Top 5 blended learning best practices

An immersive learning environment 

When you blend e-learning with classroom learning, you create an immersive learning environment. By following blended learning best practices, learners gain continual access and exposure to educational content. E-learning also makes it easier and more convenient for them to access information outside the classroom. 

At the same time, face-to-face interactions inside the classroom help strengthen the message and give learners a chance to interact in person with their instructors and peers. One of these best practices blended learning methods can boost learning efficiency even more. 

For a deeper dive, check out our blended learning guide. 

1. Online office hours

Some learners are intimidated by the classroom setting. They may not like to speak in front of a crowd or feel uncomfortable asking a question in front of others. Sometimes, they may also need to speak one-on-one with their instructor to discuss personal learning difficulties or other private matters.  

An “online office” gives learners access to their instructors in a comfortable, low-threshold setting. This helps strengthen the bond between learners and the instructor by creating an easy line of communication. As a result, the learner is likelier to engage with the content and get the personal attention they need.  

How does it work? A teacher can schedule a few hours throughout the week to respond to incoming questions from students. Students may submit their questions by e-mail, instant messaging, or even video conferencing. Just make sure that you choose a medium that will enable you to divide your time equally among all students. 

2. “Flip” the classroom

One of the most interesting best practices for blended learning is that teachers can help learners engage more with content. Many students dislike the classroom setting because they feel the communication is too one-sided. The teacher does a lot of lecturing, and if there’s any time left over, there may be a Q&A round at the end.  

A “flipped” classroom reverses all of this. In a flipped model, non-interactive online activities are shifted to the web. Students can watch a pre-recorded lecture, presentation, or instructional video via their online learning platform before coming to class. Then, precious classroom time can be fully devoted to discussions, answering questions, and developing ideas in a group setting. 

3. Provide instant feedback with e-learning tools

Similar to lectures, conventional testing and assessment methods are often perceived as one-sided. The learner completes the test, hands it in, and then waits to find out how well they performed. The whole time, they’re left in the dark, which can make them feel anxious about the results.  

Thanks to the advantages of blended learning and online learning this is no longer necessary. Many e-learning platforms enable you to provide feedback in real time. So, when a learner answers a question on a test or assessment, the platform automatically provides feedback. It can congratulate them for answering correctly or inform them that they’ve got the answer wrong and explain why.  

4. Use performance tracking to improve content

Modern corporate training platforms enable educators to analyze their learners’ performance easily. This helps instructors identify learning trends. For example, if a large percentage of learners are failing to answer specific questions correctly on an assessment, the teacher can take action by offering more information on that topic during the next classroom session.  

This is actually a proven method from conventional education, but digital performance tracking greatly speeds up the process. Instead of the teacher having to individually review every student’s assessments, a good e-learning platform can automatically track and report performance statistics. Using blended learning best practices makes it much easier and more efficient for teachers to spot important trends and improve learning outcomes. 

Learn more about the different types of e-learning assessments. 

5. Create an interactive community of online learners

One of the best practices in blended learning is that it opens up the classroom and brings it into the learner’s home. This strengthens the sense of community among learners as never before. Modern learners are often very skilled at navigating online communities such as their social media networks. Following blended learning best practices gives teachers a lot of potential for keeping learners engaged. 

Try thinking of group assignments that encourage learners to interact with each other both on and off the e-learning platform. Some great activities include hosting an online discussion, producing and posting a podcast, or creating a wiki-style knowledge base where learners contribute and build upon each other’s work. The result is a continuous, immersive blended learning experience that enhances classroom training.