With the digital transformation that swept businesses today, it has never been more crucial for organizations to fill skills shortcomings in emerging technologies. Hiring is not always the answer. The extreme shortage of candidates for roles Artificial Intelligence (AI),, Automatic learning,, Data science And other disciplines are one of the reasons why the interior training and the reduction of your existing employees – allow the smartest, fastest and profitable solution.
If you are more a visual learner, consult Simplilearn webinar on mixed learning. Here, we will summarize the main points of the webinar, focusing on the advantages of mixed learning.
Advantages of mixed learning
Mixed learning represents a fundamental change in teaching methods. It has the potential to optimize the results for individual students in a way that traditional education cannot. The mixed delivery methods allow each aspect to be taught using the most appropriate support for the subject at this particular stage of the training.
Studied and practiced in kindergarten in the 12th year and university education, mixed learning also offers an ideal solution to improve business training, in particular with regard to employees for the rapidly evolving digital economy. Here are five advantages of mixed learning.
1. Different people learn different things in different ways
It is notoriety that different people learn differently. In 1992, researchers Fleming and Mills developed a popular model of learning styles called vark: visual (when people learn best in sight), auditory or auditory (when people learn when hear or speak), read / write (when people learn when things are displayed as words) and Kinethetic (when people learn by use or physical practical).
Other researchers have divided these modalities into even more distinct learning styles, adding logical (when people prefer to use logic or reasoning to understand concepts), social (when people learn by interaction with other people) and lonely (when people learn the best by self-study).
With so many different learning styles to approach, a mixed learning solution is logical. For people who learn visually or by reading and ideally alone, self-rhythm video delivery would be the best mode. Social and sound learners would win most of the classrooms led by live instructors. Meanwhile, the practice practice to engage in applied learning projects would satisfy kinesthetic and logical learners.
2. The use of several modalities considerably strengthens commitment, learning and retention
Many studies show how for most people, learning is improved by combining different activities in parallel with a more passive study. Ideally, these could include the “human” element of interaction, such as thread discussions, videoconferencing and internal social media forums to share and compare knowledge and encourage and demonstrate the effective application of newly acquired skills at the workplace.
Using as many learning delivery methods as possible (video, live, social and practical instructor), you can fill the knowledge gaps left by less than optimal modes for the subject or the specific learner.
3. learners can control the pace of their learning
People learn better when they have some control over their learning. The choice reduces the apathy of the learner, relieves part of the stress of the learning process and motivates people to engage with the equipment. Companies learners differ from traditional students. Most employees treat time constraints because they have to balance heavy workloads and their personal life. In addition, their colleagues come to the table with a wide range of knowledge and experience with the subject of the course.
Mixed learning allows employees to study online, as quickly as they can manage, instead of having the pace set by the fastest or slower learner of the group. They can pass familiar information or a familiar break, review and search for additional resources. They can also access the content when they are the most alert and even take breaks if necessary. This mixed “intimidated” approach allows learners to start with the knowledge they have acquired by themselves, then to complete it with the personal attention of class training led by instructors (virtual or on-site), as well as group interaction of social learning and finally, the practice of applied learning projects.
As indicated by Clifford MaxwellClayton education researcher Christensen Institute, “an element of students' control is essential; Otherwise, mixed learning is no different from a teacher radiating the online program to a class of students through an electronic whiteboard. ”
4. Mixed learning saves money
Organizations of any size can optimize the return on investment by saving costs while increasing engagement and retention by integrating elearning into programs led by instructors. Mixed learning reduces instructor costs, business travel costs and training equipment; Allows distance learning on a global scale; And can considerably soften training in the impact on daily operations and the employees themselves. For example, “Ernst & Young has reduced its training costs by 35% while improving consistency and scalability with elearning”, says Mark RoseDirector and founder of CreativeDge's training and development. “They condensed around 2,900 hours of class training in 700 hours of online learning, 200 hours of distance learning and 500 hours of class teaching, a decrease of 53%.”
5. Mixed learning is modular and scalable
Particularly useful for large global companies, mixed learning is modular and scalable, both up and down. The dedicated training in class takes a long time to settle and participate, which does not make it economical on an ad hoc basis.
However, online learning libraries do not have commitment, practical exercise and personal comments that optimize learning. On the other hand, by providing easily accessible training content supported by live interaction opportunities for virtual instructor and applied projects, a mixed learning program allows employees to quickly strengthen a specific technology or subject. As the Earning designer, Troy Foster, says, “modular courses increase agility and thus the organization's ability to capitalize on new commercial opportunities as and when.
It is ideal for forming a dispersed workforce. According to Future upwork of the workforce,, 63% of companies have distant employees. By complementing online content at any time with localized instructors, mixed learning allows both scalability and cultural personalization required to carry out a global training. Boeing, the largest aerospace company in the world with 330,000 employees in 28 countries, successfully uses a mixture of learning and development methodologies, online modules for “lunch and learning”, head-to-head training and live classrooms.
Finn founded Learnopoly to provide unbiased, in-depth online course reviews, helping learners make informed choices. With a decade in financial services, he developed strategic partnerships and business development expertise. After a frustrating experience with a biased course review, Finn was inspired to create a trusted learning resource.