What
is Blended Learning
Definitons
Blended
learning is a term
increasingly used to describe the way e-learning
is being combined with traditional classroom methods and independent study to
create a new, hybrid teaching methodology.
Blended Learning
is combination of traditional learning (learning in classroom) and modern
private (long distance learning through internet) learning. Blended learning is
about creating digital content which provides students with skills and
practices. So, the teacher and students can develop a better environment in the
classroom activity.
Blended learning is a formal education
program in which a student learns at least in part through delivery of content
and instruction via digital and online media with some element of student
control over time, place, path, or pace. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blended_learning)
Blended courses (also known as hybrid or
mixed-mode courses) are classes where a portion of the traditional
face-to-face instruction is replaced by web-based online learning. (https://blended.online.ucf.edu/about/what-is-blended-learning/)
Learning Models
The majority of blended-learning
programs resemble one of four models: Rotation, Flex, A La Carte, and Enriched
Virtual.
1. The
Rotation model includes four sub-models: Station Rotation, Lab Rotation,
Flipped Classroom, and Individual Rotation.
a. Station Rotation
— a course or subject in which students experience the Rotation model within a
contained classroom or group of classrooms. The Station Rotation model differs
from the Individual Rotation model because students rotate through all of the
stations, not only those on their custom schedules.
b. Lab Rotation
– a course or subject in which students rotate to a computer lab for the
online-learning station.
c. Flipped Classroom –
a course or subject in which students participate in online learning off-site
in place of traditional homework and then attend the brick-and-mortar school
for face-to-face, teacher-guided practice or projects. The primary delivery of
content and instruction is online, which differentiates a Flipped Classroom
from students who are merely doing homework practice online at night.
d. Individual Rotation
– a course or subject in which each student has an individualized playlist
and does not necessarily rotate to each available station or modality. An
algorithm or teacher(s) sets individual student schedules.
2.
Flex model — a course or subject in which online learning is
the backbone of student learning, even if it directs students to offline
activities at times. Flex models may have face-to-face certified teachers who
supplement the online learning on a daily basis, whereas others may provide
little face-to-face enrichment.
3. A La Carte model — a course that
a student takes entirely online to accompany other experiences that the student
is having at a brick-and-mortar school or learning center. The teacher of
record for the A La Carte course is the online teacher. Students may take the A
La Carte course either on the brick-and-mortar campus or off-site.
This differs from full-time online learning because it is not a whole-school
experience. Students take some courses A La Carte and others face-to-face at a
brick-and-mortar campus.
4. Enriched Virtual model
— a course or subject in which students have required face-to-face learning
sessions with their teacher of record and then are free to complete their
remaining coursework remote from the face-to-face teacher. Online learning is
the backbone of student learning when the students are located remotely. The
same person generally serves as both the online and face-to-face teacher. Many
Enriched Virtual programs began as full-time online schools and then developed
blended programs to provide students with brick-and-mortar school experiences.
The Enriched Virtual model differs from the Flipped Classroom because in
Enriched Virtual programs, students seldom meet face-to-face with their
teachers every weekday. It differs from a fully online course because
face-to-face learning sessions are more than optional office hours or social
events; they are required.
In short, the learning models
are summed up into three parts, they are:
- · In-person classroom activities facilitated by a trained educator.
This part
covers the classroom activities such as classroom and lab rotation. The learning
activity is conducted and facilitated by the teacher.
- · Online learning materials, often including pre-recorded lectures given by that same instructor.
The learning
activity can be done either in classroom or outside classroom. In this part, the
teacher or instructor hand out the materials through internet connection. The submitting
process also can be done in online way.
- · Structured independent study time guided by the material in the lectures and skills developed during the classroom experience.
The students
study independently in classroom using the materials guidance given by the
teachers. Their knowledge and classroom experience are used in this part of
learning process.
This method has so many advantages in the applying process.
One of them is students can develop their own concept of learning. The others benefits
are:
1. Blended Learning can avoid the time limit. It because
the learning process is not only held in the classroom but also somewhere
belong. Teachers can deliver the materials and list of assignmentd through
internet and students can download the materials and do the assigment
everywhere.
2. Blended learning has
can lower costs by putting classrooms in the online space and it essentially
replaces pricey textbooks with electronic devices that students often bring
themselves to class. E-textbooks, which can be accessed digitally, may also
help to drive down textbook budgets.
3. There are many methods in Blended Learning, so
the learning process can be more variative. For instance the use of software of
kinds of websites which useful in replace the classroom activity. The use of
those medias will make students more enjoy the learning.
4. Through Blended Learning,
the schools also can calculate the data of students improvement more
efficiently. Due to the technology use, so the data can be collected and
calculated more accurately.
In addition, there are some
disadvantages of this method also. They are:
1. The dependence on the
devices. For example, the computer and internet connection must be available
and reliable. If there is no good internet connection, the online class will be
hard to be conducted.
2. There is no media which can
replace teacher accurately. Video tapping is good media for delivering
materials when teachers cannot come to the class. However, not all of the
students will surely watch and pay attention to the video.
3. The process of giving feedback through online
system is not as effective as the traditional one. In traditional classroom
which requiring face-to-face interaction, teachers can directly give feedback to
students’ performances. When it comes to online, for example the recording
performance, teacher should watch the video first. Then teacher takes notes and
perhaps records the feedback before give it to the students.
References:
8.
https://blended.online.ucf.edu/about/what-is-blended-learning/
