Photo by: Annie Spratt via Unsplash
Instructional Designers are constantly faced with the challenge of putting together solid performance-based training that sets learners up for success on the job. Their real-world circumstances are often less than ideal as they are consistently asked to work their magic with tight and unrealistic constraints. As training professionals, we know there is no magic wand, but we do have choices. One of those choices is blended learning. It offers the instructional designer a variety of strategies to choose from to help solve the complexities of the work environment’s training needs. There is no perfect blend of strategies, but there is a 3-step process we explore in our Blended Learning workshop that helps simplify the decision-making process.
Step 1: Identify Constraints
Before you choose a core strategy, like traditional instructor-led training or e-learning, you must first identify the instructional design constraints you are facing (e.g. time, budget, organizational mandates/policies, technical, design, etc.). This is a critical first step.
Step 2: Select Strategy
Once you have identified your constraints, it is time to consider the best core strategy (or strategies) that is most feasible for the type of content you are designing for. Will it be a traditional strategy, an e-learning strategy, or a combination? Not only do you need to assess the type of content, you will also need to consider other key factors such as the location of the learners, available resources, and deadlines, along with their implications.
Step 3: Consider Performance Support Activities
Unfortunately, we don’t live in an ideal world. Due to tight constraints, the instructional designer may need to incorporate Performance Support Activities (PSA’s) to support the core training strategy solution. While there’s a wide variety of PSA’s, some of the most common are coaching sessions, assigned reading, and group discussions and assessments.
Remember, there is no perfect blend. If you would like to explore best practices and dig a little deeper into the available strategies and options, I encourage you to register for our Blended Learning workshop. You may discover the ideal blend for you!
Note: This post is part of a workshop intersession activity. As such, it is monitored in a slightly different manner than the other blog posts on our website. If you are not a participant in the applicable workshop, but have a question you would like answered, please feel free to contact us.
64 Responses to “A 3-Step Decision-Making Process for Blended Learning”
Blended learning is key to adapting all types of learning styles. Sometimes, even core strategies can also be PSA’s. Having a checklist means you don’t miss something, and can also add to it.
I can’t wait to apply these blended learning approaches to our training courses. The identification of constraints and prioritization of tasks stand out as useful tools!
I really like Langevin’s blended learning framework because it promotes a strategic way to think through the selection of learning strategies (vs. just picking a hodge podge). The evaluation of constraints and task prioritization helps IDs make design decisions that can be clearly defended/supported when reporting back to management, employers, and clients.
Using a blended approach to training was very effective for our field technical employees. They are used to working on tools all day, not computers. Thus, mixing up pre-training activities, in-person training, and follow-up observation in the field helped to get everyone up to speed with the new systems we needed them to use.
With the change in the way training has to be delivered due to the pandemic and cost restraints, blended learning is the best way of getting the required training delivered.
It’s good to know that we are already using blended .earning in our classes. We have pre-tests/post-tests, class evaluations, games for review questions, and other features.
I love the formula to prioritize tasks! I think this will be very helpful to have a uniformed way to decipher what is the most important, when “everything” seems important.
I really like the steps of identifying constraints and task prioritization and using the tool to document them. It’s a way to justify your design decisions so others can see there is an approach to determining your strategies!
Blended learning allows you to spend the most time on the most essential information that needs to get across, while still giving learners all the information they will need to know whether it is a high, medium, or low priority.
Blending learning gives us an additional training/learning outlet that we never had the ability to leverage until the last couple of years. Now not all content, in my opinion, can be leveraged effectively in a blending learning environment but for some content the flexibility is very useful. Key learnings have been the technology restraints and leveraging an effective platform. We leverage Microsoft Teams and it creates a lot of extra work by the facilitators to leverage, instead of the platform helping the learning environment. Leveraging the three step approach can help the team understand the process and obstacles early on to make the learning experience more effective.