Blended Learning: A Budget-Friendly Corporate Training Solution

Blended learning combines the best aspects of different training modalities and allows them to culminate into a dynamic learning experience. This comprehensive approach to training is all about offering flexible learning paths. Ineffective training methods are still a barrier for many organizations, partially because it’s difficult to teach anything just one way. Rather than shoehorning learners to one type of learning path, organizations are finding a cost-effective way to adopt innovative and learner-centric training solutions with blended learning. 

Blended learning is a strategy that combines multiple training modalities to increase retention and accessibility of learning objectives. Instead of trying to force everyone to learn the same way, you can give them interpersonal, presentational, and immersive experiences that leave a lasting impact on their knowledge base. By combining in-person and digital training, blended learning effectively caters to different learning styles. Instead of the same old song and dance, it’s a learning journey that is twice as engaging.  

Modalities in Blended Learning 

The learning process isn’t linear. Luckily, there is a diverse range of training options available to meet the needs of the modern workforce. Instructor-led training (ILT), eLearning, Virtual Reality (VR), and Augmented Reality (AR) each offer unique benefits as individual training modalities. As the world of XR training booms with innovation, organizations are finding that by combining complementary modalities, blended learning models focus on enhancing learning experiences. 

Augmented Reality

Augmented reality is a go-to resource for workplace performance support. AR programs allow learners to be present in the real world while enhancing their learning experience with digital elements. By bridging skill gaps in real-time during the flow of work, AR helps learners troubleshoot any task at hand independently. Best of all, organizations can save big by utilizing a highly scalable learning solution. In recent news, wearable AR glasses with eye and hand tracking are making a lasting impression in the world of XR training.

Virtual Reality

Virtual reality training allows learners to practice and hone their skills in a safe, controlled environment. Once they put on a VR headset, they are fully immersed in a virtual world that can replicate anything from a bustling warehouse to a conference table. VR can simulate worst-case scenarios that connect learners to the reality of their roles and allow them to practice mitigating risks. Exceptional for onboarding and safety training, VR allows learners to get the experience they need while eliminating safety hazards and reducing time to proficiency.  

eLearning

With interactive knowledge checks and reliable scalability, eLearning modules provide information on foundational concepts to learners at their own pace. eLearning courses can be taken by one or a million people at the same time. Now, that’s true scalability!  eLearning courses are fundamental training experiences that can be enhanced by hands-on modules that follow information-rich training.

Instructor Led Training

For many learners, collaboration is key. Instructor-Led Training naturally fosters a collaborative learning process between instructors and their trainees. ILT enables learners to ask complex questions throughout the learning process, resolving any ambiguity with in-person learning support. It’s a classic way of giving employees an opportunity to learn from the experts. ILT is simpler than other modalities to develop, but scaling is limited by the amount of instructors available to train. 

While each of these modalities has strengths to showcase, depending on your training topic, certain modalities can synthesize and produce the right learning outcomes. Blended learning places learning objectives where they are best taught and retained. 

Blended learning models can mix ILT with AR, eLearning with VR, and more, facilitating online courses, virtual classrooms, and hands-on workshops. Selecting the right modalities for a blended learning program is a crucial part of the planning process. The right mix of modalities will optimize your learning practices by pairing foundational information with active learning experiences. The key is to harness the power of immersive technology for specific learning reinforcement. Let’s dive into a real-world example!

Read More: 6 Step Guide to Blended Learning 

How Blended Learning Works 

Blended Learning is a unique way to combine different modalities and enrich learning experiences with the right amount of foundational learning and experiential learning. 

Let’s take a standard fire extinguisher lesson, for example. While most people are vaguely familiar with how to operate a fire extinguisher, without the help of visual instructions or in-person instruction, how prepared would your employees be to respond to a fire? Imagine how many physical fire extinguishers your organization would need to train your entire workforce. 

Let’s paint the picture of what fire extinguisher training looks like in a blended learning model. 

1. ILT: During onboarding, learners are shown where the fire extinguishers are located and are given an overview of how to access and use them. 
2. eLearning: Learners follow a step-by-step course on how the fire extinguisher works, how to handle it properly, and the most effective way to put out fires with it. 
3. VR: Your learner puts their knowledge to the test! A simulation of your work environment shows a fire, and learners will apply the knowledge from ILT and eLearning to properly put out a fire, gaining hands-on experience. Offering learning reinforcement for an extremely high-risk scenario.