If you aren’t using blended learning, why not?
Blended learning is the process of incorporating digital technology and tools into traditional learning environments. In most cases your students are already familiar with the digital tools and may even expect the course to be filled with them. Videos, audio-casts, notes and social media sharing allow students to interact with the lesson like never before. Here I’ll present some examples and some tools to easily incorporate audio and video into your current training program.
Adding audio and video to your lessons brings them to life. In addition to enlivening- it creates a standard. Rather than having the instructor repeat and possibly miss or change a lecture, a video or audio recording ensures all students receive the same material. But best of all, the students get the message on their time and on their own device. The lesson is not limited to the classroom, but the classroom is where the students choses to learn.
Aside from adding life to your lesson audio and video also make the material accessible to those with disabilities. Audio lectures can be replayed, the pace slowed or sped up, and with sub-titles can be a life saver for those with learning disability. Video functions in a similar fashion but also adds pictures to those hard to describe processes and procedures.
Audio Programs such as Audacity and Audiobook Cutter allow for creating or clipping small sections of audio. Adaptive Multimedia Information System (AMIS) is a software program that reads specially formatted books for the visually impaired. Other reader programs include Dspeech and Balabolka. And there are more options.
Consider using some of these features in your next training program. Make your learning interesting and accessible to all. In my next post I’ll cover more on the benefits of building collaboration and production into your training.
Katherine Senko 