To blend or not to blend? It’s the question every L&D manager asks, but very few are able to find the right solution. We know that corporate training is important. A lack of it results in a loss of $13.5 million per year per 1,000 employees. 

Blended learning is rapidly growing, and the industry is expected to reach the $23.74 billion mark by 2024. But, is it really the right approach for a corporate training program? Let’s find out.

What is Blended Learning?

Blended learning is a mix of eLearning and face-to-face training. The right mix depends on multiple factors, such as learning objectives and discipline. Traditionally used by educational institutions, blended learning is now being adapted in the corporate sector as well.

Why Choose Blended Learning?

Here are some of the main benefits of blended learning:

More Flexible

Since blended learning is a mix of digital learning and traditional learning, it offers incredible flexibility. Learners can view courses or classes whenever they want and wherever they want, since most options support all major platforms (including mobile devices!).

This flexibility helps employees feel engaged and more in control, which improves loyalty and motivates them to continue to learn and get more involved in training. 

This is important because, while 90% of employees agree that training is vital, most want to be able to get the required training at home. It reduces the burden and helps employees feel more at ease and less anxious.

Less Costly

We know that employee training is expensive, which is why some companies shy away from introducing a skill development program. A good way to counter this problem is to opt for blended learning.

Because blended learning offers a mix of traditional and cloud-based learning, it turns out to be cheaper in the long-run.

According to this study, online learning costs about $11 per learner, which is considerably lower than the cost of traditional learning at $95 per learner.

The use of a learning management system (LMS) can help control costs and increase the ROI. 

Ernst & Young reduced training costs by about 35 percent by introducing eLearning. Furthermore, they also used blended training to save time – turning 2,900 hours of training into 1,400 hours by using a mix of classroom and online training.

Efficient Analysis

Employees will never be motivated to learn if they don’t find learning useful and effective. Hence, it’s important to gather feedback and keep an eye on performance. 

Blended learning makes it easier to measure and monitor the effectiveness of methodologies and learning programs. You can collect feedback in small chunks in a non-intrusive manner.

Moreover, there is the option to use machine learning or artificial learning. This technology makes it easier to collect and analyze feedback. 

This information can help you make changes to the program and ensure employees are fully satisfied.

Customized Programs

Every employee is different. What takes one person an hour top grasp may take another person two hours to fully understand. Hence, it is important to offer customized training programs that allow all employees to grow and learn at their own pace.

Thanks to options such as online classrooms and business simulations, employees can learn and relearn until they fully understand a concept. Plus, since it is blended learning, they will also have the option to seek clarification and get answers to their questions in face-to-face sessions.

Fun Learning

A large number of employees consider training sessions boring and monotonous. This is why many of them skip such classes. 

The best way to motivate employees to actively take part in learning sessions is to make them fun and interactive. Since blended learning has no restrictions, its online format can help make training more engaging for employees.You can mix and match different methodologies to find a balance.

Gamification, used by companies like Deloitte and SAP, is a popular technique businesses use to make training fun. According to Dr. Edgar Dale’s Cone of Experience Model, we tend to retain more when more senses are involved in the learning process. 

Since blended learning uses multimedia, workshops, gamification, presentations, and more, it tends to offer more benefits.

The benefits of blended learning are clear. You need to find the right balance and you’ll begin to see the benefits in no time. If you would like to learn more about how blended learning can help you reach your training goals, contact us today.