Normen Ulbrich is a trainer in personnel development and works successfully with the blended learning concept. In the video interview via webcam, he talks about initial difficulties in establishing his online academy. He also argues how online impulses make his training so valuable and why in blended learning, everyone involved can only benefit.

As an expert in high-quality training, Normen Ulbrich has successfully worked with imnu Personalentwicklung for many years. Therefore, we asked him in a short video interview what exactly his recipe for success is. His answer: to not leave participants to themselves after the training, but to continue supporting them with regular online impulses.

"In the past, I had too concrete ideas of a learning app"

How did Normen come up with the idea of using online impulses as an extension to his main training? About four years ago, he had very concrete ideas for his own app, Normen explains in the interview. The idea was there, but after some inquiries with app developers, he realized that on one hand, the costs would have been very high – and on the other hand, the app still wouldn’t fulfill all of his ideas even with immensely large expenditures.

Normen's idea: to quickly and easily activate his training participants between the individual face-to-face events with short learning impulses. And to also continue supporting them after the last event, simply to solidify contact.

Blended learning is the core principle of intertwining two different forms of learning (online and in-person) to add more value and sustainability to the learning process.

Eventually, Normen stumbled upon the offer from blink.it and immediately realized that he was not alone with this core idea. “Within two weeks, my idea was then implemented,” Normen said about the creation of his learning impulses.

Check out Normen's response to the question about the origin story of his blended learning directly in the video! Just a note at this point: the image quality is unfortunately not very high as the interview was recorded via video call. However, the content quality is convincing – and that was simply more important to us at this point.

That's why blended learning works in personal training

Blended learning basically means only intertwining two forms of learning meaningfully. In practice, this is almost always classical face-to-face events on one side and e-learning with an online platform on the other side.

In the case of imnu Personalentwicklung, Normen Ulbrich implements blended learning in the form of short learning impulses, which he automatically and specifically releases for his training participants at intervals of three to four weeks. Normen summarizes the advantages of this learning method as follows:

Blended learning convinces me because it gives me the opportunity to continue to engage participants in the topic that I started with, independently of my presence.

Being there without being there – this could also describe the e-learning part of blended learning. Normen can provide his course participants and clients with a high level of support without being on-site himself. This ultimately saves him a lot of time in the long run, both for himself and his participants.

"Participants, clients, and trainers benefit from blended learning"

Normen Ulbrich is convinced: with the concept of blended learning, everyone involved benefits, not only in terms of time savings:

• “For the participants, it is easier to stay engaged in their everyday madness – which they always return to after training.”

• “For the clients, it is good because they have little effort – almost none.”

• “For me as a trainer, it is good because I can provide high quality since I continue to support the participants even though I am not on-site.”

The challenge is just to take the first step. Be bolder! – is Normen's appeal to his trainer colleagues. Blended learning is an investment like any other, and for that, one must also be willing to take some risks and invest resources at the beginning.

"As a trainer, I have a lot of room with blended learning"

In the interview, Normen repeatedly describes blended learning as a “tool” for him as a trainer. This metaphor works very well because, just like a hammer or scissors, blended learning only leads to success if used correctly and consistently.

Once started, blended learning, in Normen's experience, becomes more and more his personal playground: as soon as a certain portfolio of online content is available, you can work freely with it and, for example, spontaneously shift modules to online support in case of time shortages during face-to-face events. Issues with blended learning basically only exist at the very beginning of the transition.

Normen recalls his initial measures – it takes time to familiarize oneself with a new training concept. The video workshop (“rocketday”) from blink.it helped him greatly, and he still benefits from the tips from that event today.

About the blink.it rocketday: This one-day workshop is mainly about using videos in one’s own online support. The platform at blink.it is designed so simply that neither trainers nor course participants need a technical introduction.

You can watch the complete video interview with Normen in this playlist:

Do you have a similar idea as Normen and want to take your training to the next level based on blended learning? Then check out our guide that we have specifically designed for that purpose. Because one thing is clear: the first step is always the hardest.

That’s why we have gathered our experience with trainers like Normen Ulbrich in the guide for blended learning and summarized it in 9 simple steps. When will you take the first step?