It Blended Learning part 1 Essay - 4,937 words

IT Blended Learning The term blended learning has been the most overused buzzword in the learning industry over the past couple of years, but it has, in fact, always been the way that training has been provided. Technically speaking, any combination of delivery methods is a blended learning solution, such as an instructor-led session coupled with take-home workbooks. Elliott Masie refers to a session he did via phone with PowerPoint slides hed sent ahead as an example of technology-driven blended learning. As far back as 1996, Pete Weaver of DDI was evangelizing technology-driven blended learning through presentations titled, The Magic Is in the Mix. For most organizations, a robust blended approach should maximize the ROI potential of a complete curriculum. To prove that, a Thomson NRTg study published earlier this year found that a structured curriculum of blended learning will generate a 30 percent increase in performance accuracy and a 41 percent increase in performance speed over single-method delivery options.


Thomson Job Impact Study (June T+D) New technologies have enabled companies to explore novel and creative ways to mix and match delivery methods to learning needs. Given what we now know about how people learn and what employees need to be successful, organizations are excitedly experimenting with these different methods, searching for combinations that provide for the greatest increases in workforce productivity. There isnt a vendor or training department that wouldnt say it is providing blended learning today, but confusion from the myriad of different and new technologies has kept most suppliers and training functions from truly maximizing the potential of this approach. Bluntly, most organizations havent matched the right delivery methods to learners needs. To help your company design, develop, and deploy blended learning solutions that can increase productivity, drive revenue, and support individual development, lets explore a sample blended learning scenario and six best-practice components needed for successful blended learning solutions. (3) Let us examine possible solution for an average person, who wants to gain some new knowledge through blended learning.


For this purpose we are going to use made up woman named Sue. Sue has been a sales rep for the past six years and has participated in many training courses to more effectively sell her companys products and services. Sue likes to receive the core of her training before shes ready to use it, but she also has come to rely on print and her companys intranet to find the information she needs. However, she often can t find that information when she needs it. Like most salespeople, she thinks classroom training takes her away too long from making sales. What she likes about instructor-led training is that she learns as much during lunch and hallway conversations with other salespeople as she does in class.


Learning through collaborating with and observing others is not only important to her, but its also enjoyable. You probably know a lot of people like Sue. She has different learning needs at different times. Lets look at three sample paths that, when combined, provide an effective blended learning approach. (6) Path A: Formal preparation training. Lets assume the company is rolling out one of its most significant products in the past several years.


To get the sales force up-to-speed quickly and all grounded in the same basic information, the training department prepared a structured, core set of learning activities for Sue and the rest of the sales force. Sues first exposure to the new product is a Just the Facts knowledge document, a set of marketing materials that have been repurposed and that provide her with a quick overview and a cheat sheet she can print out. Next up is a 20-minute introductory Webinar. This second exposure to key information appeals to Sue; hearing and seeing a presentation by a top sales producer is usually worthwhile. Once completed, the presentation will be edited and enhanced, including the addition of questions and answers gathered during the session and posted on the intranet that same afternoon. That provides sales staff that missed the Webinar with the ability to launch the presentation and receive credit through the LMS. (6) Ready to drill into the product details, Sue registers for the online course, completing the 45-minute training in two separate sessions.


Shes given the choice to take an in-depth training track or a condensed overview version. The track provides detailed information on all aspects of the new product, a pre-test that enables her to skip areas in which shes already proficient, and a post-assessment that will allow her to assess her mastery of the material. The final task in this structured portion of the curriculum is for Sue to demonstrate to her manager that shes well prepared to sell the new product. She spends 15 minutes on the telephone telling her manager how she would handle a challenging prospect. Sue has undoubtedly received more training in this blended sequence of activities than in previous product trainings, and its probably taken less than half the time and has barely interfered with her sales responsibilities. Of course, this formal curriculum didnt cover all of the bases. She recognizes that she has more to learn and will be getting those needs met through informal learning activities and just-in-time performance support materials.


(6) Path B: Support of informal learning. Shortly after the new product launch, Sues regional manager asks the reps to share their best-practice approaches to a common sales challenge. He does that through a threaded discussion, to which reps are asked, but not required, to comply. Because Sue prefers to observe and reuse what has worked well for others, this is an especially effective forum. Days later in getting ready for a customer call, Sue searches the knowledge database to look up possible strategies for overcoming a technology incompatibility she knows this customer will ask about. When unable to locate what she needs in the product documentation, she sends off a request for more detail using her companys Ask the Expert program.


Based on Sues time constraints, the ability to contact other employees in real time, observe how others are addressing similar problems, and being able to ask an expert for help turns out to be more beneficial to Sue than attending a class. (6) Path C: Just-in-time, just-enough performance support. In the past, quickly finding the support materials Sue needs when she needs them has typically been a frustrating experience. Today, however, Sue accesses the intranet and uses the companys information management system to within minutes view, save, and print such items as competitor kill sheets, product specifications, and other reference documentation. A Key Links document lets Sue quickly locate new product materials scattered across the corporate intranet. And though she never thought of instant messaging as anything other than a social toy for her teenage daughters, it has become a real help to her when shes on a conference call with a prospect and needs an immediate answer to a question.


Currently, most companies arent providing that level of blended learning, but this scenario is within reach. This type of robust blended training and support is possible through a well-thought-out approach using available technologies. Several organizations have already begun deploying aspects of those three paths. (6) In deploying blended learning, here are six best practices that are important to creating an effective solution: 1) Create a structured core curriculum of learning activities transferred via different delivery methods. Just about everybody needs to interact with content more than once in order to really understand and be able to use it. This co ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

...................You are reading a preview................... Visit our Blog and Unlock Full Access to this essay

Continue READING the FULL Essay by clicking HERE

Essay Tags: blended, learning activities, people learn, delivery, home entertainment

This is an Essay sample / Research paper, you can use it for your research of: It Blended Learning part 1