Blended Learning - An Overview!

Blended Learning - An Overview!

To stay current with new learning models, new teaching methods have emerged to incorporate technology into traditional face-to-face, classroom instruction. The result is Blended learning, also known as “hybrid” or “mixed-mode” learning. Since technology continues to grow in both capability and acceptance, there are greater incentives to embrace it and the benefits it offers! Blended learning is a combination of learning approaches that include different teaching modalities, the most common of which are eLearning and traditional face-to-face instruction. While educators argue the effectiveness of hybrid learning, its very existence has forced them to reconsider not only the role of technology in and out of the classroom but also how to connect and teach students more efficiently.

What Is Blended Learning and Why It Is Necessary?

Blended learning, according to the Oxford definition, is an educational technique in which students study through electronic and online media as well as traditional face-to-face instruction. This hybrid learning technique, which mixes classroom and online learning, is not only gaining traction but is also contributing to the formation of new learning models. One of the main reasons is that it has been found that online education may not only supplement but also revolutionize and improve the learning experience. We've previously discussed what Blended Learning is and why it's important in this blog; now we'll look at how you may implement it in your classroom using an online platform.

Remote blended learning, also known as “enriched virtual learning”, is when a student focuses completely on online classwork while only meeting with the teacher as needed. Using this model, students would not see their teachers on a daily basis, but only as needed should they require clarification or additional instruction.. This is frequently contrasted with the Flipping the Classroom approach, in which kids are introduced to information at home and then practice working through it at school with the help of a teacher and/or peers. Instead of taking place entirely online, using this model, teachers interact with students on a regular basis. A final model and one that is used most frequently is to augment in-class instruction with online resources. This can be done during the class period using interactive whiteboards or student devices or at home.

What Factors Contribute to The Success of Blended Learning?

Blended Learning will continue to evolve as does technology and teaching resources. Educators are continually learning about the benefits of blended learning and the aspects that make it effective. Here are some instances of what has made blended learning success in the past, as well as how you might use it in your classroom:

Encourage Metacognitive Awareness: This is an essential skill for student success in general as it evaluates instructional models and assess which are most effective. Some students learning more efficiently using technology, others using hands-on or print resources. Blended learning allows them to access both. It's critical for kids to recognize what aids them in learning and to use tactics on a regular basis!

Encourage Collaboration & Interaction in the Classroom: Promote learning outcomes by providing students with activities on which they collaborate. This collaboration can be done either via the technology platform or face-to-face.

Include Interactive Educational Resources: Increase engagement and interest to more diverse learners using Interactive Educational Activities available on the internet.

Give Prompt Feedback: Understanding complex concepts, triggering retrieval systems, and correcting mistakes all require immediate input. Again, this can be done either in an automated fashion via the technology platform, through peers when participating in collaborate learning, or by the teacher via either online or face-to-face communication.

Create a Learner-Centered Environment in the Classroom: Allow yourself to help control of the learning process, making your students active learners.

The Misconception of People About Blended Learning A widespread misunderstanding is that any use of technology in or out of the classroom counts as blended learning. This is not the case.

Blended learning does not imply that students should write their essays on Google Docs rather than paper, or that they should be given an online reading instead of a handout. Similarly, requiring your students to finish a photosynthesis lesson at home before studying the same material in the classroom is not blended learning because the classroom and online lessons achieve the same learning goal.

Blended learning, on the other hand, makes use of online educational resources like simulations to create courses that can't be duplicated in a typical classroom setting, resulting in personalized education for each student.

Research on Blended Learning

Blended learning has the potential to turn a predominantly transmissive method of learning into a predominantly participatory one. Every early childhood education program (for example, Sesame Street) recognizes that learning takes place in different ways for each student. As a result, their design appeals to all types of learners, including aural, sensory, and visual. The underlying question is whether blended learning is truly beneficial. The answer is yes, according to many studies. Those who received both face-to-face and online education were found to be more successful than students who just received one type of education. In fact, one study found that there are several aspects that contribute to the efficacy of blended learning:

Students require well-defined paths that they may navigate independently and critically. Blended learning has shown to be quite successful as long as your teaching style prioritizes getting to know your students and finding instructional methods to suit their specific needs using technology, print, hands-on resources or a blend of all three. Due to this advantage, blended learning is projected to continue to evolve over the years ahead.

Conclusion:

Blended learning gives teachers the ability to provide each student with enhanced personalization without sacrificing time or materials. Students have varying levels of choice regarding where and when they complete online learning sessions, as well as how rapidly they progress through the curriculum, depending on the model.

Students on the other hand, have the freedom to continue to focus on a specific topic until they've mastered it, tailoring their learning activity to their specific needs or learning preferences. As a result, students are more likely to be interested, have a better knowledge of the material, and, presumably, do better in class.

To summarize, blended learning is a successful technique for teachers to break down the traditional lecture-based approach to education and tailor lessons to each student's specific learning style.