One of the dominant learning models emerging from the Pandemic era is blended learning. Surveys showed a greater than 46% rate of increase in adopting this system of learning worldwide. 

Implemented in the right way, blended learning can improve the effectiveness of training for your learners, and it can help in selling courses online as well. The core of every superior blended training program sees virtual learning activities complementing traditional in-person instructional sessions.

If your company is delivering or thinking of delivering a blended learning training program, take these actions to ensure a positive return on your training and learning development investment:

Make Training Effective with Blended Learning

Step 1

Establish organizational and learner goals and use them as a guide to determine key foundational elements used in developing an optimal training model.

Step 2

Utilize a comprehensive Learning Management System (LMS) to anchor the online learning portion of your training program. Lambda Suite is an all-in-one learning suite capable of proficiently managing your web-based learning modules and enabling:

1. The creation of interactive-rich experiences for your learners through its in-house authoring tool
2. The importation of compatible software applications that add to the interactivity
   

Engagement is the Key to Upping Training Effectiveness. Check out this eBook to learn more about The Importance of the E's of eLearning.

Ways to boost engagement within your online training program:

Gamification incorporates elements or mechanics adapted from video games into your online learning modules to increase the fun factor and bring forth a more satisfying experience for learners.

• Rewards, Points, and Badges. Learners are provided with recognition of their achievements and incentives to progress through and complete course segments and modules
• Quizzes or Tests to help immerse learners to gain a more in-depth understanding of course content individually or teams of learners for added interactivity through formats such as:
• Multiple-choice 
• Drag and drop menus 
  
  

Video conferencing and webinar hosting platforms supply opportunities to supplement interactions between learners and instructors/coaches/tutors.

Plan Effective Blended Learning with Video Conferencing 

• Design your personalized training platform with the help of the learning suite
• Take advantage of video conferencing applications such as Zoom and Skype 

Discussion forums extend face-to-face classroom learning by allowing students to take part in critical and in-depth thinking on important concepts within course curricula and interact with other learners and instructors on a deeper level through:

        i ) Discussion posts
       ii) Group-based projects

Microlearning practices break down learning into bite-sized chunks, facilitating mastery of specific procedures/processes and encouraging students to engage in learning for short periods of time. Utilize the following quick learning strategies:

• Add in YouTube videos using LTI plugins
• Incorporate FAQs, Infographics, or Tips and Tricks utilizing drop-downs or the hover over feature

→ useful for onboarding (workplace policies and procedures)

→ learning new and specific tasks through on-the-job training

→ compliance with regulations required in certain industries/organizations (e.g. safety protocols, including cybersecurity)

Step 3

Use LMS-generated analytics data to set Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), measurable benchmarks for outcomes and performance over time. Formulate KPIs with attainable targets for your organization’s teams to work towards in order to make sound decisions when it comes to scaling your business and staying in tune with new trends in your industry and ever-changing technologies.

Important categories of analytics data indicating:

Learner engagement

• Participation rates in discussion forums and live sessions
• Average time spent on elements in modules (longer times indicate increased engagement)
• Average number of user logins
• Post-course evaluation feedback on engagement levels within course elements

Appropriateness of course content/learner understanding

• Average scores on quizzes, pre- and post- test scores, assignments, and discussion forums
• Post-course evaluation feedback on appropriateness of course material

Effectiveness in engagement and appropriateness of course elements

• Participant attendance rates
• Average time to complete course/module

Clear and Relevant Training KPIs:

• 90% of all course participants will attend the introductory live session for the full hour
• All marketing team members will achieve a score of 100% on the Cybersecurity 2021 module final quiz by December 23, 2021

Vague Training KPIs:

• The average number of user logins for the Timesheet Entry Portal training tutorial

✔ [include measurable targets: An average of 80 logins, time frame: by the end of every new employee’s first week]

• A 75% response rate on the post-course evaluation survey 

✔ [provide more specific details: 75% positive response rate on the level of interactivity; time frame: within 1 week of the course end date]

Step 4

Generate analytics reports with pertinent and easily interpretable information on dashboards aimed at course developers and instructors to assist them in making interventions to eLearning modules. Your analytics reports should clearly show you how your learners’ performance stack up against your KPIs.

Before generating “official” reports and dashboards → Make the most of Ad Hoc Views feature, an analytics data testing ground, before you produce your reports and dashboards for interpretation. Experiment with presenting data using different : 

• Types of charts (e.g., pie and  line charts & bar graphs, etc.)
• Types of data (e.g., percentages, raw scores, rates, etc.)
• Colours and fonts
• Layouts of your data
  
  

Reports you need for a plan of action?

• Course Completion reports
• Learner Progress reports
• Quiz statistics 
• Custom reports (e.g. comparing pre- and post- course test grades)

Purpose-specific dashboards

• Training Effectiveness dashboard contains analytics data on:
• Course feedback from learners
• Quiz statistics and assessments
• Comparisons of results from one month to another for a certain course

Role-specific dashboards 

• Instructor dashboard (e.g., contains data for a course they are teaching)
• Quiz and assignment scores
• Number of attempts at quizzes
• Time of completion for each quiz

Interventions:

• Increase or decrease complexity of course content
• Supplement course content or delete sections of content
• Develop alternative learning approaches
• Determine which segments of course content to increase the level of interactivity

Count on Lambda Suite’s comprehensive features and support team to lead your business through the actions needed to make training in a blended learning environment more effective for your learners.