How Blended Learning Suits All Learning Styles

OK, so you know that PRINCE2 is the qualification for your career or organisation, but what’s the best method for you to study for the exam? One answer lies in the combination of imagery, narration, gamification, and much more, that blended learning (combining digital learning with classroom time) uses to deliver the personalised learning experience individuals and organisations need to achieve strategic objectives.

There has been much discussion about the theory surrounding learning styles. Since many delegates find it helpful to think in these terms, identifying with one or more of the following might prove useful in matching your learning style to the best-suited delivery technique.

Visual

If a learner identifies with visual as a preferred learning style, they should seek out a blended course that packs in colourful images, graphics and charts into the online, physical or virtual classroom aspects of its blended approach, or ideally, all three! Check out ILX’s PRINCE2 Process Model - a perfect example of a visual tool that explains the PRINCE2 process-based methodology diagrammatically.

Aural

Engaging male and female narration, music and sound all ensure that course content reinforces the learning, allowing theories to be understood and learning to become embedded. This can then be underpinned by classroom lessons run by expert tutors.

Kinaesthetic

Learners who favour a tactile approach to learning will certainly appreciate the blended delivery option. The interactive process required to go through the online course, plus additional mobile games and video if available, offer the physical element that can help solidify learning. Auckland Transport, for instance, found that PRINCE2 mobile games engaged and focussed the attention of their learners. Additionally, problem solving quizzes at the end of each e-learning section and/or the exam simulation provide further opportunities for interaction.

Social learning

By adopting blended learning, many organisations have been able to successfully combine their own social networks with a blended approach so helping to foster a spirit of collaboration and support between course participants and tutors that is necessary when delivering complex content.

In a recent venture, ILX combined its blended learning expertise with Virgin Media’s networks to socialise ITIL learning across the whole company as featured in Inside Learning and Technologies and Skills magazine and as recognized in scooping gold at the E-Learning Awards.

Independent

Those who favour independent learning will not necessarily eschew social contact, but find that they make faster progress when they work on their own. E-learning will put them in control of the pace, place and time of their learning.

Theoretical

Logical, reasoned and factual are some of the characteristics of this kind of learner. Blended learning ensures these learners have access to all the theories, the literature and all the background information associated with the course. The Downloads page, for instance, has many useful case studies and exam papers.

Practical

Some people happily learn from theories, while others need practical examples. This is why the best blended learning includes case studies and discussions. Additionally, the pause button on the e-learning, the classroom interaction and the time to apply learning in real life situations, reinforces the knowledge and understanding gained.

Evaluating learning styles in business

When adopting a blended learning approach at an organisational level, there are two main areas to evaluate. Company learning style should be examined by considering variables such as business culture and technical constraints. An assessment process should also be undertaken to explore key factors that can affect the success of learning. These include audience analysis, to determine which elements of the workforce needed to be trained, and course content, to establish what content is already available and what needs to be developed. Follow this link to go to the full set of questions that have been developed to assist you in these two evaluations.

Further information

Follow these useful links for advice and offers:

• Visit our webinars and seminars page for a host of FREE useful events to put in your diary for the coming month which will help you to get a full understanding of what PRINCE2 can offer to the individual and the organisation plus the learning options available.
• Try PRINCE2, MSP and ITIL mobile games to experience learning gamification in action.
• Never miss fantastic learning offers again. Check in with ILX Group and PRINCE2.com regularly or sign up for our e-newsletter so that you and your organisation can make learning efficient and effective.