As we begin to return to some sort of normality, there's no denying that the world of work has been forever changed for many organisations. Whilst many employees that have spent the best part of two years working from home are expecting this to continue in some form; this can create a headache for L&D teams tasked with ensuring all staff receive the training they desire.
So, how can L&D teams achieve this? Well, we looked at some of the trends industry experts are expecting to see in 2022, and one of these trends could be the answer; flexible blended learning,
Nick Shackleton-Jones, CEO at Shackleton Consulting, believes, “We’re going to see a swing back towards in-person events, but the proportion of learning delivered digitally will remain far higher than pre-pandemic levels.” (5 Corporate Training Trends To Watch Out For In 2022, eLearning Industry, https://elearningindustry.com/corporate-training-trends-to-watch-out-for-in-2022)
What is flexible blended learning?
To define flexible blended learning, let's break it down into two parts:
Flexible Learning: The concept of flexible learning is learning that can happen anytime, anywhere, anyhow. Learners are given freedom in how, what, when and where they learn.
Blended Learning: a style of learning in which students learn via electronic and online media as well as traditional face-to-face teaching.
How can flexible blended learning benefit organisations?
Whilst flexible blended learning sounds challenging to manage, here's why it's well worth considering in this new world of work:
Empower your employees
Flexible blended learning empowers your employees to choose how and when they learn. They can choose the method that suits them best as well as the time that suits them best.
Keep employees engaged
Employees working remotely can sometimes feel disconnected from the rest of the organisation. The loss of "water cooler chats" or shared lunch breaks can leave employees feeling isolated; however, having the option to attend in-person training or live online training as well as eLearning can help employees reconnect with colleagues and feel better connected to the business.
Lower training costs
eLearning can save the cost of hiring external trainers, finding venues and even save on the cost of refreshments. Furthermore, last-minute cancellations result in even more wasted time and money. Flexible blended learning reduces the amount of in-person training, therefore saving considerable amounts of time and money.
Keep things interesting
As the saying goes, variety is the spice of life, and this couldn't be more true than when it comes to L&D programmes. Offering In-person training, on-demand video, e-learning, AR experiences or live online events gives employees a wide variety of learning options and helps keep learners engaged.
Improve the management of progress
Whilst in-person training is highly effective, it can be difficult to manage progress or assess how well learners have retained information. Using a mix of learning methods means progress can be recorded, such as how many online modules have been completed of eLearning courses, the number of on-demand videos have been watched or how many live events have been attended.
The future of L&D
As we mentioned above, flexible blended learning has been named by industry experts as a trend to watch for in 2022, and after assessing the benefits, it's clear to see why and in a candidate-driven market, those looking for their next career move are looking for more than just a great salary. Having an exciting, forward-moving L&D strategy will not only help you retain the excellent talent you already have, but it will also give you a competitive edge and help you become an employer of choice for future talent.
If you want help delivering your flexible blended learning strategy, contact us today. We offer a wide range of in-person and eLearning options.
