What is Blended Learning

Blended learning is the combination of different types of learning formats and media designed to produce a higher impact learning outcome.

The most common Blended Learning (BL) program is a combination of eLearning (what used to be face-to-face classroom sessions.

The idea (and proof) here is that eLearning saves both time and money in delivering major learning content, while the classroom sessions reinforce, contextualise and embed the eLearning itself. Behavioural change takes deeper root in both learning by computer and by learning more practically with classroom interventions.

Newer forms of BL include social media (Facebook and Twitter) as learning channels. Podcasts are commonplace stores of learning elements, while iPhone learning content applications are growing in use.

There is a rich field of media to select and use in order to expand on the REACH AND TAKE-UP of learning, ie pushing learning elements to as many people as desired in the shortest period.

With such a wide and rich selection of learning channels available, the question often becomes ones of available budget to create learning content to suit these many media.

Smarter approaches look more systematically at the requirements of specific learning audiences. One size definitely does not suit all.

Audience analysis can include assessing job type, technology use, technology access, demographic characteristics, and so on.

This is where the power of an enhanced Learning Management System comes into play: imagine creating learning content and assessing the best type of media to reach each individual in your organisation, and then hitting the proverbial button to push that content to all learners simultaneously in their media or format of choice!

However and whatever the media channel, the critical issue always remains the same: what is the learning designed to achieve and how will people learn best to do better or do different, and in the shortest amount of time.

Once these questions are resolved, the rich forms of BL become available for channelling the right information to the right person in the right way.

Enquire now