Why Blended Learning Approach is Important

The educational landscape is undergoing a rapid transformation in the 21st century due to the technological advancements and the pervasive integration of these technologies into our society. With widespread internet access, teaching methods have fundamentally evolved in a remarkably short span of time.

What Is Blended Learning?

Blended Learning is a mixture of learning methods that incorporate multiple teaching modals–most frequently eLearning and traditional face-to-face learning.

Blended learning is a natural development to the growing accessibility of eLearning, online resources, and the continued need for a human component in the learning experience. A blended learning approach ensures that the learner is engaged and driving his or her individual learning experience. This approach also helps cater to the individual needs of the learner, most students have unique learning styles and a blended approach is more likely to cater to those needs than a traditional classroom teaching experience.

Blended Learning Models

Blended learning can come in numerous shapes and sizes and be personalized to fit the individual. These types of modals can include:

Online – Instruction occurs via an online platform, with periodic face-to-face meetings.

Rotation: Student rotates between self-paced online learning and face-to-face instruction. Schedules are fixed but flexible.

Flex: Most instruction is delivered online, with teachers providing as needed support in small-group settings.

Personalized blend: Teacher designs face-to-face and anywhere, anytime learning options that straddle the physical classroom and virtual spaces. Learning is the constant and time is the variable.

Online lab: Instructions takes place in a brick and mortar lab. Delivered by an online teacher and supervised onsite by paraprofessionals.

Self-blend: Students take online courses to supplement their tradition schools face to face course catalog.

Face-to-face: Teacher offers primarily face-to-face instruction, supplemented with technology in the classroom or computer lab.

Why Is Blended Learning Important?

Blended learning is important because it breaks down the traditional walls of teaching, ones that don’t work for all students and now with access to present-day technologies and resources we can tailor the learning experience for each student. Blended learning also offers flexible time frames that can be personalized to each person, offering them the ability to learn at their own pace.

Advantages Of Blended Learning For Teachers

Teaching is less expensive to deliver, more affordable, and saves time.

Blended learning offers flexibility in terms of availability. In other words, blended learning enables the student to access the materials from anywhere at any time while enjoying the benefits of face-to-face support and instruction.

Access to global resources and materials that meet the students’ level of knowledge and interest.

Self-pacing for slow or quick learners reduces stress, increases satisfaction, and information retention.

E-learning allows more effective interactions between the learners and their instructors through the use of emails, discussion boards and chat room.

Students have the ability to track their progress.

Students can also learn through a variety of activities that apply to many different learning styles.

E-learning could improve the quality of teaching and learning as it supports face-to-face teaching approaches.

Blended learning also improves other factors for the teacher including:

More engaged students

Better information and feedback on work

Team teaching

Extended time with students

More leadership roles

Focus on deeper learning

Motivate hard to reach kids

New options to teach at home

More earning power

Individualized professional development plans

Improved Teaching Conditions

Blended learning tears down the traditional bricks and mortar approach to teaching, which can improve conditions such as:

Reduced Isolation

More opportunities for collaboration

Meaningful professional development

Better student data

Improved Time efficiency

Role-differentiation

Advantages Of Blended Learning For Students

Increase student interest: when technology is integrated into school lessons, learners are more likely to be interested in, focused on, and excited about the subjects they are studying. Subjects that might be monotonous for some – like math and science, while also increasing information retention.

Keep students focused for longer: The use of computers to look up information & data is a tremendous lifesaver, combined with access to resources such as the internet to conduct research. This engagement and interaction with the resources keeps students focused for longer periods then they would be with books or paper resources, this engagement also helps develop learning through exploration and research.

Provides student autonomy: The use of eLearning materials increases a student’s ability to set appropriate learning goals and take charge of his or her own learning, which develops an ability that will be translatable across all subjects.

Instill a disposition of self-advocacy: Students become self-driven and responsible, tracking their individual achievements, which helps develop the ability to find the resources or get the help they need, self-advocating so they can reach their goals.

Promote student ownership: Blended learning instills a sense of ‘student ownership over learning’ which can be a powerful force propelling the learning, It’s this feeling of responsibility that helps the feeling of ownership.

Allow instant diagnostic information and student feedback: The ability to rapidly analyze, review and give feedback to student work, gives the teacher the ability to tailor his teaching methods and feedback for each student while improving time efficiency.

Enables students to learn at their own pace: Due to the flexibility of blended learning and the ability to access internet resources allows students to learn at their own pace, meaning a teacher can help speed up the learning process or give more advanced resources if necessary.

Prepares students for the future: Blended learning offers a multitude of real-world skills, that directly translate into life skills, from:

Research skills

Self-learning

Self-engagement

Helps to develop a ‘self-driving force’  

Better decision making

Offers a larger sense of responsibility

Computer literacy

Conclusion

Students of all ages have diverse learning preferences, and effective teaching methods should be tailored to accommodate these differences. It is essential to create educational programs that cater to visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learners, ensuring that each student's unique learning style is addressed.

The extensive integration of technology offers opportunities for enhancing teaching, boosting information retention, fostering engagement and responsibility, and increasing overall enjoyment in learning. It's important to recognize that individuals maintain their distinct learning styles throughout their lives. Therefore, the significance of blended learning has grown substantially across various sectors, including education, corporate training, and diverse professional fields, transcending boundaries and demographics.

Credit: teachthought