“Technology will not replace great teachers, but technology in the hands of great teachers can be transformational” -George Couros.
Children are smarter than ever before, right? Active learning is not a very new concept but a concept that has been observed for ages. With time, as traditional teaching and learning are approaching a new dimension, it has come to attention that the traditional classroom methods are now joining hands with the modern ones in a combined way, in which the traditional old techniques are recreated by the recent pattern of online understanding in the form of blended learning. Blended learning is simply the idea of hybrid learning, the practice of learning that combines both online modes of education digitally as well as traditional classroom learning. It is not a new term in the field of education. The concepts relating to blended learning were first developed and recognized in the 1960s. Soon after in the year of 2006, the meaning of blended learning gradually stood up to become more important for the near advanced future. This went on because of the publication of the first Handbook of Blended Learning by Bonk and Graham. Graham initially challenged the opacity of the term and defined “blended learning systems” as learning systems that “combine face-to-face instruction with computerized instruction”.
Let’s dive deeper to understand more about blended learning.
Blended learning works simply in such a way that it requires the presence of a teacher/instructor in a classroom, be it online or offline along with the students to interact and learn effectively. The most significant objective of the blended learning method is to understand every student’s requirements and work towards them. To foster the modern generation’s cognitive ability and real-life skills are the motto of blended learning and teaching strategy. Although the blended mode of education has proven its stability, there are debatable reports and probes on the same.
Can we say blended learning is the future? Yes. In addition to other insights, Case studies and surveys can provide a lot more about the strategy and ideas followed by the blended mode of learning. Looking further, the below studies will provide an in-depth glimpse of blended learning initiatives.
https://www.edtechupdate.com/blended-learning/case-study/
Case study 1:
This research is focused on the implementation of blended learning in a classroom. This study was carried out by Dr. Sunita Singh and Ruchi Shivam. The following points were noted in the light of the study-
● Students can discover more in the field of blended scenarios.
● Interaction is more widespread among students.
● Blended learning helps students to develop time management aptitudes.
https://www.ijsrp.org/research-paper-1115.php?rp=P474802
Case study 2:
Based on the topic of education, The Michael & Susan Dell Foundation lately announced a series of case studies on five school networks engaged in blended learning. What did they discover?
● Schooling in the light of blended mode can promote efficiency in the learning process.
● Teaching is provided in such a way that it shifts to an integrated learning experience for the students.
Case study 3:
Jaggars carried out a qualitative study in the year of 2012 based on students’ preferences related to involvement in online courses. The researcher further went on to understand additional studies including information on the relationship between academic regions and online learning. (Xu and Jaggars, 2013)
● After the interaction with youngsters, it was noted that the blend of online and classroom teaching is flexible to maximize the flow of learning.
● Blended learning enhanced cooperative learning along with critical thinking.
Case study 4:
The United States Education Department (USED) previously conducted a research analysis of experimental studies on various students’ opinions about different learning techniques.
● It was observed that a mixed environment challenges the thinking capacity of the student.
● Students are likely to get guided mindfully in the learning process.
Hence, studies have shown that blended learning is a creative method of knowledge retention for long-term engagement in the field of education.
Why blended learning and how does it help today’s children?
A large part of the world today prefers a blended mode of education. It is often noted that children manage to receive more skills and knowledge through such a strategy. Now, why is blended learning preferred? It is such a way of structuring knowledge that requires nothing but a mixture of online and offline modes of teaching which helps students engage in the learning process. It has been proven and according to studies, a blended mode of learning is preferable and more effective than solely online lessons. Arguably, this mode of instruction can also reduce expensive educational expenses. Lastly, the benefits of blended learning can depend on various factors and can vary from institution to institution. Parents and teachers who are motivated enough to have their children developed to such an extent that they can face real-life problems often opt for blended learning methods which ensure communication of ideas in a society, organized learning, etc.
