Our first E-learning sector roundup (November 2015) focused on ‘getting started with e-learning’. This sector roundup builds on that and focuses on ‘blended learning’.
Henry Ford, Founder of the Ford Motor Company puts the importance of training into perspective — imagine the cost of having an untrained workforce stay with your organisation?
L&D leaders will of course agree with Henry Ford, and those involved in organisational learning would not exist if their organisations had not accepted the importance of learning in the workplace. The key is for L&D leaders to adapt their training material so it is more efficient and accessible, and for those involved in organisational learning to somehow inspire the kind of actions they want from their teams. Enter, ‘blended learning’, a hot topic constantly bouncing around today's world of e-learning.
Put simply, blended learning is when you combine learning technologies with face to face training. Here's our selection of valuable content and resources that will help you on your way with blended learning.
Understanding blended learning in the corporate world
Three of the four articles we selected for this roundup are from eLearning Industry and are written by Christopher Pappas, Founder of the eLearning Industry's Network elearningindustry.com. The eLearning Industry is a fantastic resource and you can read more about Christopher as well as view more of his articles here.
1. The History Of Blended Learning
This article on eLearning Industry walks you through how blended learning began and how it became what we know of it today. It starts in the 1840s when Sir Isaac Pitman launched the first distance education course. Other highlights are computer based training in the 1970s, live training through TV technology, CD-ROM training, web based training that began in the 1990s and finally reaching today's blended learning integration.
2. Blended Learning Advantages And Disadvantages In Corporate Training
4 blending learning advantages and 3 disadvantages are explained in this eLearning Industry article. The key questions the article asks will most probably sound familiar:
- Do you wonder about the benefits versus drawbacks of blended learning on the job?
- Will combining learning technology with face-to-face instruction and/or self-paced learning benefit your learners?
- Are the risks worth the rewards?
- Does the good outweigh the bad?
3. 7 Tips To Implement Blended Learning In Corporate Training
Many people think blended learning is best suited to education. But it is also relevant to the corporate sector and this eLearning Industry article digs into how you can make blended learning work for your corporate organisation. The 7 tips are:
- Focus on objectives first and learning technology tools second
- Set goals and expectations in advance
- Create a flexible implementation strategy
- Develop effective online assessments
- Research employee needs and preferences
- Cultivate a blended learning community
- Offer moment of need online support resources
4. Converting Face-to-Face e-Learning
A very popular question in e-learning is, "Can we convert our current face-to-face training to e-learning". In this article Raf Dolanowski goes through the important questions that must be carefully considered when assessing how your face-to-face learning will need to be converted.
Up and coming e-learning events in Europe
Employee Engagement Summit 2016
This event will examine the practical aspects of employee engagement — 10th March, Kensington Close Hotel, London. Find out more.
CIPD Learning & Development Show
Develop your L&D knowledge and advance learning in your organisation. Discover thought leaders, innovative practitioners and expert suppliers — 11th to 12th May, Olympia London. Find out more.
2016 employee engagement summit
Similar name but different event to the March 2016 event. Described as the complete resource for leading edge thinking on the issues, challenges and opportunities relating to employee engagement and its impact on customer engagement, performance and profitability — 14th April 2016, Victoria Plaza, London. Find out more.
Learning Technologies
If you missed the January 2016 learning technologies event, this is your chance to catch up on what you missed and follow up on the most popular topics. Discover a wealth of content, best practice and innovation — 14th June, Olympia London. Find out more.
10th International Conference on E-Learning
The event aims to address the main issues of concern within e-Learning, covering both technical and non-technical aspects — 1st to 3rd July, Funchal, Madeira, Portugal. Find out more.
World Of Learning Conference & Exhibition
The World of Learning event offers opportunities to discover the latest in L&D with 100+ exhibitors, workshops, consultations and free seminars — 19th to 20th October, Birmingham NEC. Find out more.
E-learning quotes for inspiration
“If you continue training the same way you’ve always trained, don’t expect to get better results.”
“When training is done well, doors open, skills develop, and performance excellences yields personal and organizational rewards. People grow in ability, confidence, motivation and happiness.”
“People expect to be bored by e-learning - let’s show them it doesn’t have to be like that!”
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“You can’t teach people everything they need to know. The best you can do is position them where they can find what they need to know when they need to know it.”
