Blended learning, a combination of technology-based and instructor–led methods, is growing in popularity according to recent research. Researchers claimed that 98% of organisations are planning to maintain or increase their blended learning spending across the next two years.

Supporters of blended learning claim that it is all about flexibility and personalisation, and that 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 researchers 70% of students said they feel more motivated when they can access learning on their mobile devices.

However, whilst blended learning motivates generation Y to learn, this is certainly not the case with earlier generations. The experience of most of our clients who have gone down this route with older workers is that whilst this group are happy to use technology-based approaches to testing or refreshing existing knowledge and skills, the best results for learning new knowledge and skills comes from instructor-led activities.

*Generation Y, sometimes known as Echo Boomers or Millenniums, were born between 1977 and 1994 and number 71 million. They are much more racially and ethnically diverse than earlier generations and are known as incredibly sophisticated, technology wise.

blended-learning-demographic