|
Online Training News
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.
Visit Our Other Websites
- Leapfrog Incentive Tool Suite
Achieve superior business results by rewarding and recognizing your sales partners and employees.
www.ileapfrog.com
What Is Blended Learning?
Article excerpt - How Blended Learning Changes What We Do
By Allison RossettOriginally distributed LearningCircuits.org
"What is blended learning? Blended learning integrates seemingly opposite approaches, such as formal and informal learning, face-to-face and online experiences, directed paths and reliance on self-direction, and digital references and collegial connections, in order to achieve individual and organizational goals. (Rossett & Frazee, 2005)."
Training Department understands the importance of blended learning in the development of distance learning courses. We provide our clients with resources on a variety of topics to help in the development and implementation of their education or training projects.
Blended learning brings learning, information, and support to work. Instructors and managers have good reasons to worry about transfer when employees experience a dichotomy between learning and work. Will the skills and knowledge picked up in class in November help with leveraging the software in March? With blended learning, things are different. Got a question? You can look it up online. Got a problem? You chat with your e-coach or share it with an online community. Eager to hone skills in dealing with conflict? You can take a course, work with an e-coach, and use materials embedded in your Personal Information Manager to nudge new approaches. The American Management Association offers a blended learning approach that leverages convergence (Leonard, 2005).
Many use our e-courseware for employee online training. Our library of resources and document library has valuable information to help in the development, creation and implementation of your employee online training program.
Blended learning promotes connections and conversations. Blended learning encourages the organization to extend lessons and conversations beyond the classroom and into the workplace through coaching, e-coaching, and online communities. A sales person who has learned about a new product can chat with more experienced colleagues attempting to bring that product to market. An executive can reach out for expert views from a trusted e-coach. Individual needs get met as experts coach you on your concerns, starkly different from teaching 15 or 20 in a classroom.
Blended learning provides consistent and updated messages. Instructors are a great resource, but their messages can be idiosyncratic and their smarts and enthusiasm depart after class. Technology, on the other hand, lingers to deliver standardized messages, consistently, tirelessly, swiftly, repeatedly, patiently, around the globe. Online modules, knowledge bases, and archived presentations do not get jet lag.
Training Department's online training software has a student administration section that can be productively used by the training professional and the manager (either of whom can act as the e-coach). Online forums provide a communication mechanism for interactions among the class. We promote this because we firmly believe that our e-courseware can provide a more effective solution if supplemented with blended learning and interactions within the learning process.
Blended learning capitalizes on the resident smarts in the organization. Blended learning presses people and organizations to find, store, stir, and share what they know. The knowledge management movement that disappointed some is enlisted as a key player in blended learning. A database might help sales people reuse parts of proposals. Far-flung hotel administrators can "ask the experts" through FAQs, email, phone calls, or live video streams. Employees may turn to their supervisors to practice a skill or explore an idea. Learning experiences are paired with knowledge available on demand.
Blending knowledge management and e-learning - Training Department's e-courseware can provide solutions to address constant and consistent sharing of corporate information. Just as "e-courses" are not restricted to physical location and course schedules, they also need not be restricted being defined as a "course" it can be open to sharing information as needed.
Blended learning improves performance and controls costs. Studies report increased cost-effectiveness (Graham, Allen & Ure, 2003), and increased productivity for those using a blended approach as opposed to e-learning alone (Thomson/NETg, 2003). Nelson (2005) and Bersin (2004) reported enhanced employee retention and reduced training time for blended approaches (Zenger & Uehlein, 2001). In addition, online resources can be easier and cheaper to update and distribute (Osguthorpe & Graham, 2003). The costs of real estate are reduced, as organization take lessons and messages to workers, no matter where they are (Conlin, 2006)."
Training Department is confident that you will have a quick ROI with our products and services, review our training software benefits. It's easy to set up, the only thing you need is a content author, an administrator, and an internet connection. No IT interaction, no hardware to maintain, no need for hosting, or creation of graphics. If you're unable to create your own courses Training Department has e-course design services.
Contact Us for more information about blended learning.
Allison Rossett is a member of ASTD's Board of Directors and a professor of educational technology at San Diego State University. Allison's contact email.