Digital training is currently more in demand than ever and predominantly takes place without in-person attendance. This has led to a new trend: Virtual Blended Learning. In this article, we explain the method and the benefits for trainers and learners:
Reading tip: If you want to learn more about classic Blended Learning in advance, check out our information page “Blended Learning in Practice”.
Classic Blended Learning describes the combination of various learning forms in a mix of online and in-person phases. However, currently, in-person events are hardly possible or only limited. This has led to a new trend: Completely digital Blended Learning, also known as “virtual Blended Learning”.
The core idea of virtual Blended Learning:
In virtual Blended Learning, the focus is even more on the online phases. Your participants are already working on part of your exercises online and independently from home. So, give them more exercises that they can work on alone and at their own pace. Any content that you also convey online in classic Blended Learning is well-suited: introduction, fundamentals, and theoretical knowledge for the in-person phase.
Nevertheless, you do not have to forgo personal live sessions in virtual Blended Learning: Simply shift your in-person times from the real world to a virtual space. Your presence, in which you directly interact with the participants, can then take place, for example, as a video meeting. Our favorite tool for virtual meetings and training is the video conferencing provider Zoom. There, you can even invite up to 1000 participants and easily meet digitally at a set time to conduct your in-person content or exercises.
We have already tried virtual Blended Learning ourselves. Colleague Michael shares his experiences here in the interview: Blended Learning without in-person attendance – Does it work?
In virtual Blended Learning, your in-person phase takes place digitally with all participants.
The advantages of virtual Blended Learning summarized:
Digital presence promotes personal exchange and enables quick inquiries and joint exercises, despite the physical distance.
You have lower costs since you do not have to travel or rent a space. This makes your offer cheaper for your participants.
For your participants, attending a digital presence is very easy, as time and effort for traveling to and from the in-person location are eliminated.
In the digital space, participants are usually more attentive, and your exercises become more efficient in a shorter time.
You can support your participants more individually and purposefully, as written questions do not get lost as quickly.
Of course, there are various ways to structure your virtual Blended Learning. We have already summarized the most popular Blended Learning models in classic Blended Learning for you. These can also be implemented completely virtually. Download the free model overview and start your virtual Blended Learning concept!
