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TrainingDepartment.com - Custom Distance Learning Management Intranet you will ever need

Training Department brings together the latest online training news, so our customers truely realize the value online training can have, while providing innovative ways of implementation. We hope to educate those who are looking for an online training system and demonstrate our value to their company. If you discover an interesting training or online training resource, send us a note and we'll include it.

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Blended Learning:

Why Everything Old Is New Again - But Better

By Caroline Gray
Originally distributed LearningCircuits.org

Article excerpt -"Blended learning is a powerful training solution that combines e-learning with a variety of other delivery methods for a superior learning experience. This article reveals what makes blended learning so powerful, and how to choose the right mix of delivery methods for the best blend of skill enhancement and sustainability to ensure a company’s long-term competitive advantage.

With recent advances in the science and technology of learning, practitioners have many choices of training media. Will it be e-learning? Or one of the older but tried and true methods: self-study, job aids, videos, mastery cards, computer-based training (CBT), role-plays, or workshops? How about teleconferencing or web-based seminars? With all these options, it’s hard to know which delivery method is the best choice for your organization.But why take one item from the menu when you can have the buffet?

Enter blended learning. If you know how to choose your servings wisely, you will come away from the table more satisfied, with improved results and a much higher return on your training investment. If you choose unwisely, there are consequences that may slow your progress or even stop it in its tracks. The key is to understand why blended learning is so powerful, and to know how to make the choices that will provide the best blend of skill enhancement and sustainability to ensure long-term competitive advantage.

Everything old is new again

Blended learning is a custom approach that applies a mix of training delivery options to teach, support, and sustain the skills needed for top job performance. With blended learning, the tried-and-true traditional learning methods are combined with new technology to create a synergistic, dynamic learning structure that can propel learning to new heights.

The learning model follows four stages:

Stage 1: Initial knowledge or skill acquisition

Training Department online software can be developed to present information, test and allow e-learners to move at their own pace. It can compliment class material or provide refresher courses prior to class time.

Stage 2: Increased knowledge or skill proficiency

Training Department e-learning courseware can be developed to compliment traditional classroom settings and allow some to develop a proficiency for the basic requirements while others can advance to a deeper skill level.

Stage 3: Ability to apply knowledge or skill in simple situations

Training Department promotes the use of information, not just the reading of e-courseware through interactive settings and testing as well as interaction with e-coaches.

Stage 4: Ability to apply knowledge or skill in increasingly complex situations, to think through a solution.

Training Department e-courseware can be developed to allow e-learners work through complex courses, interact, develop and move onto the next level with increasing skills.

These four stages represent a continuum from passive reception of facts to active application of them.

Learning over time

Deep learning occurs over time. It is a process rather than an event. Only through complete processing of information, on-the-job practice opportunities, and feedback, will learners develop proficiency. Additional time is needed for the performance change to be sustained through reinforcement on the job and skill refreshers. Learner motivation and concentrated attention to learning are also key factors in the success of this learning continuum.

This takes time. Therefore, it sounds as though effective learning must also be expensive. The good news, however, is that technology can compress the time spent on learning. E-learning eliminates travel time and provides individualized training based only on the skill gaps of each employee.

The classroom provides the organizational framework and motivation, and enables people to learn through their peers’ experiences. These aspects of learning can be simulated online, but classroom training will strengthen the learning experience and is the best place to deal with subtle organizational differences in practice, as well as exceptions to the rules.

The foundation of all of TrainingDepartment.com is to provide an e-learning system solution that can be implemented at all of our to create a custom training solution to meet all of their training needs.

Blended learning represents an effective and proven learning model. It capitalizes on the strengths and benefits of technology-based training as well as classic self-study, classroom, and on-the-job instruction in a “mix & match” format that is tailored to the specific training needs of each organization.

Blended learning is a cost-effective approach that keeps your organization at its peak—learning and achieving. It reduces boredom, decreases costs, and produces tangible results that relate to enhanced shareholder value. It can ensure that your people are the competitive weapon you need to meet your goals. That’s reason enough to consider how it may serve your performance improvement needs.

The advantages of distance learning: save time in travel, save money, provide self paced training solutions and provide more training solution.

Contact Training Department now for more information.


Caroline Gray is director of technology-based learning for Omega Performance. She can be reached via email..