What is Blended Learning in Education?

What is blended learning in education? Blended learning is a learning approach that combines face-to-face learning and online learning to get the best of both approaches.

Blended learning is also known as hybrid learning and mixed-mode learning. It gives the best learning experience for students. Additionally, they get to choose the time and place of learning. Humans are different, and each one has his own learning method and preferred time of learning.

For instance, I prefer to study at night, but someone else may prefer to study in the morning because the sunlight helps them focus or give them energy. For myself, I feel like my brain works better at night, away from all the noise and distractions. But for most people, their brains work better in the morning.

Aside from our favorite studying time, blended learning significantly enhances education and makes it easier for all students to learn from anywhere in the world and overcome their geographical limitations. 

Also, due to the outbreak of the covid-19, schools had to find a new means of teaching, therefore, came the need for online education and the use of video tools. Which opened our eyes to the advantages of technology in education.

In this article, we will take a look at the importance of blended learning in education, its advantages and disadvantages, along with many important things that you must be wondering about. So, what are you waiting for? Let’s get started.

What is blended learning in education?

Did you know that blended learning has been around for a while? Yes, blended learning has existed long before the outbreak of covid-19. The dilemma we faced is what caused us to find out about the new teaching methods, and use them to enhance education.

Blended learning in education refers to combining the traditional method of teaching, which is face-to-face learning, with online learning, to get the advantages of both methods.

 Wikipedia defines blended learning as follows:

“Blended learning, also known as hybrid learning, is an approach to education that combines online educational materials and opportunities for interaction online with traditional place-based classroom methods.

Blended learning requires the physical presence of both teacher and student, with some elements of student control over time, place, path, or pace. While students still attend brick-and-mortar schools with a teacher present, face-to-face classroom practices are combined with computer-mediated activities regarding content and delivery. It is also used in professional development and training settings.”

What is a Blended Learning Solution?

A blended learning solution is a way of learning that mix e-learning techniques with traditional learning techniques to get the best of both worlds. In it, you have a teacher or trainer explaining the lesson with the help of a variety of e-learning tools.               

Blended learning is designed to give the best virtual learning experience instead of traditional learning where learners are bored and cannot wait until the lesson is over. The LMS technology helps in improving the quality of learning and saving everyone’s time.

Blended learning allows students to take control of their learning process. They can control when, how, and where they learn. They get to learn according to their learning pace. Additionally, they can rewatch the lecture video as much as they want, pause and take notes. Unlike the case of face-to-face learning, where they don’t have the time to write their notes and prepare questions to ask.

Most of the time, when the lecture ends, you will find students confused, happy that the lecture has ended, and can’t wait to get home for a break. We all have been there and we know how overwhelming it gets.

Therefore, blended learning for education is essential. Students can watch lectures at any time, take notes and write any questions they have, and when they go to school, they get to discuss what they learned and ask about what they don’t understand.

Let’s sum it up blended learning offers you the best of both worlds. It combines e-Learning techniques and traditional classroom techniques giving the best learning experience. The training is led by an instructor using e-learning tools to make the training easy to understand and engaging. So, it offers a hybrid solution to meet the needs.

What Are the Types of Blended Learning?

As we saw above, Blended learning in education is defined as follows in Wikipedia:

“Blended learning, also known as hybrid learning, is an approach to education that combines online educational materials and opportunities for interaction online with traditional place-based classroom methods.

It requires the physical presence of both teacher and student, with some elements of student control over time, place, path, or pace. While students still attend brick-and-mortar schools with a teacher present, face-to-face classroom practices are combined with computer-mediated activities regarding content and delivery. It is also used in professional development and training settings.”

There is more than one way to use blended learning in education, among which are the following:

1. Station rotation.

In this model of blended learning the lecture or training takes place in the classroom. During the lecture students rotate on a fixed schedule among various modalities. Mostly it includes three learning stations and they are:

1. Online learning.
2. Face-to-face learning.
3. group projects.

This type of blended learning in education is mostly used for kindergarten because it is easy to understand and implement.

2. Lab rotation.

The lab rotation model adapts to both the student and the school resources available. In the lab rotation blended learning type students participate in offline activities, then they shift to online activities in a computer lab. It is similar to the above model but it differs in one thing, in station rotation, everything takes place in the same room, while in lab rotation the room changes based on activities.

This method provides the student and teacher with the required flexibility and the ability to utilize the available resources.

3. Individual rotation.

This type of blended learning in the education model is similar to station rotation and lab rotation, except that this one is personalized for each individual, and students don’t have to visit the same station. Students rotate and follow an individually customized, fixed schedule among learning modalities. At least one of the learning modalities is online learning.

Why this type of blended learning is good for students and education? Because it gives students the opportunity to study and learn at their own pace. Additionally, they are free to choose the approach that works best for them, whether it is mostly online learning or face-to-face learning.

Also, some students prefer to have a fixed routine to encourage them to learn, unlike self-study or virtual learning which depends wholly on them. Individual rotation offers them a fixed schedule to follow, which is best for them.

4. Flex learning.

To apply Flex learning blended learning in education, schools must offer and provide computers for each and every individual. As Students come to school whenever they want to watch the lesson on the computer.

Students are allowed to come and go whenever they want to finish their work. They will learn at their own pace and the school will provide them with to technology and equipment they need. Therefore, this approach depends mainly on online learning, and teachers provide help whenever students need it.

5. Enriched virtual learning.

Enriched virtual learning blended learning in education is mainly depending on remote learning. Students attend classes online remotely and they can attend a face-to-face class with the teacher if needed not on a regular basis.

6. Online driver.

In the online driver, most of the lessons and lectures are delivered online. The teaching resources may also be delivered offline through DVDs or CD-ROMs so that they can watch the lesson at any time.

This type of blended learning in education mostly depends on the student. They have control over when, where, and how they learn and can learn according to their learning pace. If they need any help they can communicate with the teacher whenever they need via email, chat or message board. However, it lacks face-to-face interaction.

The above 6 types of blended learning are just a few of the many approaches and examples of blended learning in education that could be followed. Also, the school is free to mix some approaches together to give the best learning experience to students.

Check out Manaarah’s LMS today and take learning experiences to the next level today!

Blended learning in education

Blended learning in education refers to combining face-to-face learning with online learning to allow students to take control of their learning. and learn according to their learning pace. Students have full control over time, and place, which means that blended learning has the advantages of online learning and traditional learning.

The idea of blended learning is not new, it has been there for a long time, but not until recently schools understood the importance of harnessing its advantages to their use, allowing both students and teachers to unleash their creativity.

Blended learning is essential for students to encourage them to learn and give them the time needed to digest the new information instead of piling up every week. Moreover, Students can communicate with the teacher whenever they need help.

The importance of blended learning in education.

Blended learning refers to the combination of the traditional method of teaching, which is face-to-face learning, with online learning, to get the advantages of both methods.

Blended learning in education is essential as it helps students learn at their own pace. It gives them the opportunity to watch the lessons at any time, from anywhere, pause the video as needed, take notes, and rewatch at any time. Additionally, it gives them the flexibility they need.

Blended learning helped students overcome their geographical limitations and learn whatever they want from any place in the world. Therefore, blended learning is significantly important for students. It provides the students with all the learning resources they need like videos, textbooks, presentations, and so on.

Students can communicate with their teacher at any time, interact with other students, ask about what they don’t understand, and be a part of group projects. You can see now what makes blended learning essential in education, as it helps both students and teachers.   

However, you should be aware that we are all different, everyone one us has his style of learning. Some may prefer blended learning while others may not like it. Just like what happened during the outbreak of covid-19 when education turned into online learning some students didn’t like it, they actually hate it.

If you want to implement or improve your blended learning model contact Manaarah and one of our professional consultants will answer you.

In Manaarah, we provide a whole set of learning modules with digital tools. Our experts develop and design e-learning materials, educational videos, and more. We can create custom e-learning modules, offer a unique Learning Management System (LMS), Blended Learning, and much more.

Check out Manaarah’s LMS today and take learning experiences to the next level today!

What Is the Advantage and Disadvantage of Blended Learning?

What are the pros and cons of blended learning in education? Let’s find out:

Advantages of Blended Learning.

1. Students can learn at any time according to their own pace, instead of rushing themselves out. Also, they can pause and rewatch the lecture as much as they want. If they can’t watch the lecture due to any internet problems, they can watch it later.
2. Teachers can use any material resources that help the student understand the lesson, like videos, presentations, and books. Whatever they think is best to deliver the information in the easiest way. For example, if the lesson is about engines, they can show pictures and videos for illustration. Or if the lesson is about an experiment, the teacher could use a video of how to do the experiment.
3. Another advantage of blended learning in education is that students can watch the lecture at any time, and they can access the learning materials whenever they need to. Even if they have an internet connection problem, they can watch it when the problem is solved.
4. Blended learning combines face-to-face learning and online learning, it gives students the ability to prepare for the face-to-face meeting. As they can study ahead, and use the face-to-face time to discuss what they don’t understand and to discuss their projects. 
5. Blended learning is designed to make learning easier, engage the learners, and offer them the opportunity to interact with the instructor and their peers.
6. Schools have the ability to tap into online learning strategies like mobile learning, gamification, video-based learning, micro-learning, and more strategies to make learning engaging and give the best learning experience to the learners.
7. Blended learning focuses on the learners’ needs and it aligns with what they want. Learners seek to save their time on something important instead of wasting it on transportation. Also, blended learning takes less time than instructor-led training and is more effective, and it provides them with the flexibility they need. Learners can easily access the learning resources at any time and from anywhere.        
8. Cost-effective.
9. Sessions are shorter and more effective.
10. Easy to reach more learners in less time.
11. The ability to use online assessment to measure the learners’ progress and enhance the lessons based on their needs.
12. Blended learning ensures the delivery of a consistent message, unlike traditional learning training which varies every time.

By using one of the Best blended learning solutions like Manaarah LMS, learners can easily connect with their peers and instructor even after the session is over. They can interact with each other through discussions, help each other, exchange ideas, and collaborate. Therefore, one of the benefits of blended learning in education is that it gives students the opportunity to continue learning and engage with other learners to help each other or communicate with the instructor when needed.

Check out Manaarah’s LMS today and take learning experiences to the next level today!

Disadvantages of Blended Learning.

Anything on earth has its advantages and disadvantages, the idea is to see if the drawbacks will affect your goal or not. Here are some of the drawbacks of blended learning in education for students and teachers:

Students must have laptops, computers, smartphones, or anything that they can use to watch the lessons. and not every student has the capability to access the required technology. Additionally, not all students have a good internet connection.

Blended learning doesn’t work for all students and it might be hard for them to keep learning without having a teacher to encourage them. Instead, they might prefer the traditional learning method which forces them to study and stay on track.

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