“To blend, or not to blend?” – is this your question? Or, perhaps, you ask it this way, “what training strategy is the most effective for our business needs?”

Whichever way you ask, the answer just might be that you need a mix of training strategies to deliver the best result and blended learning could be that very solution you’ve been searching for.

Without further ado let’s check out 6 key blended learning benefits we believe can offer your corporate training.

1. Provides ultimate flexibility. A blended learning solution provides you with the ultimate flexibility in presenting training content. Complex topics can be presented in the classroom where the facilitator can offer explanations and answer questions, while subject matter best supported by multimedia, such as video or web links, can be included in eLearning. With an online component, you’ll also increase flexibility and convenience over how and when your learners complete training.
2. Increases personalization of learning. We’re living in the robot generation. You call the power company and speak to a computer. You refuel your car and pay through a machine. These days, you can even order a custom McDonald’s burger without a speaking to a real person. In the training world, a blended solution allows you to retain the human aspect. Online training that is not well designed can create an isolating, impersonal learning experience, whereas a clever blended solution can provide a seamless transition from classroom to computer, or vice versa, continuing discussion themes, personalization and content.
3. Extends reach of effective trainers. Do you use trainers and facilitators from within your organization? If so, are they over committed? Since blended learning reduces classroom time for many courses, you can extend the reach of effective trainers, or free them up for other work tasks.
4. Delivers training in a cost effective format. Most of us like to hear about strategies that can save our business money and behold, blended learning is one of them. Migrating a classroom based training course to a blended solution will result in savings through reducing costs associated with face-to-face training, such as venue hire, facilitator fees, and travel and accommodation expenses. Better still the online component of a blended course can be slotted into an employee’s day where downtime naturally falls rather than disrupting workflow with scheduled training sessions.
5. Covers all learning styles. We all have our learning preferences. For some, that’s the classroom and for others, learning happens best on the computer. The good news is that effective blended learning is a “best of both worlds” solution that can help you cater for all learning styles since you have access to so many learning mediums and techniques.
6. Provides opportunity to explore a flipped classroom training model. In a flipped classroom training model, skill and knowledge information is imparted autonomously away from the classroom, using methods such as eLearning, reserving classroom time for the “nitty-gritty” tutorial side of things. Since the learner arrives to the classroom having learned the lesson material, the session focus can be on practical application of information and problem solving.

Time and money spent in evaluating the effectiveness of the learning activities being used, provides returns throughout the training development and delivery process. At PulseLearning we work with our clients to review existing materials and ensure the format for delivery is most suited to the needs of your organization and the learner.