Discover Why Blended Learning is the Best Way to Train Your Staff
The Beauty is in the Blend
Have you ever had a cheese and syrup sandwich? Or tried strawberries soaked in balsamic vinegar? The blend of flavours really shouldn’t work together, but they do! The key lies in getting the ratios right.
The same goes for blended learning. The right combination of face-to-face and online methods can revolutionise your workplace training.
What is Blended Learning?
Much like every other aspect of our lives, the way we educate ourselves has adapted with technological advancement. Online learning did not just miraculously arise out of the pandemic. It has been around for a while. Unlike traditional face-to-face training, online learning takes place often with little to no direct real-time human interaction.
Blended learning combines the social benefits of traditional face-to-face education with the accessible advantages of online learning. When the two meet, the result is a love-child of well-rounded efficiency.
Face-To-Face Learning
Face-to-face learning laid the foundation for teaching methods used in online learning. One of the significant advantages of face-to-face learning is that it encourages human interaction.
Despite its benefits, face-to-face learning can be challenging to arrange in the current climate. Besides the stress of putting together a training course, COVID protocols also demand consideration.
Online Learning
Online learning has the benefit of flexibility. Staff can learn where and when they want. COVID protocols are no longer an issue when training is remote.
Unfortunately, the lack of human interaction in purely online learning is a significant disadvantage. Many learners report feeling isolated and bored. Online learning also lacks the feedback that one has access to in a face-to-face environment.
Bring on the Blending!
The amalgamation of face-to-face and online training strategies has found great application in business.
- It increases training effectiveness.
- It is self-paced.
- It is easy to track.
- It is customisable.
- It is flexible.
- It is fun!
But best of all? It saves businesses valuable time and money!
The ‘How’ of Blended Learning
Employees can learn concepts online and at their own pace. Even the busiest employee has the opportunity to get to grips with complex subjects.
These multifaceted topics become easier to grasp as the employee has time to engage with the material and formulate queries. In a face-to-face environment, knowledge is reinforced, and answers provided.
The online aspect of blended learning enables you to track an employee’s understanding through task completion. It is easy to identify areas requiring more development, which is often not possible in traditional training. Improvements can be made almost in real-time if the material is available. Adding resources to the online forum quickly addresses the area that is lacking.
Blended learning accommodates employees who learn in either environment, which encourages participation in training. There are fewer office hours sacrificed to undertake it, and that is precious time and revenue conserved.
The ‘Why’ of Blended Learning
The ‘excuse’ to plan a fantastic and fun event at Focus Rooms event is not the only reason to get behind blended learning. Industry giants have tried and tested the theory, and the results are evident. Ernst & Young started adopting blended learning in the early 2000s. They saved 35% on their training costs and the hours needed to complete their training were reduced by half.
Ernst & Young, with current revenue of over R 500 billion, was established 32 years ago . If they think blended learning is the way forward, it is worth some consideration.
Tools for the Trade
When taking on a new method of training the first thing to check is that you have everything you might need and that technology won’t fail you. Focus Rooms is here for you with advice and the tools you need.
We have set up our venue to support traditional face-to-face and online learning with various meeting rooms set up to observe COVID-19 protocols. Better yet, we have a state-of-the-art live streaming studio perfect for blended learning practices.
