A Systematic Approach to the Design of Blended Learning

By Frank Troha, ICSD Member

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If Time, Money and Reputations Matter, So Should Instructional Design

I hope you’ll never hear an outside consultant tell you that it will take a remarkable amount of additional money or time to complete your e-learning or blended learning project. By blended learning I simply mean e-learning combined with another venue, typically face-to-face classroom instruction.

Blended learning is popular and understandably so, combining the best features of online learning (e.g., 24/7 accessibility) with the best features of classroom instruction (e.g., live, instructor-facilitated and face-to-face). But why do so many blended learning initiatives turn into frustrating boondoggles, often consuming far more time and money than anyone anticipated? The answer -- just as with many other troubled business initiatives -- can be found in poor planning (or design), the consequences of which often appear after substantial amounts of time, money and enthusiasm have already been expended.

Regardless of whether you and your staff have experience designing e-learning or blended learning, it’s vitally important that you at least attempt to define the major aspects of your project before consulting with any outside service providers. The rationale is simple. By deliberately thinking through, specifying in writing and confirming -- with all internal parties involved -- who your audience is, their learning objectives, the exact content to be covered, constraints, etc., you'll be better positioned to: 1) understand the true scope and nature of your project 2) gain the support of all internal stakeholders early in the process 3) efficiently and accurately communicate project scope and requirements to potential outside providers 4) hire the best provider for the job and 5) confidently manage and monitor project tasks to ensure success.  more>