What is blended learning?
Blended learning is a training approach that combines traditional in-person sessions with digital or online learning activities to create a more flexible, engaging, and effective employee development experience.
Blended learning in the workplace
In employee training, blended learning merges face-to-face workshops, meetings, or coaching sessions with online modules, videos, or interactive tools. This method gives employees the opportunity to learn new skills through both hands-on, collaborative experiences and self-paced, technology-driven activities.
For example, a customer service team might attend an in-person product training session and then complete follow-up e-learning modules to practice handling different client scenarios. Or a sales team might watch a series of short training videos (similar to a flipped classroom approach) before attending a live role-play session to apply what they’ve learned.
Benefits of blended learning in employee training
- Flexibility: Employees can complete online components at their own pace, reducing disruption to daily work.
- Higher Engagement: Mixing delivery formats helps keep learning fresh and interactive.
- Improved Retention: Reinforcing live training with digital follow-ups strengthens knowledge transfer.
- Scalability: Online elements make it easy to roll out consistent training to multiple locations.
As technology continues to reshape the workplace, blended learning has become a cornerstone of learning and development strategies. It allows organizations to provide continuous training without pulling employees away from their roles for extended periods.
Fun Fact: Letting employees learn at their own pace can increase employee retention by 25-67% and improve performance by 25%.
Key components of blended learning
Blended learning in corporate settings often incorporates these elements:
- Synchronous Learning: Real-time training sessions, either in person or via live webinars, where employees can interact with trainers and peers. Real-time interaction fosters immediate feedback and collaboration.
- Asynchronous Learning: Self-paced modules, recorded videos, or digital exercises that employees can complete whenever their schedule allows. Tracking performance metrics via digital platforms help trainers monitor progress and effectiveness.
- Flipped Classroom: Employees review foundational materials (e.g. training videos or documentation) beforehand, freeing up the live sessions for role-play, group work, or problem-solving.
Why blended learning matters for employee training
Blended learning aligns with the realities of the modern workplace by:
- Minimizing downtime from regular duties while still delivering impactful training.
- Supporting diverse learning styles and preferences.
- Allowing for ongoing reinforcement through digital follow-ups.
- Building essential digital literacy skills alongside job-specific capabilities.
- Making it easier to implement hybrid learning strategies for distributed or remote teams.
Overall, the blended learning approach keeps training dynamic and relevant, boosting employee retention and their ability to apply what they’ve learned to their actual jobs. Blended techniques have increased from covering 23% of training hours in 2020 to over 43%, with 56% of organizations planning to continue combining classroom and remote learning.
Related terms
- Hybrid Learning: In the workplace, this means some employees attend training in person while others join remotely in real time. Similar to blended learning, but focused on simultaneous modes.
- Digital Literacy: The ability to effectively use digital tools, platforms, and resources in daily work.
- Learning Management System (LMS): Software used to host, track, and manage both online and offline training programs.
Frequently asked questions about blended learning
What is blended learning?
In a workplace context, blended learning is a training method that combines in-person instruction with online learning activities. This approach allows employees to benefit from the interaction, discussion, and hands-on practice of face-to-face training while also taking advantage of the flexibility of digital learning tools. By blending these two modes, organizations can create a more engaging and effective learning experience that meets diverse learning preferences and supports continuous skill development.
Is blended learning the same as hybrid learning in employee training?
Not exactly. Blended learning combines both asynchronous (self-paced) and synchronous (live) training over the course of a program, meaning some elements are done online and others in person at different times. Hybrid learning, on the other hand, is a delivery method where the same live session is taught to in-person and remote participants simultaneously. Both approaches aim to provide flexibility and accessibility, but they differ in structure and timing.
How to implement hybrid learning in the workplace?
To implement hybrid learning in the workplace, organizations should ensure that training rooms are equipped with high-quality cameras, microphones, and screens so remote participants can see, hear, and interact in real time. Trainers can use collaborative tools such as shared whiteboards, polls, and breakout rooms to engage both groups equally, while a dedicated facilitator or tech support person can monitor the remote chat to ensure questions are addressed alongside in-room discussions. Recording the session also allows employees who cannot attend to review the content later, ensuring no one is left behind.
What are the benefits of blended learning for employees?
Blended learning offers a range of advantages in employee training. It allows workers to complete certain learning modules at their own pace without disrupting their day-to-day responsibilities, while still benefiting from live sessions for more complex skills. Blended learning supports a variety of learning styles, improves digital literacy, and ensures consistent training delivery across locations and teams.
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