Top 10 Benefits of a Blended Learning Approach

Everyone learns in a different way and when it comes to improving both your theoretical knowledge and wanting to work on your practical skills, a blended learning approach can give you the best of both worlds. Here are our top 10 benefits of why blended learning might be able to give you more than the traditional face to face or online learning approaches.

1. Flexibility

First and foremost, blended learning combines the flexibility of online learning with the structure of face to face instruction. This can allow you to learn at your own pace, on your own schedule, so you can strike a balance of your home life, time for learning and your work schedule.

2. Convenience

Blended learning eliminates the need for you to commute to a physical location for all of your classes, saving you time and money or the need to take a lot of time away from work. You can also access all course materials and resources online, making it easy to study and complete coursework or any assignments, or for when you need to quickly refer to a key piece of information when you’re in the thick of managing a patient in practice.

3. Personalised Learning

A blended learning approach allows you to customise your education, choosing which elements of the course you want to complete online and which you want to complete in person. This can be especially beneficial if you have specific learning needs or preferences or do not want to take the optional practical sessions when you feel it’s not for you.

4. Improved Engagement

Blended learning allows for increased student engagement through interactive elements, such as quizzes, polls, and discussion boards. These tools can also provide the speakers with valuable feedback regarding your level of understanding and enable them to give you an extra hand if you need it.

5. Increased Interaction with Speakers and Peers

Most blended learning programmes provide opportunities for you to interact with speakers and peers both online and in person, fostering a sense of community and support. Sometimes you can even take part in live webinars or forums to ask questions directly if you’re unable to make a pre-arranged gathering.

6. Access to Updated and Current Resources

Because of the flexibility of this approach, it often provides more up-to-date resources, as there is no lag time in getting new materials or information you need. This can be especially helpful if you want to learn and progress your career quickly.

7. Improved Retention

Research suggests that students retain more information when studying through blended learning, due to the combination of interactive and hands-on learning opportunities. It can be incredibly gratifying seeing proof of your own progress in practice and feeling your confidence grow as you handle the same or similar cases with greater ease.

8. Career Advancement

Blended learning can provide the opportunity to gain new skills and knowledge that can help advance your career. Many employers value the self-motivation and technological proficiency that come with blended learning. Not only do they see improved performance, but more veterinary professionals experiencing greater job satisfaction, too.

9. Hands-on Learning Opportunities

Blended learning provides the opportunity for hands-on learning experiences, which are essential for performing more technical or difficult procedures and surgeries. This can include workshops, laboratory sessions, and clinical placements. At Improve Veterinary Education, we have several wet-lab sessions which take place in our specialised training facilities across the country where vets can use the latest equipment under the guidance of our specialist speakers.

10. Real-World Application

Finally, blended learning gives you a more holistic learning experience which results in being able to apply everything you learn into real life scenarios. Having the opportunity to practise procedures in a training environment while testing your knowledge of the theory, you will most likely see yourself become more confident in your decision making and performance.

By considering the benefits of blended learning, all you can now make an more informed decision about which learning method is best for you. With its flexibility, personalised learning, and hands-on learning opportunities, blended learning really can be a great option to consider. At the end of any training programme, you should always feel like you have achieved a great amount. So what better way to see this than having happy patients?

To find out more, visit our courses for vets or our courses for vet nurses.