Blended Learning: Skill Driven

Objective: To provide training to a set of people to be trained on a new skill. For example, course for bank employees on a new automated banking system.

Detail: Provide a self-paced reading material coupled with support from an instructor through face-to-face interactions or online guidance through e-mail or an EPSS if it is truly technology based.

Explanation: Theories may be explained through study materials, CBTs or online manuals that the participants read at their own pace. There can be live support provided to clarify specific doubts in synchronous discussions in classroom or through group forums on the Internet/intranet. However, the essence of this model is to provide intuitive guidance through an instructor apart from providing learning materials.

Handling demonstrations: If the course requires demonstration of procedures, it can be done through an online simulated learning model or in the classroom based on the intensity of personal interference required for the subject/demonstration.

I read in one of the articles on the Web that 88% of learners felt that a trainer or facilitator play an active part of any online training program. Therefore, it is important that an instructor be made available, either physically in a classroom setup or over e-mail/discussion forum to make skill-driven blended learning program work well for your learners.

Blended Learning

Blended learning comprises of several different methods to train inidividuals, such as software programs, electronic performance support systems (EPSS) and other Web-based courses blended with instructor-led or discussion-based learning in classrooms.

There seems to be no aparant formula for blended learning. However, I found the following guidelines as suggested by stalwarts in my company.

There are three different models for blended learning.
* Skill-driven learning
* Attitude-driven learning
* Competency-driven learning

Skill driven learning includes learning at your own pace with minimal guidance from an instructor.

Attitude-driven learning focuses more on inter-group discussions and team work facilated through different delivery media (Webinars, role-play simulations etc)

Competency-driven learning combines EPSS with knowledge management resources and mentoring to develop workplace competencies.

I'm still learning further on these points I have jotted here. Will record them here shortly for better understanding.

Knowing your audience

In one of the latest projects I managed, we conducted an interesting experiment with school children to understand their pattern of learning. We had formed an opinion about the generic pedegogical values and the methodologies followed in most of the schools. We found that the way children learn to use technology is not similar to how they would learn other subjects.

Okay, at least in India, we would see children sit through classes, listening to lectures and reading book to learn their basal subjects. Now the paradigm shifts when you introduce technology as a subject.

These days technology is not the same as it was, a decade back. When I say technology, I mean IT. I'm looking back to my good old days when I was a student and learnt Cobol, Basic, and dBase, on Dos. Things were different. There were more focus on learning to code. There were none called "Power Users" who can operate a computer with some 'basic' knowledge on its operations. I would have spent hours in a classroom, learning to develop logic and pseudocodes and converting them into syntax.

Thats not the way people learn technology these days. The face of technology has changed. GUI has become the way of life and user-friendliness is the mantra of every software!

GUI tools cannot be taught in a classrooms, in the same chalk-n-talk methodology. There is a shift in paradigm now. Everything is visual and nothing is required to be remembered verbatim (even the syntax!) Well thats the background of the experiment we conducted in a school.

We took some sample chapters to teach Paint and basics of computers to children of middle school grades. Wow! what did we see? Children were more keen on learning from the pictures (screen shots) than from the steps of explanation given in the book!

Children are quick learners. They learn most of the things by doing than just be listening or reading. I wish this is understood clearly by people responsible in shaping the educational system in India. We need a change in educational methodologies in schools. We need clear goals set for children with focus more on application of knowledge than just accumulation of wasteful theories.