Blended learning is about combining different media and teaching methods to create a flexible and customized learning experience.
This can be e-learning, physical courses, online sessions on Teams or Zoom, or videos that participants watch in preparation.
The idea is to use each platform for what it does best.
What is Blended Learning?
In short, blended learning is about combining multiple formats to get the best out of each element. Typically, you use e-learning for theory, which participants can go through at their own pace, and then you meet physically
(or virtually) for courses where the practical aspects come into focus.
There are several models of blended learning, each with their own approach:
- Flipped Classroom : The most common model, where theory is reviewed in advance through e-learning, and time together is spent on discussion and practical exercises.
- Rotation Model : Participants rotate between different learning modalities, e.g. online learning, group work, and teacher-led instruction in a classroom setting, often within a fixed schedule.
- Enriched Virtual Model : A program where participants meet physically a few times, but supplement online learning with mandatory face-to-face sessions.
The choice of model depends on the target audience, the topic and the available resources.
Benefits of Blended Learning
Blended learning allows each learning environment and technology to be used for what they are good at. E-learning, video, etc. work well for theory, which participants can work through at their own pace. On
physical course with other people and instructors, time can be spent on what really provides value – namely practical exercises and reflection.
So you don't need to completely digitize your physical course to use e-learning. Blended learning is hybrid teaching where you use the different media and platforms for what they are best for.
A big advantage is that it can shorten the time spent on courses. When participants have already received the theoretical part through e-learning, the physical teaching can be made shorter – or the same time can be spent on more practical exercises. This makes the course more focused and relevant for the participants.
In addition, the flexibility is a definite plus. Participants can review the material at their own pace and at their own convenience. This is especially beneficial for those who have busy lives and cannot always meet at set times.
Blended learning can also help reduce costs. By moving part of the teaching online, you can save on transportation, premises and other practical things without compromising on quality.
Blended Learning in practice: Saville Assessment Nordic A/S
As research for this article, I spoke with Mattis Noot Ishøy and Magnus Mathiesen from Saville Assessment Nordic to hear about their experiences with transitioning to E-learning and Blended Learning.
Saville Assessment Nordic is a consulting company that, among other things, certifies their clients in the use of psychometric testing tools such as personality tests, skill tests and 360 degree evaluations. Mattis and Magnus are consultants and trainers and have been responsible for developing the e-learning material.
Before implementing blended learning, their course design consisted of self-study via PDFs and an online test that participants had to pass to advance to the physical certification.
The problem was that participants could take the test indefinitely, which often meant that many guessed their way through to pass. The result was that there was a risk that they could arrive unprepared for the physical course, where much of the time was spent repeating theory that could have been learned in advance.
At the same time, their course evaluations clearly showed that most students gained the most learning from the practical and exercise-oriented part of the teaching.
The transition to blended learning and e-learning strengthened the preparation and learning outcomes of the participants. Through a 'flipped classroom approach', theory was moved to e-learning, and the tests were given a limit on the number of times they could be taken. This ensured that participants had the necessary theoretical understanding before they showed up for the course.
"We wanted to free up time in the course for more practical learning. By moving the theory to e-learning, we can now focus on in-depth exercises," says Mattis.
To create their new e-learning content, Saville Assessment Nordic used Articulate Storyline, a popular tool for developing interactive e-learning content. Although Mattis and Magnus were new to using this tool, they jumped into the task after attending a course . This highlights that the transition to blended learning does not necessarily require extensive technical experience, but rather a willingness to learn and experiment with new tools.
Saville Assessment Nordic also implemented an LMS (Learning Management System) to automate course administration.
"It has really reduced our costs and given us more time to focus on teaching instead of administration," Magnus explains.
Mattis and Magnus also talked about the balance between automating processes through the LMS and still having the necessary flexibility to adapt to individual learners' needs.
"We have experienced that when you automate processes, you sometimes have to adjust the manual processes so that they work together," Magnus explained.
Another point was how important it is to find the right balance between theory and practice in their blended learning setup. Saville Assessment Nordic has therefore continuously worked to optimize how much theory should be delivered via e-learning and how much time should be spent on practical tasks during the physical courses. "The most important thing is to create time for the students to practice the tools in practice – that's where they really
learn something," Mattis said.
Done beats perfect - but remember to review early in the process
An important learning from Saville Assessment Nordic's experiences with blended learning and e-learning has been to accept that perfection is not always the goal – instead, it's about getting things done and continuously improving them.
As Mattis put it:
"We tended to spend too much time on small details at first, but we've gradually realized that 'done beats perfect.'
The most important thing is to get the material out to the students, and then we can always adjust and improve along the way." One nuance, however, is that in the future they will do more thorough reviews before publishing the e-learning content, to avoid having to make corrections later.
Blended Learning: A Step Forward
Saville Assessment Nordic's experience shows that implementing blended learning is a process of continuous improvement. Blended learning gives teachers more time for what really makes a difference, while the LMS has reduced the administrative burden.
The example demonstrates how a well-considered approach to blended learning can create tangible benefits for both participants and educators, and emphasizes the importance of continuous evaluation and adaptation in the implementation process.