Use Sophia to knock out your gen-ed requirements quickly and affordably. Learn more
×

Blended Learning

Author: Kylie McIntyre

Blended Learning Questions

1.        What is "Blended Learning"?

 Blended learning is a new educational environment that is trying to be created within school districts. This new educational concept is more student-centered and instruction will be a combination of face-to-face, online and digital learning. This plan will allow students and schools to have more flexibility to use time and resources. In order for this concept to be successful, it requires an effective teacher present to guide and support student learning.

2.        Why is there interest in this?

There are so many changes and expectations in education with all of the new technology that a new direction needs to be implemented. If school districts are able to create this new environment within their schools, teachers and students will be more successful.

3.        Is this a "fad" or is this the evolution of learning? Why?

This is the evolution of learning because education changes every day and other countries are constantly raising their standards so we must evolve our learning environments to be able to compete with everybody else.

4.        What are the advantages?

Learning will be more student-centered, instruction will be personalized for each student’s skill level, and students that lack access to great teachers and resources will now have a variety of options. Learning will be a little more self-pace and take some stress off of teachers.

5.        Should teachers and eLearning professionals care?

Yes, teachers and eLearning professionals should care because this environment is the next move for a lot of states and school districts. Everybody is going to have to be on board to make this plan beneficial for students and to change education.

Resources

http://educationelements.com/our-services/what-is-blended-learning

Blended learning offers greater student learning and improved school efficiency. It combines teacher talent and technology tools to individualize student learning and help them master the content and skills needed.

 

http://www.christenseninstitute.org/blended-learning-3/

This website discusses the four different models of Blended Learning and mentions how the field is rapidly developing.

 

http://ilearnproject.com/online-learning/advantages-of-blended-learning/

This article focuses on the benefits of Blended Learning for students, families, teachers, and the overall cost-savings. 

Valuable Post

Summary:

  • In Beau’s document, he believes that teachers and eLearning professionals should care about this topic because we are straying away from the traditional type of teaching and evolving to a more technology based style. It is imperative that educators adapt their teaching style to fit the new expectations and incorporation of multiple resources. One point made in this document is that all teachers are concerned with the changes going on because they are taking “away what educators do for a living, which are physical, in class lessons that demand attendance, focus, and hard work.” (Question 5). 

 

  • "Historically, teachers have been forced to deliver a relatively unified, monolithic educational experience. Teachers will now need new skills to learn how to support students who are learning different things, at different paces, through different approaches. They will need to be able to facilitate different learning opportunities for students--such as one-on-one tutoring, small-group instruction, project-based learning,  and lectures. Given that leading small-group interventions will be a major part of this, becoming masterful at that skill rather than lesson planning for an entire class is a good starting point."

 

  • This is the section of the online source I am focusing on. This article, combined with Beau’s viewpoint, addresses a good topic. Teachers are worried about all of these changes going on but this section discusses what teachers need to do in order to keep their jobs and adapt to the new movement. They need to learn new skills that will teach them how to help all students even though they most likely have different learning paces and topics. This article states that educators need to become “masterful at that skill rather than lesson planning for an entire class” and are referring to leading small-group interventions.