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Blended Learning: Definition, Controversy and Commitment
Published 07/25/05
By By Karl Liebman, Senior Director, Citrix Systems
and Melissa Hopkins, Senior Manager, Citrix Systems
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eLearning is especially appealing for non-technical and lightly technical content, especially if a product is new and the return on training investment is uncertain. Because of this, eLearning also works effectively to drive demand for a product and in-depth training related to its use. By contrast, instructor-led training is better for highly technical content, hands-on labs and situations that require the interaction of a trainer with extensive practical experience.
How Not to blend
As training vendors move toward blended approaches, it's important to keep each modality's strengths and weaknesses in mind. Some have fallen for the trap of trying to develop the same content in multiple modalities in a supposedly virtuous but nonetheless misguided attempt to "let the customers decide." This approach ignores the reality that very little (if any) content is well suited for both, requires the vendor to spend precious resources duplicating content, and will most likely result in dissatisfied learners nonetheless cannibalizing one modality for the other.
Similarly, vendors should be careful not to undo the effects of convenience and low cost by requiring follow-up with certification exams delivered through testing centers that involve extra costs. Likewise, they should be wary of low-stakes, open-book, on-line assessments that could undermine the value of the certification.
Bright Future for Blended Learning
Blended learning will continue to grow over time, expanding opportunities for granularity in training education. As eLearning becomes more popular, companies can use this forum to break down aspects of their certifications and give students smaller nuggets of content that might fit their immediate or prioritized needs. This might be driven by the fact that many companies only use portions of a piece of software or hardware's capabilities.. It follows then that certifications that are overly comprehensive can have the reverse effect of actually discouraging investments in learning.
The certification industry has been moving through a period of trial and error to find the best uses for this technology. The best approaches blend eLearning with instructor-led training, using eLearning for introductory material targeted at mass audiences unprepared for the heavier commitment of instructor-led training. These organizations then mine their eLearning databases as ideal leads for more advanced offerings.
Blended learning represents opportunity for change. The future of the certification industry will depend on how well we adapt to the changes, taking advantage of new technologies, conveniences and efficiencies while preserving the integrity of our certification offerings.
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