We’ve all been in a class, listening to the instructor, when suddenly our thoughts drift to lunch. We only catch the tail end of an important topic.
Thanks to a new, blended training model Knopman Marks rolled out this month, students can now press rewind to hear what they missed, or fast-forward to pick up the pace. Students independently watch pre-recorded video lectures, then join live-streaming, digital check-ins with their instructors and fellow students. The live-streaming sessions include instructor responses to student-posted questions; drilling and practicing with faculty-curated practice exams, and delving deeper into the topics that were just covered in the recording.
Knopman Marks’ summer training will include this blended learning approach. “We’re really excited about our blended learning approach,” says Dave Meshkov, Knopman Marks Managing Director and Head of Course Design. “We think it’ll offer a great learning experience for our students. They can watch our recorded lectures at their own pace, accelerating through familiar concepts, while carefully reviewing or even rewatching videos on more challenging topics.”
Benefits of Blended Learning Model
Blended learning, also known as the flipped classroom, leverages technology to personalize learning. Studies have shown that the more you can personalize the educational experience, the more effective it is.
“The blended approach puts students in the strongest position to reach exam-readiness and pass their exam,” Meshkov says.
A snapshot of the benefits of the blended learning approach shows:
- 73% of educators who use a blended learning instruction model observed an increase in student engagement.
- Blended learning increases information retention by up to 60%.
- 59% of teachers reported students’ motivation levels increased in a blended learning environment.
- 82% of students said they felt better prepared for blended classes than for traditional classes.
A Typical Blended Learning Day
Knopman Marks’ blended learning brew sidesteps 8-hour lecture days to instead have students interact with faculty three times a day–morning, midday, and end of day—and watch recorded lectures in between. Instructors set defined goals for students to reach, but students can customize how quickly they move through the lectures, focusing on areas of weakness as they need to.
A reporting platform allows instructors to gain real-time insight into student activity, including videos watched, resources accessed, number of questions completed, and practice scores. When the class regroups, a quick poll alerts the instructor how far each student has progressed on their own. Class time is devoted to students asking questions and being guided to apply what they’ve learned. “The result is greater student engagement, retention, and mastery of the material,” says Meshkov.
In addition to reviewing the testable content, Meshkov weaves high-performance coaching into the live-streaming sessions. Knopman Marks faculty share focus and motivation tips with students, teach them how to approach training with a growth mindset, and share strategies and tactics to overcome test-taking anxiety.
Interactivity Increases Engagement
“The live, interactive group time is an opportunity to coach students and make sure they can recall and apply the material learned from the video lectures,” Meshkov says. The faculty offers quizzes, problem-solving, and other interactive learning activities.
Students can ask questions by raising their hand virtually. They can also type their questions, using the built-in Q&A feature, and participate in the instructor’s real-time polls. The live-polling function allows faculty to see what may be confusing to students, or where they’re misunderstanding information, so they can speak directly to those pain points.
“The interactive polling allows all students to participate in the sessions,” Meshkov says. “That way we’re not teaching only to the most vocal students in the group. Everything we do in class together helps improve memory and recall, and drive confidence.”
Register for a Blended Class
Anyone interested in blended training can look under their respective course offering. Under “Course Details,” look for a session featuring the “Location” as “Blended Course.” Don’t see a blended learning option for your course? It’s coming soon!