What You Need To Know About Using Blended Learning In Classroom Teaching
Blended learning could be defined as the art of brewing technology with the traditional methods of education. Each and every student emotes a different strategy for learning, and this type of learning would be the perfect solace for such students, as it negates the limitations of eLearning as well as classroom teaching and gives the best of both worlds. Today, let us have a look at the benefits and what are the things that one needs to keep in mind before diving using blended learning in classroom teaching.
The Advantages Of Blended Learning
This new learning trend has gained accolades for making learning fun and effective. Let me take you through the benefits of implementing blended learning in the classroom.
- It makes the learning process fun and far from being mundane in nature.
- It gives the option to access contents anywhere and at any time.
- It encourages self-paced learning, providing benefit to both – the slow learners as well as the fast learners.
- Gives access to a chunk of resources available on the online platform.
- Provides the facility to track one's own performance.
- It saves time, labor, and money.
- It improves the overall performance of the student.
- It enhances the level of teaching as you get to merge both – face to face teaching as well as eLearning.
The Aspects To Keep In Mind When Using Blended Learning In Classroom Teaching
Before channelizing your resources and efforts to give birth to the perfect blended learning methodology, you need to keep in mind the following aspects:
1. Define Your Objectives
The first and foremost step would be to define your goals and objectives that decide the fate of your learning tools and the intensity in which they need to be used. Moreover, when you have a clear cut objective it will be easy for you to construct the new learning paradigm.
2. Understand The 3 Facets
Before you start with the process of brewing in face to face teaching and eLearning, you need to be aware of the three different facets of blended learning that needs to be carefully channelized:
- Who will be leading?
There will be times when the learner will be leading and at times it will be the instructor who will hold the attention of the users. Plan out as to who will be leading and when. - Who will be participating?
You also need to consider as to who will be participating. There will be a time when only an individual will participate and times when a whole group will be participating. - In what intensity will you be using technology?
How much technology will be used should also be contemplated before arriving at a result. You are blending in technology and the traditional methods of learning, hence you must be clear as to in what ratio will these two aspects be deployed in.
3. Consider The Different Blended Learning Models
The world out there has a variety of blended learning models that could be considered after meticulous evaluation. To name a few, there is the Rotation Blended Learning Model, the Flex Blended Learning Model, the Virtual Blended learning Model, the A La Carte Blended Learning Model, the Self-Blend Model, and the Personalized Blend Model. Go through the different models and accordingly make a choice that best suits your needs and requirements.
4. Consider The Right Technology
The technology keeps on updating at each and every stage of life, stick to one form of technology or maybe more than one. Scrutinize your objectives, requirements, the learning model that you wish to go for and take a stand as to what technology or technologies you would like to go for. All students do not learn in the same manner or pace and hence it is advisable to indulge in more than one type of technology.
5. Be Mindful Of Both – The Traditional As Well As Online Content
Get yourself well assisted with both the traditional content as well as online content as this will give you an idea of the intensity of the content that needs to be used. When you have an extensive knowledge you will know how to pair up these two genres of learning and create the perfect blend.
6. Streamline The List Of Resources
There are millions and millions of resources floating on the online platform. Define the type of resources that you would like to use for your learning and accordingly select the resources.
7. Create The Perfect Balance
The ratio of traditional method and online training should be intelligently spread out to bring in an air of acceptance by the students. Make a thorough research about the students and accordingly divide the ratios. Make way for only those resources or tools that are relevant and accepted by the students.
8. Create An Accepting Atmosphere
Efforts should not only be made to create a new learning approach, but also ensure that the students readily accept this new approach. Create an atmosphere that evokes the student's will to imbibe the new learning methodologies gracing their classroom teaching.
9. Open Gates For Feedback
Clear out the paths for feedback, as this is the tool that will help to measure the scalability of your blended learning methodology.
Final Note
eLearning and face to face learning when combined makes way for a blended learning era. The aim to introduce such type of learning is not to erase the significance of a teacher, but to make way for teachers who use technology to impart education.
