The term Blended Learning is something you may have read repeatedly not only on this blog. What does it actually mean, and above all – why should you as a trainer, educator, or consultant engage with it? Take three minutes to read this article and then decide whether Blended Learning is a solution for you!

“You have to be at least one whiskey ahead of life” – Humphrey Bogart.

You may already know the expression Blended Whisky. Unlike Single Malt Whisky, it is a drink made by mixing different whiskies. Now, this is not a mark of quality among connoisseurs, but fortunately, this linguistic image is not transferable 1:1 to the education sector. Because there, “Blended” is a term that does not take away any power from your face-to-face training or coaching. In fact, quite the opposite!

Update from June 26, 2018: As of today, you will find numerous information on our new Info page on Blended Learning in practice. The page serves as a contact point for all your questions about Blended Learning: From idea to implementation, through conditions to examples from real trainings.

Blended Learning means mixing learning methods

Blended Learning is the mixing of different learning methods. We generally understand it as the combination of face-to-face events (such as workshops, seminars, or even online webinars) and online phases where participants can learn self-directedly.

There are also many different models. You can generally provide online content only after your face-to-face training. However, you can also take the face-to-face as the anchor point of your Blended Learning and include online phases before and after using the sandwich method.

Here is an overview of the three most popular models in Blended Learning:

1. The “Sprinter”
   
   
   

   

   
   

2. The “Heron”

1. The “Sandwich”
   
   
   

   

Application fields for Blended Learning

Online and face-to-face phases are suitable everywhere learning should be effective and flexible. This can be in schools, in private settings, or of course in professional development.

The idea behind Blended Learning is very much on trend, not just in the education sector. Keywords like “Work-Life-Balance” or “Stress Management” are currently appearing in all media. In short: We want to live “blended”, work “blended” – so it’s time we also learned blended!

Your benefit from Blended Learning: The best of both worlds

The alternatives to Blended Learning are either pure face-to-face events or pure e-learning. We at blink.it do not believe that either of these will prevail alone. No, we are convinced that Blended Learning is the optimal solution for all educators in the long run.

Because both worlds have their own advantages. E-Learning is cheaper, more flexible, and faster. Face-to-face events, on the other hand, score especially through the personal connection to the trainer or coach. So what should stop you from picking the best parts and benefiting from all the advantages? The following overview shows you where the advantages of e-learning lie and where those of face-to-face events do:

With Blended Learning, you combine the advantages of face-to-face and online in the way that suits you best. If you have only relied on e-learning or solely on face-to-face events until now, the following 7 advantages of Blended Learning might interest you:

• You gain a unique selling proposition

• You gain a new revenue stream

• You gain new customer groups

• You gain measurability

• You gain reusability

• You gain flexibility

• You gain media diversity

blink.it founder and learning expert Konstantin Ristl explains at Learntec why Blended Learning will prevail.

5 Questions for your start in Blended Learning

There is much more to say about Blended Learning, but probably you already have concrete questions forming in your mind so far. In decision-making, trainers are often faced with many sensible and important questions. From the right timing to financing and the selection of the right devices – my colleague Hans Peter Ludescher has gathered and answered the Top 5 Questions about Blended Learning from Trainers.

Thank you for your three minutes of reading time! If you have made it this far, take another 5 minutes now to take the first step towards your Blended Learning. Grab something to write with and answer the following five questions, freely inspired by the Natural Planning Model by David Allen:

  1. Was ist ein konkretes Ziel, das du unabhängig von Blended Learning aktuell hast?  2. Was muss passieren, damit du dieses Ziel erreichst?  3. Kann dir Blended Learning dabei helfen?  4. Wie kann dir Blended Learning dabei helfen?  5. Was ist der erste kleine Schritt, den du dafür tun musst

Have you written something down for all the points? Then go ahead and implement the last point right away. Good luck and enjoy the best of both worlds!