Using blended learning to accelerate your training goals
As organisations increase their focus on ongoing learning and development, the adoption of blended learning is on the rise. Blended learning seamlessly integrates the best aspects of virtual, instructor-led sessions with self-paced online learning, creating a comprehensive and flexible educational experience.
Let’s take a look at the benefits of blended learning —for both students and organisations— and see how you can harness this approach to hit your training goals this year.
What is blended learning?
Blended learning combines the benefits of live instruction with the flexibility and support of self-paced learning. This hybrid approach gives learners access to real-time guidance and support from instructors during live virtual sessions, while also offering the convenience of online modules for autonomous study.
This happy medium gives students the best of both worlds: an engaging and supportive learning environment with additional resources to promote a deeper understanding of the subject matter.
Especially in the tech space, gamified or game-based learning is also proving to be a helpful add-on to more traditional learning.
Why choose blended learning?
Blended learning offers numerous benefits over traditional in-person training or strictly digital self-paced learning approaches.
Research from Frontiers in Psychology, conducted in 2023 called “A meta-analysis of effects of blended learning on performance, attitude, achievement, and engagement across different countries” determined
‘that blended learning can lead to improved performance, attitude, and achievement in many countries’.
This is just one study, but there is a lot of research out there over the past 20 years that consistently shows that blended learning delivers better outcomes.
Let’s dive into a few of the top benefits:
It’s more interactive: Blended learning creates a dynamic and interactive learning environment, where participants actively engage with instructors and peers during virtual sessions. This real-time interaction helps to drive meaningful discussions, promotes collaborative problem-solving — leading to better overall learning outcomes.
It’s flexible and accessible: One of the key advantages of blended learning is its inherent flexibility, allowing learners to access course materials and participate in sessions from anywhere. This accessibility eliminates geographical barriers and accommodates diverse schedules, making education more inclusive and convenient for all participants.
Better learner engagement: Blended learning is delivered through multiple learning modalities: like live instruction, multimedia presentations, and interactive online activities. This means that the courses and sessions can easily cater to different learning styles and preferences, resulting in higher levels of participation.
Improved knowledge retention: A blended approach promotes deeper learning and knowledge retention by providing students with multiple opportunities to review and reinforce key concepts. Through a combination of live discussions, hands-on exercises, and self-paced study, participants can solidify their understanding of the material and apply it to real-world scenarios more effectively.
It’s scalable for teams of all sizes: Blended learning is highly scalable and adaptable to teams of all sizes. Whether training a small group or a large workforce, organisations can craft blended learning pathways to meet their own needs and objectives. This scalability ensures that training initiatives remain cost-effective and efficient, even as organisational needs evolve over time.
Getting Started with Blended Learning:
The best part about choosing a blended approach to your training? There are tons of resources at your disposal to make it simple and straightforward to create a learning path to suit your needs. At Bespoke, we offer a wide range of expert-led live virtual courses that fit perfectly with self-paced study options as well.
AWS Blended Learning
For AWS students, we recommend starting with the Ramp-Up guide that matches the learning journey you want to take. You can filter the Ramp-Up guide by role, solution or industry. Once you select a guide, you will see that the learning journey encompasses a combination of digital training, self-paced labs, game-based learning, reading resources, and of course, instructor-led training for when you are ready to get certified.
This is why we always recommend pairing your live, instructor-led course with the AWS Skill Builder platform. Individuals can sign up on the AWS website and choose a free or premium paid account, and managers looking for a subscription for 5 or more learners can go directly through Bespoke and order their AWS Skill Builder team subscription.
Microsoft Azure Blended Learning
Azure students have Microsoft Learn, where you are able to filter by products, roles, levels, subjects and types. Once you filter based on your learning goal, you can mix and match learning paths to suit the outcome you wish to achieve. Having that combination of self-paced learning and instructor-led Microsoft Azure courses ensures you are best positioned to achieve certification when you are ready.
With both AWS and Microsoft Azure, it is clear that choosing a comprehensive blended learning approach is needed to excel in today’s digital landscape.
Are you ready to get started with your blended learning journey? Get in touch with our team today to explore pathways and find the best option for you and your team.
