Blended Learning Simplified – 70:20:10 Framework

How do your learners learn?

A quick recap of the video:

If you are developing a blended learning program, you are most likely grappling with some important questions such as: What types of content should I blend? On which devices should I deliver information? and Is this blended learning program going to require even more time from my time-strapped audience?

In our experience, working with many customers struggling with these same issues, we found these questions don’t matter as much as the question of “how do your learners learn?”.

Fortunately, the answer to “how your learners learn” has already been answered by the 70:20:10 framework: 70% through on-the-job training, 20% through peer-to-peer learning, and 10% through formal learning. For more on the 70:20:10 framework check out our Infographic Guide to the 70:20:10 Framework and Breaking Down the 70:20:10 Framework white board video.

Applying the 70:20:10 framework to a blended learning program simplifies the process and helps make our first two content questions easier to answer.

For example, if we know the majority of what a person learns is on-the-job (70%), we need to spend time reviewing the learners work environment. Although it might make sense to deliver web based training and mobile learning to a salesperson who is at their desk or in the field, that certainly would not work for retail employees who cannot use their cell phone at work. It would make more sense to deliver training directly via a point of sales device, or through job aids posted around the break rooms.

What about the final question regarding time? Can we allocate more time for training to accommodate content being delivered across multiple formats?

The answer is no, but that’s ok.

People learn in different ways and at the heart of blended learning and the 70:20:10 framework is allowing the learner to learn in the way that comes most natural to them. While some employees prefer to read a 10-page document, others prefer videos or web based learning. Case in point, some of you have decided to read this blog, while others will only watch the video, and there is even a group that will do both.

Although we do traditionally create more content with blended learning, if done right, we will see a decrease in training times because when learners have options, they will naturally choose the option that allows them to learn the skill in the fastest time possible.

Hopefully this simplifies blended learning for you. If you have any questions, please reach out to us and we will walk through our blended learning solutions with you! In fact, take a look at our iPerform Blended Learning Model Infographic!