Blended Learning – Changing the Face of Education

Significance of Blended Learning

Technology has transformed our lives in more ways than we comprehend. Sectors like telecom, travel and tourism, hospitality, banking, even education have seen radical changes. Computers were introduced in Indian Schools in the late 80s. Through the liberal 90s and 2000s it remained merely as a subject.

Around 2005 schools in India were exposed to computer based teaching methods. ICT has revolutionized teaching-learning process in the class room. In today’s world both children and adults need to be technologically literate in order to succeed in the workforce. When technology is used in every day’s classroom activities, students are more likely to feel comfortable using it on their own.

Blended Learning – Changing the Face of Education

Recent advances in technology and in ideology have unlocked entirely new directions for education research. Technological movement is changing the face of education. Today’s digital students expect their learning environment to include technology because it is an important part of their lives. Students who were born in the last twenty years in first world centuries are known as digital natives. Due to the integration of technology into their lives, digital natives are thought to be adept user of technology.

Use of mobile technologies including tablets and cell phones allow digital natives to access information quickly, so that it is feasible for blended learning process. Blended learning method refers to mixing of different learning environment. It combines traditional face to face classroom methods with more modern computer mediated activities using internet and other advanced technology.

Blended Learning

Students who were born in the last twenty years in first world centuries are known as digital natives. Due to the integration of technology into their lives, digital natives are thought to be adept user of technology. Use of mobile technologies including tablets and cell phones allow digital natives to access information quickly, so that it is feasible for blended learning process.

Enriched Learning Experience

Blended learning method refers to mixing of different learning environment. It combines traditional face to face classroom methods with more modern computer mediated activities using internet and other advanced technology. Blended learning has unique abilities to provide students with enriched learning experiences to extend learning beyond the school day and to support more successful differentiated learning strategies that personalize students’ educational experiences. It is the creative teaching practice that combines teaching methods from both face to face and online learning which is rapidly growing effective instructional model and websites for K to 12 schools in India.

Blended learning increases the options for greater quality and quantity of human interaction in a learning environment. It provides a “good mix” of technology and interactions resulting in a socially supported constructive learning experience. Blended learning entails bridging online learning back into a traditional school setting.

Range of Possibilities

One of the most comprehensive analyses comes from education researcher Michel B. Horn. He defines blended learning as a learning takes place in the online and physical school environments. Blended learning can be adapted to fit the learning needs of the students and the resources abilities of the individual class room and schools. In a report titled “Defining Blended Learning” researcher Norm Friesen suggests that blended learning designates the range of possibilities presented by combining internet and digital media with established classroom forms that requires the physical co-presence of teacher and students.

Data Driven Instructional Approach

Blended learning methods can also results in high levels of student achievement. Blended learning allows for personalized education replacing the model where a teacher stands in front of the classroom and everyone is expected to stay at same pace. Blended learning allows students to work at their own pace making sure they fully understand new concepts before moving on. It can be used at Kindergarten to grade 12 level of education. In the blended classroom the teacher uses the best properties of both classrooms i.e. traditional and online.

“Blended learning is a data driven instructional approach that offers personalized learning in a flexible, adaptive model that draws from multiple resources and an integration of technology”.

Need for Blended Learning

Today’s digital students expect their learning environment to include technology because it is an important part of their life. In blended learning teacher’s instructional practices will be transformed by learning how to teach online because they can develop new skills and build pedagogical strategies using technology. Blended learning increases the options for greater quality and quantity of human interaction in a learning environment. It provides a ‘good’ mix of technology and interactions resulting in a supported constructive learning experience.

Conclusion

Blended learning is a powerful tool for classroom learning. Technology will never replace good teaching. In fact professional teaching is one of the pillars of blended learning. Teachers help students define, discern and discuss new knowledge as it flows across the information highway. Educators need to embrace blended learning as pedagogical salvation, but the process of planning for and executing a blended learning experiences requires vast amount of rigor, foresight, deep instructional knowledge, creativity and risk taking.

At one time education was a passive experience in which students sat in class listening to lectures or reading books. Lectures and textbooks are still a part of the educational system. Blended learning is slowly creating its place in the classroom. In this educational method internet technology is incorporated into the classroom freeing up teachers to help students instead of only instructing them. Blended teaching shows a lot of promise so far and is likely to become the prominent teaching method in the future.