5 Ways To Use LMS For Powerful Blended Learning

There is no denying that online learning has brought incredible flexibility and convenience to our busy time schedules, but in-person training programs still offer irreplaceable value and benefits to L&D professionals and corporate trainers. The Harvard Gazette studies show that active learning classrooms benefit way more than the good old virtual training methods. In-person training, combined with LMS blended learning approaches, is widely known for its role in nurturing interpersonal skills, improving academic achievement, and mitigating the distractions often present in home environments.

But again, eLearning is something that makes the training experience easy and accessible. In fact, 60% of learners preferred in-person training, as compared to 31% of them who preferred remote teaching. 

So, in the field of learning and development, how does your organization meet the needs of both sides of the coin?

Here is where LMS blended learning strategies come into the picture! 

LMS blended learning helps organizations combine the strengths of both in-person and online learning, enhancing employee development and organizational efficiency.

Now, let us understand the definition of blended learning, the benefits of blended training in organizations, and strategic methods to leverage your LMS tool for powerful blended learning.

What Is Blended Learning?

As the name suggests, blended learning incorporates the elements of both in-person and online instruction. With the help of LMS, organizations get to develop a mixed learning environment, offering the benefits of both in-person and online learning to their employees.

So basically, three components contribute to a blended learning environment in the workplace. They are as follows:

1. Online & Asynchronous Learning

Online learning refers to educational activities conducted over the Internet, where employees and instructors interact virtually through platforms like Learning Management Systems (LMS). Whereas, asynchronous learning is a specific type of online learning where students access course materials and complete activities at their own pace and on their own schedule. 

Unlike synchronous learning, which occurs in real-time with live interactions, asynchronous learning offers flexibility in timing and location, catering to students with diverse schedules and commitments.

2. In-Person Learning

In-person training in the workplace involves employees attending training sessions conducted physically, typically at the company's premises or designated training facilities. It allows for direct interaction between trainers and employees, fostering hands-on learning experiences and immediate feedback.

3. Integrated Learning

Integrated learning refers to a comprehensive approach where various training methods and resources are combined strategically to enhance learning outcomes. It integrates different learning modalities such as in-person workshops, online modules through Learning Management Systems (LMS), simulations, and on-the-job training to provide a holistic and effective learning experience for employees.

Now that you have understood the meaning of LMS blended learning, let’s figure out the best ways to utilize your LMS platform for a seamless learning experience.

5 Ways To Leverage Your LMS For Blended Learning

Here are the most effective ways to utilize your LMS integrations to provide a blended learning experience to your employees:

1. Instructor-Led Training (ILT) Management

Instructor-led training (ILT) sessions through an LMS are all about bringing people together in a structured way. 

Here's how it works: Instructional designers or L&D experts can set up specific times and places for these in-person sessions, and employees can sign up or be assigned to attend. Before the session, participants get all the details they need — from the agenda and what topics will be covered to any prep work they might need to do, like readings or bringing materials.

This approach ensures everyone starts on the same page and is ready to dive into the learning. As the instructional designers or trainers, ILT management in the LMS allows you to see who's coming and tailor the content to meet everyone's needs. It not only focuses on the logistics but ensures that your learners are engaged and interacting during the sessions.

2. Virtual Training

Nowadays, attending instructor-led training sessions is easier with the LMS. Learners can simply log in to join live sessions where they can ask questions using chat and participate through audio and video. LMS offers seamless features like virtual whiteboards, class voting, and media streaming, allowing corporate trainers to engage with remote learners effectively. 

Moreover, the LMS platforms also allow you to record the sessions for those who couldn't make it, ensuring everyone can catch up later. Whether you're working from home, in the office, or somewhere in between, this virtual training feature keeps learning accessible and interactive.

3. Learning Paths

Learning paths allow instructional designers to create customized courses that guide the employees through mastering specific subject areas. LMS allows you to efficiently design these paths for different group sizes and set requirements like completing online tests or attending in-person sessions before progressing to the next level.

This feature helps your learners see how classroom training and online modules fit together smoothly for a complete learning journey. It also allows you to make the necessary adjustments in terms of reducing the complexity or speed of these paths as per the needs of your learners, ensuring everyone learns at their own pace.

4. Analytics & Reporting

Imagine if you could pinpoint exactly where to focus in their next training sessions. With learning analytics, you can analyze real-time data on how your learners are performing and adjust your training modules accordingly. 

This feature allows you to spend extra time on tricky topics or provide extra assistance to the learners, thus making the training sessions more effective and personalized. 

5. Social Development

Social learning is one of the most crucial ways to leverage your LMS for blended learning. This feature allows you to collaborate with your learners, where they can share their inputs regarding the course material, ask questions, and share resources, whether they're participating in an e-learning module or an in-person session.

What's even better is that your learners can provide real-time feedback so you can efficiently improve your future training sessions. This constant collaboration within the LMS platform ensures that everyone is on the same page and that your training content modules aren’t going in vain.

How Can LMS Benefit Your Blended Learning Strategies?

Blended learning via Learning Management Systems (LMS) offers substantial benefits for workplace training and development. Here is how:

Improves Learning Outcomes

As per the research, blended learning can positively impact the learning outcomes, class dynamics, and the perceptions of the trainers. LMS blended learning combines interactive online modules with hands-on in-person sessions, enhancing engagement and knowledge retention.

Cost Effective

Another research shows that organizations can save up to 35-50% on training costs by using blended learning approaches compared to traditional classroom-only methods. Blended learning strategies significantly reduce costs associated with traditional in-person training, such as travel expenses and venue rentals.

Increased Engagement and Retention

LMS blended learning environments can boost learner engagement and retention. Your learners can easily interact with multimedia content, participate in discussions, and engage in practical activities during face-to-face sessions. This approach allows your employees to reinforce their understanding through hands-on activities and real-world applications in in-person sessions.

In Conclusion

While blended learning through LMS platforms is becoming standard for employee training, it's essential to recognize that every organization is unique. There's no universal solution that fits all. Finding the right approach requires careful planning, patience, and understanding of how best to leverage both online and offline resources. Here’s a closer look at determining if Blended Learning is suitable for your business.

Once you've identified what and how to teach, look for experts in the eLearning domain who provide you with the best LMS for a blended training experience for employees. Investing in a robust LMS platform would help you provide a personalized training experience to your employees that is accessible from anywhere.

Calibr LXP is the best LMS tool to start with your blended learning initiatives. This tool’s features allow you to manage user access, collaborate with your team, tailor your training modules with the help of an AI-powered course authoring tool: Calibr Craft, measure the learner progress, and receive effective feedback from your employees post-training. Get started with the 30-day free trial today!

FAQs

1. What is blended learning? 

Blended learning combines online and in-person training methods to create a comprehensive learning experience that leverages the strengths of both approaches.

2. How does blended learning benefit organizations? 

Blended learning offers flexibility, enhances engagement, improves retention rates, and can be more cost-effective compared to traditional training methods.

3. How do I choose the right LMS for my organization? 

Consider factors such as scalability, customization options, integration capabilities with existing systems, user interface, support services, and cost when selecting an LMS.

4. Can blended learning be personalized for different learners? 

Yes, blended learning allows for personalized learning paths and content delivery based on individual learner needs and preferences.

5. How can Calibr.ai enhance my blended learning strategy?

Calibr.ai specializes in AI-driven analytics that can optimize learning outcomes in a blended learning environment. It provides insights into learner engagement, content effectiveness, and learning trends, helping to tailor training programs for maximum impact.