blended learningunit1

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UNIT 1 Overview of Blended Learning

Suggested hrs: (6 hrs.)

1.1 Introduction

Since the advent of online learning and the fact that it has not been the panacea that everyone thought it

would have been, schools and companies have increasingly turned to a more moderate blend of the

technological methods and strategies with the traditional ones in an attempt to optimise the benefits of

both. In this unit, you will examine the concept of blended learning, and discuss the benefits and

limitations of using blending learning approaches.

1.2 Objectives

At the end of the unit, you will be able to:

(a) Explain the term blended learning

(b) Discuss the benefits and limitations ofblended learning

1.3 Suggested Learning Path

View the PowerPoint presentation on Blended Learning An Overview

Email tutor with questions

Do Task 1: Discuss two possibilities for Blended Learning in the Caribbean. Write your response in

your journal.

Read Unit 1 notes.

Do Task 2: Elaborate on your response in Task 1 and post your extended response in discussion

forum entitled Possibilities for BL in the Caribbean

Do Task 3 :Crossword Puzzle entitled Unit 1 Blending Learning Quiz

Email tutor with questions.

Unit 1 Overview of Blended Learning Page 1 of 4


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1.4 What is Blended Learning?

Blended Learning refers to a combination of online and face-to-face methods in response to learners

needs and for the achievement of instructional objectives.

This means that multiple approaches, methods and resources to teaching or to educational processes are

combined and utilized by the teacher who now expects the students to learn not only from assigned web

pages and communication tools (e.g. email, discussion board and chat rooms) but also from face to face

lectures, tutorials, person to person discussions and seminars. Examples include combining technology-

based materials and traditional print materials, group and individual study, structured pace study and self-

paced study, conference calls, tutorial and coaching. It may also include CD-ROM courses, video,

simulations and integrated learning systems. Overall, the best mix of resources is used to provide an

optimum learning experience for all the students.

1.5 Advantages of Blended Learning

1. Blended learning allows businesses and schools alike to make maximum use of the technologies

and other resources that they have available to them. This means that it allows both businesses

and schools to take a look at all the technologies and tools that they have and see how it can best

be used to bring the greatest benefit to employee/students and the organization even as they

spend as little as they possibly can and still maintain effectiveness.

2. The organization offering the course can create his/her own content.

3. The global reach of the blended approach to education and training continues to be one of its

greatest advantages. Uses concerning distance are eliminated.

4. The speed with which you can reach thousands of people is unmatched by traditional methods as

they can all be reach simultaneously without the restrictions of time and space.

5. Not all content can be properly delivered online. The challenges of using a purely online modality

are eliminated when a blended approach is used.



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6. By making use of traditional approaches where they work best and applying the technology

related methods only where they are most appropriate for the achievement of the instructional

goals, organizations can avoid the exponential increase in costs that can accompany a complete

switch to online methods only. It also allows students to avoid costs that are incurred through

travel, accommodations and other expenses that are tied to time and place studies.

7. Blended learning allows learners the flexibility with their time to do their lessons anytime and any

place until a meeting with the lecturer becomes compulsory.

8. It can make it easier to deal with educational administration and communication with all students.

Virtual office hours make tutors far more accessible than in a strictly face-to-face scenario.

9. Students get their learning needs and styles catered to whether they prefer online or face-to-face

because it offers both in a single course.

10. For sessions held online, the communication between teacher and student is open and everyone

can benefit from it because everyone can view the responses sent by the teacher.

11. Some lecturers experience an improvement in the quality of students writing and discussion.

1.6 Disadvantages of Blended Learning

1. Before a blended learning scenario can be considered ready for use, the lecturer has to do long,

detailed and extensive work. Preparation for start up is very time consuming.

2. There can be limited contact between lecturer and students and so some of the dynamism that

comes with face-to-face interaction can be lost.

3. Based on what students are used to, they often prefer the paper versions of the materials than to

see them online so the face-to-face sessions in the blended programmes usually have a

comparatively more successful feel for the students.

4. The materials developed by the lecturers cannot simply be the same set that they had developed

for handouts. They have to be reformatted so that they guide the students through a process of

independent study when they are not in a face-to-face session. This additional task required of

the lecturers is yet to be appreciated for what it is worth.

5. Students sometimes feel that they are given more work to do when distance modalities are used.



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References

Seidl, M. (2005). Blended Learning With Moodle: Didactical and Technical Aspects of Blended Learning

Scenario with Moodle. Retrieved from http://streaming.fh-stpoelten.ac.at/netties2005/word/Seidl.pdf. On

April 28, 2006.

Definitions below were retrieved on April 25, 2006and adapted from the following websites:

www.cybermediacreations.com/elearning/glossary.htm

www.teach-nology.com/glossary/terms/b/

www.intelera.com/glossary.htm

www.itslifejimbutnotasweknowit.org.uk/lt_glossary.htm

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blended_learning

http://www.e-learningguru.com/wpapers/blended_bersin.doc.

http://streaming.fh-stpoelten.ac.at/netties2005/word/Seidl.pdfhttp://www.google.com/url?sa=X&start=7&oi=define&q=http://www.cybermediacreations.com/elearning/glossary.htmhttp://www.google.com/url?sa=X&start=8&oi=define&q=http://www.teach-nology.com/glossary/terms/b/http://www.google.com/url?sa=X&start=8&oi=define&q=http://www.teach-nology.com/glossary/terms/b/http://www.google.com/url?sa=X&start=9&oi=define&q=http://www.intelera.com/glossary.htmhttp://www.google.com/url?sa=X&start=10&oi=define&q=http://www.itslifejimbutnotasweknowit.org.uk/lt_glossary.htmhttp://www.google.com/url?sa=X&start=11&oi=define&q=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blended_learninghttp://www.e-learningguru.com/wpapers/blended_bersin.dochttp://streaming.fh-stpoelten.ac.at/netties2005/word/Seidl.pdfhttp://www.google.com/url?sa=X&start=7&oi=define&q=http://www.cybermediacreations.com/elearning/glossary.htmhttp://www.google.com/url?sa=X&start=8&oi=define&q=http://www.teach-nology.com/glossary/terms/b/http://www.google.com/url?sa=X&start=9&oi=define&q=http://www.intelera.com/glossary.htmhttp://www.google.com/url?sa=X&start=10&oi=define&q=http://www.itslifejimbutnotasweknowit.org.uk/lt_glossary.htmhttp://www.google.com/url?sa=X&start=11&oi=define&q=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blended_learninghttp://www.e-learningguru.com/wpapers/blended_bersin.doc

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