Several factors are contributing to the growth of blended learning as a vehicle to grow knowledge and skill while increasing productivity.

Time

With demands at work growing, time becomes a more valuable resource. Participants in training are less likely to attend a program of more than a day and in many cases, a day’s duration is considered too long. The challenge facing trainers is how to provide learning that sticks, particularly when it is skills related, when the time dedicated to that learning is shrinking.

Learning Styles

Just as we have different thinking and relationship styles, people have different learning styles as well. Some do just fine in a classroom setting. Others struggle.

Self paced learning, typically provided through e-learning modules, are attractive to many learners. In his recent article, “Best Practices for High Impact Learning,” found in “Chief Learning Officer” (August 2008), Josh Bersin notes, “Today, much of our corporate work experience is dependent on electronic content. E-mail, audio, video, mobile devices, webcasting, messaging portals, search engines and social networks make up a huge part of a businessperson’s life……”Today’s modern learning organization understands how to build context, not just content.”

Repetition

Typically, the more opportunities a learner is provided to concentrate on a topic, the greater the retention and application of learning. Repetition offered in the form of e-learning, classroom experience, post training coaching, among many vehicles, offers far greater opportunity for comprehension and application than a one-and-done training session, no matter what the duration.

TreeLine Training’s Answer to Blended Learning

For all of the reasons noted above, we at TreeLine training continue to focus on providing our clients with multiple learning solutions which include our 70 plus curriculum of classroom training designs, our new launch of 17 e-learning programs and our coaching services provided to help clients get the greatest return on investment through post classroom training coaching.

I encourage you to sample our new e-learning programs in our website and take advantage of the demos we have provided.

Now that Labor Day is behind us, training for employees will accelerate throughout the fall in most organizations.

Consider the value of blended learning solutions as you strive to create a world class learning culture in your organization.