Blended learning – a combination of technology-based and instructor-led methods – is growing in popularity, according to language course provider Speexx.
In the white paper Making the case for blended learning, researchers found that 98% of organisations are planning to maintain or increase their blended learning spending across the next two years. The top benefits cited were flexibility (listed by 57%), reduction of training costs (15%) and speeding up of time to value (11%).
Armin Hopp, founder and president of Speexx, told HR magazine that blended learning is “all about flexibility and personalisation,” and this is likely to appeal to future jobseekers. By 2025 generation Y will make up 75% of the workforce. This will have big implications for the training industry as it tries to tailor its packages to engage younger workers. According to the paper, seven out of 10 (70%) students said they feel more motivated when they can access learning on their mobile devices.
“We are looking at a generation that has been completely raised on the internet and technology, and which simply expects to be reached out to through that kind of technology,” said Hopp. “A millennial will be more likely to work for a company that actually embraces technology and the fact that he or she is an individual.”
The white paper also advises that there is no such thing as a universally successful policy when it comes to training.
“Many of the organisations that buy into large, cloud-based systems think it will fit the needs of the entire corporation. It will not work that way,” Hopp added.
Instead the power lies in the ability of HR companies to collect behavioural data on their employees. “Big data allows you to analyse how culture impacts your training,” concluded Hopp.
