is the perfect compromise for business leaders who want to solve various problems that require rapid support. For example, if you want your employees to learn how to better use their software and at the same time acquire managerial skills, this is the type of learning you need. Blended learning has existed for more than twenty years, but it became popular during the Covid-19 health crisis.

How Blended Learning Works

There are no strict rules to follow when applying blended learning. Each training organization designs a program according to its mode of operation and the needs of target clients. Regardless, blended or hybrid learning is based on traditional and virtual courses.

Classic or Face-to-Face Courses

For this phase of blended learning, you need to choose a working environment. Generally, if your company has a room with sufficient capacity to accommodate all your employees, this problem does not arise. Otherwise, you can rent a meeting room.

However, this option is not the most recommended. Fortunately, some training organizations will offer you a classroom for face-to-face courses. For the most part, the room is equipped with interactive whiteboards and new technologies to optimize learning effectiveness.

Online Courses or Distance Learning

As part of distance learning, the trainer, or organization offers learners a platform accessible 24/7. On it, video tutorials will be broadcast that detail the explanations of the content of the program. These are most often short videos of 3 to 15 minutes, to help students memorize the different information found there. Teachers can also use other digital tools like Dropbox, video conferencing, or cloud storage services.

The Different Blended Learning Formats

The rotation method is the first formula of blended learning. For this type of learning, students can interact with each other and with the instructor. They alternate between online and face-to-face classes.

For the second method called flex, the content is available online, and the teacher follows each learner. The à la carte model gives learners the freedom to choose between modules to follow in traditional courses and those to learn remotely. The enriched and flipped virtual models are other interesting forms of blended learning.

Benefits of Blended Learning

Blended learning has many benefits for the student. It allows them to progress at their own pace according to their ability to understand and their speed of assimilation. The learner can watch the video sequences as many times as they want and express their concerns to the trainer.

In addition to benefiting from personalized support, learners have access to next-generation educational resources. They can also discuss the difficulties encountered during the training with other students. The risk of falling into weariness is low. There are no time constraints, so they can organize their training sessions according to their schedule, thus benefiting from great freedom. With blended learning, students are independent and benefit from great autonomy.

Blended learning also presents considerable advantages for companies compared to other types of training. Its first advantage is that it limits the expenses that you usually incur to organize traditional training (catering costs, travel costs, classroom rental, etc.). Second, blended learning reduces employee idle time.

By alternating online and face-to-face training, you allow your employees to train and work all year round, even during peak activity periods in the company. Unlike other training methods, which can be time-consuming, blended learning saves time. It also helps all your employees adapt to technological revolutions.

Strategies and Best Practices for Effective Implementation of Blended Learning

The methods for implementing blended learning vary from one training organization to another. Generally, the chosen structure surveys future students to note their different needs, thus implementing a specific hybrid training model. The objectives defined by the employer will serve as a guide in this investigation. Using LMS applications and software, the training organization defines all the educational resources that will be useful in carrying out its mission.

Blended learning is known for the great autonomy it offers to students. However, you must follow the progress of each learner to give instructions and explanations in real-time. This way, no employee is left behind in this hybrid training. At the end of this blended learning approach, employees can receive official certification.

It is not always easy to find a structure that effectively supports learners. At Lemon Learning, we offer simple solutions for an efficient digital transformation of your organization. Thanks to our DAP platform and blended learning, we help you take control of all your software. Through our advice, your employees are better equipped to overcome any technological difficulty. They thus become more efficient and concentrate on tasks that truly require their expertise.