Particularly affected by the growth of digital technology, training organizations and companies are being guided by new learning approaches by placing them at the heart of their transformation actions. In this line, the Blended Learning is a rapidly expanding technique adopted by a growing number of training actors. The autonomy that this approach provides to employees appeals to them, but not only that. The details.
Definition: Blended learning in training policy
Balancing distance and face-to-face training, blended learning, or blended learning in French, is transforming professional training quickly and constantly. Praised by trainers and HR managers as well as by the learners themselves, this hybrid training technique is based on traditional face-to-face learning complemented by the most advanced technologies. And if you know the True blended learning, you know that it can lead to a training plan both innovative and effective.
Allowing the actors concerned to develop a training policy that reflects their image while focusing on the objectives to be achieved, blended learning is the very example of a controlled use of the “Learning Management System” (LMS)”, a software specifically developed to manage and support an educational path or a learning process.
While the training program is developed using the technological tools offered by the LMS, the trainer remains at the center of the process that guides the learners throughout their learning. Indeed, it is he alone who defines the subjects treated in person and those explained online. In addition to making it possible to target training objectives beforehand, this new flexibility fits different learner profiles. Moreover, do not hesitate to preparing trainers for blended learning.
The advantages of blended learning compared to so-called classical training
One of the most recurring questions that training professionals ask themselves revolves around the benefits of blended learning. In fact, Many people are wondering about the positive results that the new learning technologies associated with self-study and face-to-face courses promise.
In an attempt to answer this question, the success of blended learning comes not only from its speed and simplicity of implementation, but also from the possibility of personalization that it provides to training systems. In addition, it also testifies to the growing maturity of professionals with regard to digital technology, who have become aware that the multimodality of learning specific to blended learning encouraged better memorization of content as well as demonstrated commitment by learners. Last but not least, blended learning meets the expectations of new generations in terms of autonomy.
Blended learning at the service of the autonomy of employees
To resume this last point, it is certain that adopting a blended learning strategy is in symbiosis with the needs and expectations of 21st century learnersE century. For Generation Y, but especially for Generation Z, which stands out for its mastery of digitalization and its quest for autonomy, hybrid learning is a tailor-made formula. Indeed, it allows you to learn the theory at your own pace via a smartphone, tablet or laptop before moving on to face-to-face practice.
Corresponding to new uses, in particular inspired by Mobile learning, blended learning frees itself from time and space constraints by offering access 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to training resources, eliminating the need to stick to a strict schedule or assimilate too much information in a defined period of time. Indeed, thanks to blended learning, learners freely choose the time and place of their online training according to their availability and with the possibility of downloading and recording various contents.
A guarantee of autonomy, but also of accountability and independence, blended learning therefore allows learners to create their own schedule through access to training resources at any time. Entirely individualized, this self-study also offers them the opportunity to put into practice the bases acquired between two courses, which makes it possible to reveal real talents.
However, learners are not left on their own. Although designed to optimize autonomy during the acquisition of knowledge, blended learning also involves the interaction between trainers/learners or learners/learners. Through an online exchange forum or a discussion group via smartphone, it is possible to share experiences with peers and find answers to your questions instantly.
Blended learning and optimizing training costs
Closely linked to the autonomy of employees, optimizing training costs is one of the advantages of blended learning. By relying solely on old-fashioned training, it can be difficult, but also expensive, to bring together or even host learners in the same place for a training course lasting several days. Also in terms of logistics, printing learning materials represents a significant percentage of the budget allocated to face-to-face training.
Certainly advantageous from an economic point of view for training organizations, blended learning allows them to overcome the logistical constraints mentioned above. Long seen as a financial obligation, learning enhanced by blended learning has become a strategic investment in the service of the autonomy and performance of trainers and learners.
Guarantee of a tangible benefit in terms of reducing training costs, blended learning optimizes business profitability by redefining the concept of “multitasking”. So, instead of sitting in a training room, learners can continue to work and learn in their free time, without having to travel. Likewise, trainers no longer need to devote a large part of their working time to training. In addition, the possibility of training a larger number of workers at a reduced cost is becoming more realistic, allowing savings to be injected into other projects at the same time.
In the age of digitalization, face-to-face training no longer meets the needs and evolutions of businesses. As the job market increasingly welcomes generations Y and Z, they are forced to strengthen their digital transition, in particular by reorganizing their learning techniques. Blended learning can be the right solution for their corporate training.
