Blended Learning: Benefits in Education & Business Applications in 2021
Blended learning is a progressive learning concept that has gained massive popularity in the education system and professional sector likewise. As modern technology has gradually made its way into classrooms, it makes us realize the advanced application of learning in the workplace as well. Blended learning is a remarkable innovation in the education field which has proved to be equally beneficial in other fields.
In this blog, I have mentioned the major benefits of blended learning in the education and business field that are applicable in 2021 and the many years to come for excellence. Let’s delve into them:
Benefits of blended learning
Blended learning has multiple benefits for the digitalized world. For the sake of simplicity, let’s talk about benefits for students and working individuals in the education and professional fields respectively. The benefits are mutually applicable both for the students/ trainees and the teachers/ trainers.
Benefits of blended learning in the education field
Blended learning has been proved to improve overall student performance scores in schools and colleges worldwide. In some cases, their average improvement scores have been recorded by survey reports to be elevated by 10%. These statistics have also been collected from a decent number of home-schooled kids and self-supported working professionals, pointing out the significant role of blended learning in lowering the drop-out frequency rate.
Some of the major benefits of blended learning are as follows:
Time and cost-efficiency
Blended learning is a time saving method that is bendable and convenient. Timing is mostly flexible and set by the students themselves. There are no strict time limitations and schedules to abide by. This enables students to learn at their own pace and accord, giving them a sense of responsibility and time management skills.
Blended learning combines both traditional and online learning methods and provides the best outcome out of both. Usually, blended learning does not need a specialized environment or facility to carry on with its procedure. If traditional learning resources are not suitable then a smart switch to online mode is lauded with many opportunities. This allows students to choose what suits their financial situation the most. Most of the blended environments are not remotely located, some can be accessed right from one’s own home. Hence, it reduces any additional cost of commute, facility charges besides the total tuition fee.
There are abundant courses that are available for students who can’t obtain education via the traditional method. For such individuals, blended learning is a blessing as it is the most cost-efficient and flexible learning method.
Digitalized study programs
The digitalized study programs are majorly personalized and allow for broad variability in teaching techniques and student’s comprehension rates.
Course work can be transformed into visual presentations, animations, and quizzes that are way more fun and interesting to watch and learn. The personalization characteristic of blended learning programs enables students to give their best without any peer pressure or disturbance.
Being digital, most student-teacher interaction is done via live video chats and webcams. This makes this format easily accessible and approachable. It allows students to establish quick contact with their teachers for doubt clearing queries and additional study tips.
Students are not only able to monitor their performance but also get their test results via online mode.
Flexible study hours and learning resources
A great variety of learning materials are available to the students who opted for blended learning. Although the required study materials are provided, the students can back these up with the help of their own research. For instance, they could conclude that learn more from visual media than the written course materials.
Some students find that they tend to learn more during late hours as per their concentration skills. That is they can easily adjust their schedule to study in the evenings. While others are most productive in the early morning and they find that they can concentrate better during the day. With blended learning, it becomes possible for the students to study whenever they feel like, understudy schedules off course.
Proficient retention
The online study materials are more interactive in nature and hence keep students focused. Students tend to memorize their course concepts this way better as the interesting course structure keeps them highly engaged.
This is because an interactive and practical approach to learning is the best way to impart knowledge. It is far more interesting as well than the long tedious, boring lecture hours spent idle in classrooms. Not hating the traditional method here, only pointing out the obvious.
Broad reach for teachers
Through the online method in blended learning, teachers are able to reach a wide number of students within a short time and address them all at the same time. This broadens their reach and lessens the amount of effort.
Once uploaded, the online study session can be recorded and saved for future reference. The applications of this feature have countless prospects. Course work can be obtained and shared with hundreds of students in a short span of time and can be reused indefinitely. Once on the net, it stays they forever!
This widens the horizons of teachers as well. They have the access to approach international students in the same amount of time and can conduct their unified sessions along with the indigenous ones. This sets the teachers free from the limitations they face while being limited to only one classroom at the same time. Imagine only one teacher handling a hoard of students with absolutely no chaos. This allows the teachers to come up with more effective teaching styles and improve their abilities.
Adapted to be adopted by all
One of the most important benefits of blended learning is its versatile application. It can be adopted by every student of variable abilities. Those students who are fast learners can advance as per their speed without having to slow down nor disturb others, while those who can work well at their own pace don’t have to worry about being left behind. This is truly a universal education concept that needs to be highlighted more often.
Benefits of blended learning in the workplace
Blended learning eradicates all the challenges that are faced by training programs provided at the workplace. Challenges such as consistent training delivery, maximum learner engagement, and skills application can be easily overcome with the implementation of a blended learning approach. This makes this learning method to be the best option for workplace training and business plans.
Blended learning reduces training expenditures and takes care of the business goals as well as enhances employee’s proficiency.
Blended learning has wide applications in various fields. Not even the education sector, but businesses have also taken a liking to this 21st-century learning approach.
Institutions such as Gratis School of learning, Aptech Aviation academy have implemented a blended learning approach in their training methodology. With the vast array of advantages it offers, it is fairly the most applicable learning technique that has earned its position today.
Conclusion
The only disadvantage that appears for blended learning is that it is majorly dependable on technology. In many countries, technology still has a long way to go. Including India, developing countries may find it challenging and somewhat difficult to get used to. The existing blended learning technique is simple enough to implement but the online resources need to be compliable and easier to understand by the mass. The online platforms should have to become error-free and updated to avoid any obstacles.
It is important not to negate the significance of the traditional learning methods in the pursuit of a perfect system. Traditional education is the foundation of any modern technology that is available for us. We just need to balance the ratio of education and technology, which gave rise to the concept of blended learning.
