By Rick Nigol
 I can't seem to read a training
journal, magazine, or conference abstract lately without hearing
about blended learning. It seems that everyone is in search of the
holy grail of the perfect mix of classroom and online, real-time and
anytime, instructor-led and self-service learning.
What is the perfect mix? Well, it depends. Most
specifically, it depends on:
The Nature of Your Learning
Goals
Some types of learning goals (e.g. complex
technical skills, human interaction skills, intense behavioural
change) are best handled in face-to-face real-time learning
environments. Others (e.g. knowledge attainment, grasping new
processes, compliance issues) may better be handled asynchronously
online. The best situation is one in which both modes support what
happens in the other. For example, self-paced online modules could
prepare learners for intense face-to-face role playing sessions in
order to maximize the efficiency of these real-time events.
The Nature of Your
Learners
When blending learning modes, much will depend on
the nature of your learners. Where are they? Are they centrally
located or geographically dispersed? What are their ages? What is
their experience and comfort with technology? What are their
learning styles? Answers to these questions will have a significant
bearing on the kind of blending that is necessary and
practical.
The biggest mistake when blending different
training modes is to stack them together without any thought to real
integration. This can lead to disjointed and/or repetitive training
programs.
Getting the right mix in blended learning is a
lot like cooking. You want all the constituent ingredients
complementing each other, rather than over-powering each other, and
fighting for attention.
Rick
Nigol is Co-Founder and Director
of Education for eLearn Campus.
Certificate in eLearning
Management:
In this self-paced online program you will:
|
|
