I've read 'More than blended learning'

Learning and designing learning are both complex matters. Designing a learning experience is a multi-disciplinary undertaking, involves stakeholders with different motivators and expectations, requires deliberate choices in terms of an ever increasing range of delivery channels (a lot of which are technical in nature), needs to take into account learner's individual background, has pressures to prove its value, etc. When faced with such complexity we usually either ignore it and settle for a one-size-fits-all approach (did somebody say classroom training?) or use a model / framework to guide us through. A model is always a simplification of an inherently complex reality - simplified to its relevant core. That's fine, as long as it does the job.

Clive Shepherd has made such a model for blended learning - the Jukebox model.
Clive has been blogging and consulting on blended learning for quite some years now. (In fact a few years ago he declared 2012 'the year of the blend', and he is doing it all over again this year...) Earlier this year he published a new book "More than blended learning" with a corresponding web site morethanblended.com .

I think Clive has done a wonderful job in bringing all the moving elements of learning design together in a workable framework, without oversimplifying it. At first sight there are indeed a lot of elements, but once you go through it you'll agree they all play a vital role. (You can download a short free description here - that will save me having to go over it here :-) )

Here is some of Clive's advice:

• Determine if learning is in fact the solution to the need. If it isn't, don't fall into the trap of creating yet another course because that is what we are used to.
• One of the dominant acronyms of the book is PIAF - it stands for the learning flow or skills journey: prepare, input (= the training part we usually focus on), application, follow-up.
• Sometimes blended learning means mixing 'e' with face to face components. But it is so much more. I enjoyed the section on pedagogical strategies. There is more to learning design than instruction.
• When you think of your learners, consider if they are novices or not and adjust. Also, what motivates your learners?
• ... and lots more of advice and case studies 

In the end, the Jukebox model is as all models which is a simplification of a complex reality. There are other models that do the same. I appreciate the fine line the Jukebox model brings to bringing all relevant elements to the picture, without oversimplifying. I really think this model is very applicable, and will stand the test of the time (by which I mean it won't need adjusting for every new learning fad coming our way.)

As I said to Clive when I had just ordered the book: I think you strike a good balance of showing the complexity of learning design in all its glory and at the same time providing good guidance in that complexity by linking for example instruction, guided discovery etc to where they fit best. I remember from my much younger years I came up with a holistic framework for learning design (your jukebox is also a very holistic one) and many people said they found it too broad and complicated and liked the 'recipes' better. It is not always an easy sell, but there are no magic recipes and I think you strike a good balance between acknowledging the complexity (and offering options with strong guidance on what fits where) without reverting to the deceptive approach of  'the 3 steps are... and you're done'.