Create Magic with spells of Blended Learning --- "Abracadabra"

Blended learning refers to the using of in-person (conventional) classroom as well as online learning experiences.

Both the online as well as instructor-led classroom training interactions will create magic, complementing each other to provide a holistic learning experiences...…..Food for Thought!!!

Whether it is school goer or office goer or entrepreneur : "One Cap fits all" - The Blend.

Blended learning is the best solution as we can blend in different formats of online and offline training,

be it classroom ILT (instructor-led training), virtual ILT (VILT), eLearning, social learning, and performance support,

as facilitators, we can use all these modalities to impact learner's progress.

How to make best of the "Blended Learning" process?

Our recall value is highest during active learning that is represented during assessment process!!!

As felicitators, we need to figure out the best teaching/training delivery for a particular learning need as - our audience/their background/topic/outcome of the class.

To do this, it is essential to first have a thorough understanding of the different teaching/training delivery methods and what the learners are capable of.

How to arrive at a solution that includes all these training/teaching methods?

In a Generic overview, it is categorized as 2 models:

Model 1 :

Teaching/Training that involves active engagement and participation. This happens in a

classroom environment, where there are lots of discussions and interactions.

Model 2 :

Teaching/Training where the learner gets to do activities, work in simulated environments,

or work on real-life job situations.

In a categoric view, the following specific 4 learning models gives the best outcome.

• Rotational Model

• Flex Model

• Enriched Virtual Model

• À La Carte Model

1. Rotational Model

In a corporate scenario: If you are going for digital training for the first time, then ‘Rotational’ model can be a great fit for your organization.

As the name suggests, in blended learning approach, learners are expected to follow a fixed schedule and rotate through several training formats, one of which is eLearning.

This model of blended learning provides you greater flexibility in blending classroom ILT, online training, social learning, or any other training format that encourages continuous learning. Including different training methods will also allow learners to practice what they have learned, thereby filling any learning gaps. Also, since learners will be following a fixed schedule, it makes tracking their training progress much easier.

In a school scenario: One of the most convenient ways of using the rotational blended learning approach is the ‘Flipped Classroom’. The Flipped Classroom is a reverse (or a flip) of traditional classroom training, with learners going through online training first (where they go through the basic training) before coming to the classroom (where they practice what they have learned, or clarify doubts with the instructor). It equips learners with the pre-requisites for classroom training and familiarizes them with needed concepts, before delivering in-depth learning (or facilitating learners to apply their learning) in the classroom.

The Rotational Model is best equipped to deal with training that requires the flexibility of online training and the face-to-face interaction of the classroom.

The flipped classroom can be used with great success for communication skills training. Learners can brush up their theory through eLearning and can then apply this knowledge in the classroom sessions or workshops. You can also use collaborative learning activities like role-playing and group projects to teach communication skills.

The first model, the Rotation model is exactly what it sounds like – a program in which students rotate on a fixed schedule between learning modalities, where at least one is online learning.

How to integrate Flipped Classroom learning experience with the present setup.

This model includes four sub-models:

• Station-Rotation,

• Lab-Rotation,

• Flipped-Classroom, and

• Individual-Rotation.

If you already have your own classroom, or are currently student teaching in one, you have probably already used or been exposed to Station-Rotation. In this model, the teacher acts as a facilitator in instructions and activities by providing stations, also known as centers, for students to participate and rotate in. With this particular model at least one of those stations must be online learning. In other stations, you might have small art projects, writing assignments, educational game boards, or even small-group instruction, however, all activities must be centered around the same content topic.

Station-Rotation mimics Lab-Rotation in that students are rotating between different activities, however, Lab-Rotation takes place outside of the classroom while Station-Rotation usually takes place inside the classroom. In Lab-Rotation, students typically rotate between different areas on campus, where at least one of them is an online learning lab. Individualized-Rotation, on the other hand, allows students to rotate between learning modalities based on their individualized schedules. While Individualized-Rotation still includes online learning, not all students will rotate through each station since this sub-model is personalized to the student’s pace.

Flipped classrooms take this concept to a whole other level by taking direct instruction home and doing homework in class. A flipped classroom is literally a classroom that has flipped the traditional way of learning by requiring students to access content and instruction digitally from home and providing face-to-face teacher-guided practices in the classroom. From home, students have better access to learning since they are able to manipulate the time, place, path, and/or pace of their instruction and bring lingering questions with them to the classroom , where they receive individualized support.

2. Flex Model

The ‘Flex’ blended learning model gives learners a much more flexible and personalized learning experience that is tailored to their needs. Unlike the rotational model, the Flex Model puts a lot of emphasis on online training. Since a major part of this model is focused on eLearning, other training formats are used only to complement online training through collaborative learning activities and personalized interventions. In a Flex model, content and instruction is primarily delivered online, but students continue to have an individualized learning schedule with face-to-face support. Flex models differ from site-to-site but all will have a teacher-of-record on-site to provide support, whether that be minimal or substantial.

In a Self-Blend model, students have the option to take courses entirely online to replace traditional courses but this teacher-of-record will also be the online teacher. In this model, only students self-blend only some of their courses, while continuing to take other courses in person. When an entire school has divided their time between remote instruction and in-person instruction for every course, they follow an Enriched-Virtual model. It differs from a Flipped Classroom because students do not attend campus everyday. In fact, some schools that have adopted this model to have students attend class the first day of instruction and then continue the course virtually. It is important to know that this is a whole-school experience, because, unlike the Self-Blend model, every student enrolled is participating in this model of Blended Learning.

In a corporate scenario: For product training of sales representatives, use eLearning courses on the different products they have to sell – their specifications, features, usage, benefits, etc.

After learners have formed a comprehensive idea about the products, you can have them attend classroom sessions or workshops where they can see the product demonstration for themselves. You can tie up the whole training with performance support aids in the form of microlearning videos, podcasts, quizzes, or infographics to equip them with instant solutions for problems they face on their jobs on-site.

3. Enriched Virtual Model

The Enriched virtual blended learning model is becoming increasingly popular in this era of work from home. This model is very similar to the Flex model since online training forms a major component of this training approach. But unlike the Flex model, learners must go through a scheduled Instructor-led classroom session, either in brick-n-mortar or virtual classrooms. The Enriched virtual blended learning model recognizes the value of the instructor’s intervention during training and enriches the remote learning experience by enabling learner-instructor interaction through VILT platforms.

A whole-school experience in which within each course (e.g., math), students divide their time between attending a brick-and-mortar campus and learning remotely using online delivery of content and instruction. Many Enriched Virtual programs began as full-time online schools and then developed blended programs to provide students with brick-and-mortar school experiences.

The Enriched Virtual model differs from the Flipped Classroom because in Enriched Virtual programs, students seldom attend the brick-and-mortar campus every weekday. It differs from the A La Carte model because it is a whole-school experience, not a course-by-course model.

Example:

We can use the ‘Enriched Virtual Model’ for basic leadership training where eLearning can be used to explain concepts and theories. The training will include classroom training (either the physical or virtual classroom) as a mandatory component to offer opportunities for peer-learning, coaching, critical reflection, and experiential learning activities.

4. À La Carte Model

Just because the last two blended learning models focused mostly on online training, it doesn’t mean blended learning only allows offline training formats to complement online training. If you are looking for a training approach where the majority of training is conducted in the physical classroom in the presence of an instructor, look no further than the ‘à la carte model’. This model only allows digital training formats to supplement formal classroom sessions, either pre- or post-training. It is a great way of mentoring learners by providing them hands-on experience and online performance support later to reinforce learning. a program in which students take one or more courses entirely online with an online teacher of record and at the same time continue to have brick-and-mortar educational experiences.

Students may take the online courses either on the brick-and-mortar campus or off-site. This differs from full-time online learning and the Enriched Virtual model because it is not a whole-school experience.

Example: We can use this model to train employees whose job involves practical ‘doing’, like engineers who need training on assembling products or lab technicians who need to be trained on handling lab equipment.

We can train them primarily in classrooms and workshops and give them job aids for performance support during their jobs.

Summing It Up!