Why Blended Learning Drives Higher Pass Rates

Offering the best of live and on-demand training, our blended learning approach leverages technology to personalize the learning experience and increase pass rates on FINRA exams, such as the SIE, Series 6, and Series 7.

“The blended approach puts students in the strongest position to reach exam -readiness and pass their exam,” says Dave Meshkov, Knopman Marks Head of Course Design.

Also known as the flipped classroom, the blended approach invites students to independently watch pre-recorded video lectures, and then join live-streaming check-ins with their instructors and fellow students.

By watching the pre-recorded lectures on their own, students can accelerate through familiar concepts, and re-watch videos on challenging topics. The live-streaming sessions include instructor responses to student-posted questions; drilling with faculty-curated practice FINRA exams; and delving deeper into the topics that were just covered in the recording.

Record Pass Rates with the Blend

Last summer, Knopman Marks trained more than 4,000 new analysts and associates when the blended training model was newly launched. These candidates achieved an extraordinary 99% record pass rate across the major FINRA exams, the highest in the company’s history.

Key highlights of the Blend include:

• Coaching students to master the material. Live-streaming sessions are devoted to reviewing testable content. Students can ask questions and are guided to apply what they’ve learned. “The result is greater student engagement, retention, and mastery of the material,” says Meshkov. This interactive group time allows faculty to coach students and make sure they can recall and apply the material learned from the video lectures.
• Keeping students engaged virtually. Students can ask questions by raising their hand virtually. They can also type their questions into 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 topics. The live-polling function also helps improve student engagement with icebreakers, problem-solving, games like Jeopardy, and other entertaining learning activities.
• Weaving in high-performance coaching. Knopman Marks faculty share high-performance coaching tips with students, teach them how to approach training with a growth mindset, and present strategies and tactics to overcome test-taking anxiety.
• One-on-one check-ins. The Blend gives faculty time to review student performance data and conduct individual coaching sessions. Focusing on students with test-taking anxiety, those with limited or no financial services knowledge, or those who simply needed coaching and advice allowed faculty to help those students who needed it most.

A Typical Blended Learning Day

FAQs

How are the video lectures different from the live-streamed review sessions?

The group review sessions are interactive and offer an opportunity for students to get coaching and make sure they can recall and apply the material learned from the video lectures. The faculty offers quizzes, problem-solving, and other interactive learning activities.

Can I ask my questions in the review sessions?

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.

How does the blended approach contribute to better performance?

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. 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.

What kind of high-performance coaching do you include?

In addition to reviewing the testable content, instructors weave high-performance coaching into the live-streaming review sessions. Knopman Marks faculty share focus and motivation tips with students, teach them how to approach FINRA exam preparation with a growth mindset, and share strategies for overcoming test-taking anxiety.