BLENDED LEARNING- THE ESSENCE OF KNOWLEDGE SHARING
Prepared by
Sabarish P
ICT or Information and Communication Technology has pervaded the fields of education. ICT has become an integral part of today’s teaching-learning process. The students can do self learning using enormous potentials of internet and providing them with several on-line exercises. Educational institutes realized that different methods could work better under different situations among diverse type of students .This mixed approach of using other methods along with the conventional face-to-face method is blended learning. As a result, blended learning is the new trends in teaching-learning process. Blended learning is the convergence of one or more teaching methods or face-to-face (traditional teaching) and e-learning method to enhance learning experience by integrating advantages in two pedagogies. Blended Learning can be thought of as a pedagogical approach that combines the effectiveness and socialization opportunities of classroom with the technologically advanced active learning possibilities of the on-line environment. Blended learning should be approach not merely as a temporal construct, but rather as a fundamental redesign of the instructional model. This paper focuses the elements of blended learning and its advantages over on-learning environments. And also describes the levels in which the blended learning studies occur and pointing out the characteristics of effectiveness of blended learning system in teaching learning process.
Blended learning
This is a mix of the traditional face-to-face teaching approach and the self-directed online approach.
Introduction
In recent years the term “e-Learning “has emerged as a result of the integration of ICT in educational field. As a result the system of online learning has been largely used in higher education. Learning environment presents some disadvantages such as inhibiting the socialization process of individual resulting in lack of face-to-face communications: a new environment has surfaced. This new environment is termed as Blended Learning, hybrid or mixed learning. As per the words of Graham (2005)”Blended learning is a blending of different learning method, techniques and resources and applying them in an interactively meaningful learning environment. Learners should have easy access to different learning resources in order to apply the knowledge and skills they learn under the supervision and support of teacher inside and outside the classroom. This approach will combine face to face instruction with computer-mediated instruction. It also applies science or IT activities with the assistance of innovative educational technologies using computer, cellular or I phones, sky TV channels and other electronic media .Poornima (2002) has defined Blended Learning as “The term Blended Learning is used to describe a solution that combines several different delivery methods such as collaboration software, Web-Based courses, and EPSS and knowledge management practices. Blended learning also used to describe learning that mixes various events-based activities, including face-to-face classrooms, live e-learning and self-paced instruction”.
What is Blended Learning?
The integration of face-to-face and on-line learning to help enhance the classroom experience and extent learning through the innovative use of information and communication technology. Blended strategies enhance student engagement and learning through on-line activities in the course to the curriculum, and include effectiveness and efficiencies by reducing lecture time.
Ingredients of Blended Learning
Live events: Synchronous, teachers-led learning environment in which all learners participated at the same time .It can be in real classroom or can be virtual.
Self-paced learning: Recorded live events, internet-based or CD-ROM based, which help the learners to learn at his own pace.
Collaboration: It implies a more dynamic communication and interaction among many learners that beings about knowledge sharing.
Assessment: It is both live and on-line measure of learner’s knowledge to determine prior knowledge as well as to measure learning transfer.
Performance support: There are reference materials that enhance learning retention and transfer. It may be printable references, downloaded multimedia learning objects, documentation etc.
Elements of Blended Learning
As per learners demand and expected learning outcomes the Blended Learning experience is designed by the experts.Bersin and associates (2004) have identified the following elements related to Blended learning: Instructor-led lecture/training , Webinars , Web-based Courseware , Simulations , CD-ROM based Courseware , Rapid e-learning , Courseware , Internet delivered videos , Electronic performance supporting system , Off-line videos , Video conference , Collaboration system (chat room, discussion board) , Conference calls , Job aids ,Web books , Books , On the job exercise.
Blending at different levels
Blended learning environment differ from place to place there are some similarities among them. According to the handbook of Blended learning all blended learning studies occur at any one of the following levels which are the Activity-Level, Course-level, Program-level and institutional- level.
Activity-Level Blending: Blended at activity level occurs when a learning activity contains both face-to-face and computed assisted components like interactive white boards.
Course-level blending: It involves a combination of distinct face-to-face and computer assisted activities use as part of a course.
Program-level blending: Blending at program-level often entails one of two models: a model in which the participants choose a mix between face-to-face courses and on-line courses or one in which the combination between the two is prescribed by the program.
Institutional-level blending: Some institutions have made an organizational commitment to blending face-to-face and computer assisted instructions.
Blended learning system is effective in the teaching-learning process for the following characteristics: 1) Pedagogical richness 2) Access to knowledge 3) Social interaction 4) Personal agencies 5) Cost-effectiveness 6) Ease of revision.
Advantages of blended learning over on-line learning environments
Increased communication , Engagement of face-to-face communication , Sense of community, Improved academic performance , Collaborative tasks , Adequate feedback , Active participation , Providing help , Fun and practical manner of teaching and learning etc.
Conclusion
Blended learning refers to the combination of two or more instructional methods. The aim of blended learning is to combine the advantages of face-to-face classroom learning with the advantages of e-learning to enhance the overall learning environment. The key aspect of the successful blended learning approaches is to evaluate what aspects of a course of study are better-suited using internet technologies.
REFERENCES:
Deepak Halam. (2005).Blended learning Journal of Educational Technology,2(1)
Nageswara Rao. (2006).Effectiveness of Blended Learning Journal of Educational Technology,3(3)
Augustus Richard,J, Muthaiah N, and Helen Bond. (2012). Can Blended Learning Enhance Teaching Skills? University News, 50(11), 1-6.
Mohana Sundaram, K & Sivasankar, A. (2010). Blended Learning: A New Horizon University News, 48(03),1-4.
Indrajeet Dutta, & Neeti Dutta. (2012). Blended Learning A Pedagogical Approach to Teach in Smart Classrooms. Edutracks, 11(10), 6-10.
