What is blended learning?

Today, many learners are turning to blended learning for their training, specialists in educational design are praising its flexibility and experts in professional training are adapting their educational formats to make them hybrid... in short, blended learning is in fashion. But what is the reality behind this term? What is its success based on? We tell you everything you need to know about the educational solutions offered by blended learning.

What is blended learning?

Blended learning is a mixed learning mode that combines traditional face-to-face training and distance learning in e-learning. There is not “one” model of blended learning, but rather “several” models, since the instructional designer can choose the face-to-face/distance mix that he or she feels is most relevant and best suited to the training programme. For example, you can find blended courses that are largely e-learning oriented and include a few face-to-face sessions – this is the model used for the IPAG Online blended courses in Rouen. On the other hand, you can follow a hybrid course, which is mainly face-to-face and includes a few training modules or online teaching activities.

What are the differences between blended learning and e-learning?

E-learning is a distance learning system, where courses are held online in virtual classrooms and the learning experience is complemented by access to a wide range of online educational content. In other words, the teaching is 100% online.

Blended learning, on the other hand, is a mixed training system comprising virtual and classroom training. In other words, blended learning generally contains between 60% and 90% e-learning, with the remaining percentage being devoted to face-to-face learning.

Who are blended learning courses for?

At present, blended learning covers almost all sectors of activity and is aimed at a very diverse public. They may be of interest to, for example :

• Students in initial training ;
• Managers in continuing education;
• Professionals undergoing retraining
• People with disabilities;
• International students, expatriates and trailing spouses.
• And so on.

In short, blended learning is suitable for all those who wish to acquire new skills, but for whom face-to-face training is an obstacle (time constraints, geographical constraints, etc.).

What are the benefits of blended learning?

As you can see, the recipe for blended learning is to take advantage of the most interesting teaching methods of digital learning and distance learning, without the disadvantages, and to add the benefits of “traditional” teaching.

The advantages of e-learning

• Flexible management of the training pathway
• Training methods adapted to a parallel professional life
• Permanent availability of learning content
• Diversity of learning experiences
• Multiplicity of teaching resources and training aids (videos, articles, quizzes, podcasts, etc.)

The advantages of the “classic” training

• Facilitated interaction between learner and trainer
• Learner follow-up and face-to-face meetings
• Collaborative face-to-face work

Our blended-learning courses

Our Master of Science (MSc) courses were designed to be delivered in an online format. However, a hybrid system is now offered to our students on the Co'sup consortium campus in Rouen. Between 80 and 90% of the training is done online (videos, case studies, courses, forums, etc.) and a few masterclasses, tutorials and student support sessions are organised in person on Fridays.

The online training offer proposed by IPAG is composed of 4 MSc :

• MSc Digital Transformation Manager
• MSc UX Design & Digital Business
• MSc Digital Entrepreneur & Project Management
• MSc Digital Marketing & Data Analytics

Also read about :

• What is digital learning ?
• What are the differences between asynchronous and synchronous training ?
• What is e-learning ?