We’re often looking at ways a company can benefit from a blended learning approach. When L&D professionals propose such a thing, they are often, and understandably, asked to underline the bottom line to their bosses.
But how about the learners themselves? What are the benefits to them?
I’m not talking about the content or the skills gained or the learning achieved; I mean the gains from the experience of training offered by a blended learning method which includes some self-study.
Here are the sort of positive comments I’ve received from participant feedback:
- I can study the content when I want
- I can work at my own pace
- I get to experience different learning tools
- I can use the internet which I use a lot at work and home anyway
- I like the balance between face to face and individual work
- I like the variety of approaches
- I like to have the time to explore a topic, do some research and mull over the results before I have to give an answer to the trainer
- It’s more stimulating to have different ways to do the training
- I like the short, sharp sessions
- I can work on my training when it suits me
- I enjoy taking the time I need to complete the exercises
- I can use my time productively on the train!
- It’s solutions focused rather than problems focused
- I can build a network of allies through group forums and online groups
- I can catch up when the kids are in bed
- It keeps me flexible and agile which is useful to model in my management role.
The main points that come out of these comments for me are around flexibility and accessibility which are cornerstone benefits of blended learning.
There is of course another side, so here are some more challenging comments:
- I need to be more self-motivated than if I was in a classroom
- It’s hard to set the time aside and stick to it
- I need to make sure I don’t let distractions in the office interfere with the outcomes of my training programme
- I found it a challenge getting used to the training platform
- I don’t always get time for this at work so have to do it in my own time
- It’s easier when there’s trainer present as it keeps me focussed
- I need to stick to deadlines set by myself or my trainers and not let other things get in the way.
How would you address some of these challenges?
Well, there’s always a positive side and, as a by-product, we might almost say that blended learning gives the learner the chance to learn new technical skills or develop skills of self-motivation, time management and focus (all important in other roles and other jobs as these are key transferable skills).
What comments have you collected about blended learning, positive or negative?
Kate
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