In traditional face-to-face training, participants often struggle to transfer what they learn into their everyday lives. At the same time, human resource professionals are increasingly unwilling to release trainees from work for several days. With blended learning, online content complements the training so that all parties benefit. But when is which model suitable for blended learning? We present the three most popular blended learning models to you!

What Blended Learning Means for Training

Blended learning fundamentally means a mixture of different learning forms. In the world of training and coaching, this approach is becoming increasingly popular, as both participants and trainers, as well as clients, benefit from blended learning. The Association of European Blended Learning Practitioners e. V. provides the following definition on its website:

"In blended learning, the very different learning forms are interlinked and combined into a cohesive whole so that it is possible to integrate the advantages of each learning form while compensating for the disadvantages of the others."

That was the definition of blended learning – for practical implementation, trainers and coaches have various models to choose from. If you are considering using blended learning, you should first ask yourself a few questions when choosing a blended learning model.

Checklist: Which Blended Learning Model Fits Your Training?

Generally, many factors play a role in choosing the appropriate blended learning model: your previous format of face-to-face events, the size of your participant group, the duration of your entire training – not least the requirements of your client. For initial orientation, you should ask yourself the following three questions:

• Where should your focus lie – in the face-to-face event or in the online phase?

• How many face-to-face events do you have as part of a training?

• If more than one event: How much time lies between individual events?

Depending on the answers, different models of blended learning are suitable for your training. We present the three most common ones in the following section:

Three Popular Blended Learning Models

The focus, the number of events, and the overall time frame of the training – these are essential factors that influence the choice of your blended learning model. When we arrange these factors differently, we obtain three typical blended learning models:

The Sprinter

The Blended Learning Model "Sprinter"

In the sprinter model, online and face-to-face phases are roughly equally important. This blended learning model is therefore suitable for you if you have previously implemented several face-to-face events, with at least a week between them.

• Focus: Both online and face-to-face

• Number: More than one event

• Time frame: Gaps of more than one week between the events

The Heron

The Blended Learning Model "Heron"

In the heron model, the focus is on the face-to-face phase. This blended learning model is suitable if you have previously structured your training or coaching very time-focused. If you have relied on a weekend seminar or a one-day workshop so far, you can extend the time frame of your training with the addition of an online phase and ensure the transfer of what was learned.

• Focus: Face-to-face

• Number: Fewer than five events

• Time frame: Gaps of less than one week between the events

The Sandwich

The Blended Learning Model "Sandwich"

In the sandwich model, the emphasis is more on the online phases. This blended learning model is particularly suitable for you if you have only one or a maximum of two face-to-face appointments. In a preparatory online phase, you can convey basic knowledge and introduce the topic. In the follow-up online phase, you can offer exercises and secure the transfer to everyday life.

Important in the sandwich: The face-to-face event is enveloped by online content. In practice, this can mean that the trainer provides explicit content for preparation and follow-up. Sometimes, the online phase also serves as a continuous opportunity for participants to access additional content at any time. For example, participants might have the opportunity to exchange comments with others under a piece of content.

• Focus: Online

• Number: One event (maximum two, directly back-to-back)

Apart from these three typical models, there are of course numerous variations and special forms. In the "reversed heron" for instance, you start with an online phase before you implement your face-to-face events.

Examples of Blended Learning Models from Practice

Now you have learned about the three most common models in blended learning. Variations are conceivable for each model. For a start, we recommend choosing one of the three typical models for a trial phase. But what do the presented variants look like in practice? We describe the typical training for each blended learning model as follows:

A Typical Training in the Blended Learning Model "Sprinter"

The model is ideally suited for trainings that stretch over a longer time period as described above. Just like the training of Normen Ulbrich, who wants to advance personnel development. Normen has often opted for the blended learning model "Sprinter": He always starts with a face-to-face event to strengthen personal connections for the months to come. Since there are usually several weeks between his face-to-face events, he fills the pauses with short online impulses.

Normen's advantage with the blended learning model "Sprinter": His participants stay engaged continuously and are supported sustainably over this longer period.

A Typical Training in the Blended Learning Model "Heron"

The model is well suited for trainers who are starting with blended learning and want to primarily strengthen the transfer of participants at first. The advantage of this model is that, as a trainer, you only need to refer to the online component at the end of your previous training. You can then connect the two learning forms (face-to-face and online) almost like Lego blocks.

In companies, the blended learning model "Heron" is also well suited for onboarding: New employees can thus be integrated over several weeks and months after a brief personal introduction.

A Typical Training in the Blended Learning Model "Sandwich"

This model is particularly suitable for trainers who work with a single face-to-face event and want to utilize the online phase intensely. In the longer online phase, you can, as a trainer, offer a wealth of content and exercises or upload presentations. An intense exchange between participants is also particularly possible with this model.

Also, Dennis Tröger has often opted for the blended learning model "Sandwich". He primarily imparts his experience in brand marketing through online events: For Dennis, the face-to-face event is a webinar that is accompanied by a longer online phase. This means: His clients can access online content both before and after the webinar and ask follow-up questions.

Dennis' advantage with the blended learning model "Sandwich": Since personal exchange in the webinar is limited, participants additionally have the opportunity to ask Dennis questions or exchange experiences with each other on the online platform.

Here, Dennis Tröger shares in an interview why he offers his blended learning as a mix of webinars and online courses:

You have now learned about the most popular blended learning models and examples from practice. Which model is best suited for your training or coaching? Or do you already use blended learning and are a fan of a particular model? Then send us a message, we are curious!

If you have already decided on a model, you are one step closer to becoming an expert in blended learning.