However, many businesses have found online training to be more effective in reducing training costs — making it the most affordable option for employee training.
You could incorporate a virtual coffee break or a small group lunch into your hybrid learning strategy.
Hybrid learning helps you avoid these setbacks. These days, the majority of trainees prefer freedom and flexibility. Essentially, they want complete independence with education.
You must make your sessions as interactive as possible, so the sessions are engaging. For instance, Zoom training calls are the most interactive because it’s as close to bringing everyone together as you can.
For a learning and development course to take effect, it must align with the company’s mission. Consider focusing on providing training for specific skills that tie into the business goals — rather than how to perform the job.
What Is the Hybrid Approach To Learning?
For instance, instructors can record lessons — allowing them to free up their time and focus on helping their employees one-on-one.
In a hybrid workplace, you won’t always get the chance to interact with employees personally. Therefore, online, on-demand training is a must for all employees.
That’s why hybrid learning is effective. Trainees can experience real-time engagement between peers from any location.
In this model, employees can attend these events in person or from home. Essentially, it mixes the instructor-led classroom with online learning objectives at a self-pace.
What Opportunities Can Hybrid Learning Provide for Businesses?
1 – Lower Costs
Either way, adapting to hybrid learning methods offers a constructive approach to learning and increases flexibility in the following areas:
They thrive under these conditions when they can choose where and when to learn. Trainees can use self-management techniques and excel in absorbing the materials they have.
The hybrid learning approach will increase engagement and effectiveness with various online and in-person training methods.
Having these tools allows companies to allocate their resources efficiently and plan accordingly.
- Training materials
- Instructor fees
- Location
- Travel
In addition, you may consider planning personal and emotional well-being learning opportunities to ensure your staff remains healthy. Hybrid training centred around health and wellness is the best way to show you care about your team.
2 – Flexible Learning Environments
With various offices reopening around the country, many employees opt for a remote or hybrid environment. According to Statista, 52% of respondents said they would consider leaving their company for a remote role.
Hybrid learning allows for deep conversations, Q&A sessions, presentations and more. When you take this educational approach, you can take advantage of how employees help each other by forming meaningful relationships.
In addition to building connections, you also create a strong community in and out of the classroom. Trainees can participate, collaborate and engage with employees and the instructor from whichever location.
For example, some people prefer audio learning while others are visual learners. Or, some will choose a mix of both, depending on the material.
- Learning schedule
- Teaching methods
- Learning materials
- Collaboration
- Communication
3 – Boost Training Effectiveness
Employees receive additional help on any concepts they’re learning — acquiring individual attention. However, they also can learn the course material at their own pace. Therefore, they have the flexibility to learn wherever and whenever it is most convenient for them.
If your business is taking advantage of hybrid learning this year, here are some strategies for better adaptation.
Author Bio: Eleanor Hecks is editor-in-chief at Designerly Magazine. Before becoming a full-time freelance designer, she was the creative director at a digital marketing agency. Eleanor lives in Philly with her husband and pup, Bear.
Companies’ efforts in creating a learning schedule based on their needs can often lower the quality of learning. In addition, employees’ busy schedules can consequently cause them to drop out of the learning environment.
- Videos
- Presentations
- Workshops
- Gamification
- Instructor-led training
- One-on-one sessions
Hybrid learning environments offer a wide range of digital technologies. When integrating this approach, employees have access to various resources and can use them to their full potential.
4 – Time Management
Employees can also use their time efficiently, especially when they can’t attend a lecture on time. Therefore, hybrid learning allows participants to focus on their lessons.
Instructors can also enjoy the benefits of hybrid learning with time management. Each can control their schedules and teach more efficiently.
Therefore, leaders and employees should continue to develop collaboration and communication effectively. The hybrid learning environment works smoothly, and employees feel comfortable in it.
With the combination of training interactively online and significantly reduced costs — you drastically improve your return on investment. Therefore, your company can scale while softening the impact of training employees on daily operations.
It’s essential to make employees feel like part of the workforce and engage with others. Therefore, your business should view hybrid training as an opportunity to reinforce core values and offer engagement opportunities.
5 – Business Resource Efficiency
Similarly to remote work, hybrid learning events prove practical use for employees and managers. Whether in the office or working comfortably from home — more workers are turning to online events to create a lasting impact and develop their professional skills.
When COVID-19 awakened across the globe, hybrid and remote workforces became the new normal for most businesses. As a result, this new approach became a demand for work and training.
Most employees learn from their peers and hands-on job activities. Thus, in-person experience provides more personal and interactive learning experiences.
Once you identify the skills they need, break them into portions that align with specific projects and challenges. Hold online discussions to keep the sessions engaging as they learn their new skills.
6 – Freedom of Academic Exploration
Consider optimising your training courses by including various training methods, including:
You can create pre-recorded online modules and in-person workshops as you’re trying to reach the objective. Workers can gain hands-on experience in live workshops while the videos serve as reinforcements after a session.
Merging work and personal spaces haven’t always been easy for employees. While remote work presents some challenges, employers can instil trust and flexibility. Workers have control over their schedules and settings.
Organisations worldwide are realising the tremendous potential hybrid learning offers for their businesses. Many companies find that it can boost their bottom line and bring employees closer together no matter their location.
Each time you have new information available, you can inform employees of it and explain why it pertains to them.
7 – Engaging Learning Environments
However, hybrid training comes in various forms, so you can customise it to meet attendees’ needs.
Once you’ve found their answers, you can work with leaders to determine what your company needs to accomplish.
Setting goals and measuring performance is helpful. You can understand how the hybrid training sessions are going and whether you need to make adjustments.
Once trainers input their content into video, it’s crucial to store all existing resources in a library. Keep all content organised within a learning management system and send weekly reminders to increase use.
How To Adapt to Hybrid Learning
Because hybrid learning offers flexibility, instructors can make the best use of their time — meanwhile, employees complete portions of course material. Therefore, the results of hybrid learning deliver a robust experience.
1 – Prioritise Flexibility and Trust
When you adapt to a hybrid learning management system, your business creates a flexible learning environment. Employees can train online or face-to-face, providing the opportunity to learn in their best and most convenient way.
Businesses have cut costs by downsizing their offices because of hybrid work. They can also find more cost-efficiencies with hybrid learning.
The pandemic has taught educators and leaders one thing about learning — and that’s the one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work.
As employees shift into remote work, sometimes they can feel disconnected from the other employees.
2 – Train for Upskilling Instead of Jobs
Hybrid learning is one of the most reliable methods for employee training since learners are tying in elements of the best of both worlds.
Some instructors may even use recording platforms to supplement their lectures — so companies will provide material sources for future use.
However, a hybrid learning environment allows employers to use their time wisely. For example, they don’t have to spend time finding and reserving locations. In addition, they can end a session at the appropriate time while employees can finish the learning material on their own time.
When managers lead group sessions, ensure you provide them with all the tools necessary to improve their presence. For instance, you may need to invest in tripods or a videographer to enhance the content on video.
3 – Acknowledge Learning Preferences
Hybrid learning can be efficient for employees and instructors. Many companies have found it can help boost training effectiveness and improve learning outcomes.
As of today, it’s even more crucial now to have a hybrid learning plan to include office and remote audiences.
Managers can maintain this approach by facilitating meaningful discussions and ensuring team members’ voices are heard. Companies that embrace the remote workforce with this technology can cultivate a sense of community.
Another reason why hybrid learning is effective is that the platform provides instructional engagement and visual aspects. This approach involves multiple senses — helping learners retain information better.
4 – Reinforce Connections and Engagement
As businesses explore the hybrid workforce and training culture, they may experience challenges along the way. When issues do occur, this is an opportunity for your organisation to revisit your vision for hybrid learning.
Many remote employees can feel disconnected because of their schedules and locations. To keep the workforce functioning as a unit, schedule time for socialisation. Despite busy schedules, a break for leisure time is a must-have.
Hybrid training can have numerous benefits when implemented correctly. It can maintain productivity levels, engagement, motivation and empowerment. Remember, learning activities can be pivotal during your transition.
Why All Businesses Should Adapt to More Hybrid Learning Opportunities
Any training you’ve provided in the past, you’ll need to set goals for performance and knowledge. It’s vital to ask managers what they want employees to gain from a training session. Meanwhile, you’ll need to ask your employees what they hope to get out of hybrid training.
5 – Make Training Sessions Interactive
To train your employees more effectively, consider offering them the opportunity to explore materials on their own time.
And since employees aren’t conventional students, you create better outputs when they have more control.
Even when some employees are on-site, they should be able to participate in the training with remote workers. That way, interactions are equal.
6 – Create On-Demand Training
For instance, some workers may choose face-to-face presentations, while others prefer gamified asynchronous modules. In addition, you can find out if one-on-one support is needed to ensure everyone has access to the online portion of your hybrid plan.
In the first rounds of hybrid learning, you might need to set small goals to work out glitches. Yet, whatever those goals may be, ensure you’re measuring results within a reasonable timeframe.
Time management is a crucial aspect of upskilling employees. Sometimes companies can waste too many resources because of how long a training session can take in person. Plus, they take time planning the event and determining where and when it should occur.
However, you have the power to cultivate a culture of hybrid learning with the tips above.
7 – Establish Goals and Measure Results
Some of the ways it requires fewer costs include:
With the alternatives available online, employees can participate in person or online — whichever suits their needs. Therefore, instructors can avoid the frustration of attendance, and all employees can finish their work virtually.
Before the pandemic, many companies held lectures and workshops in a physical location. While in-person training can be hands-on and interactive, it can also be costly.
Ensure you’re catering to employees’ needs by asking for feedback before moving forward. During the design phase, you can survey learners’ preferences to determine what works best for them.
Is Your Business On Board With Hybrid Learning?
Next, you can create interactive sessions by incorporating video, infographics, quizzes, polls, questions and on-demand study. Utilising these methods will help trainees pay attention and absorb information more easily.
To adapt your business to hybrid training, you’ll need to nurture this culture of trust.
As you approach the hybrid setting, you’ll now have resources that you can access and repurpose as needed.
The hybrid learning approach is an educational combination of the traditional classroom method and online interaction.
