Blended Learning
What is blended learning?
http://pfl.grad.ncsu.edu/files/2013/11/Behave-like-a-teacher.jpg
How was your classroom
activity? Boring? Monotonous? The teacher speaks all the time? Yes, those are
traditional classroom. However, nowadays you can have a very interesting
classroom through technology. You can have a more interactive and interesting
class through blended learning classroom.
Blended means combine or mix many things into one thing. Blended
learning means combining classroom and virtual instruction
optimizes learning through
online-computer technology. Teachers are equipped with
significant resources to maximize planning and instructional time and
differentiate instruction to accommodate varying proficiency levels. Students
assume greater ownership and responsibility for their own language development
and progress at the pace and level appropriate to their needs.

The
blended classroom is designed to meet the individual needs of student by
allowing teachers to personalize instruction. This strategy can be used
for any subject and any grade level. Blended learning combines
face-to-face and online instruction. It allows students to work with teachers
in school and have online resources at home. Therefore, the students can
understand more the material at home. They do not depend on the teachers’
explanation because they can get the material from many sources from the internet.
Pros of blended learning:
·
Provides for individualized
support for the students
·
students can access material at
anytime, anywhere, to review the material
·
provides richer, more interactive
learning experiences
·
provides more time for
collaboration with the students and teachers
·
parents have access to what
students are doing - better communication and support
·
more and more colleges and even
workplaces are using this model.
Cons of
blended learning:
·
Teachers will need time to create
and/or select content.
·
Teachers will need training on
using this method of instruction to make it effective
·
students will need to be shown how
to access, use the technology and what is expected of them
·
Students need to be able to do
work outside of school hours
Example
lesson plans
The
example of blended learning classroom is when teacher is using videos from YouTube, Discovery Education, Khan Academy as a
replacement for lectures - students watch them at home and then discuss them in
class. The teacher also answers questions in class and dives more deeply into
the content.
4 Models of Blended Learning
1. Rotation model — a
course or subject in which students rotate on a fixed schedule or at the
teacher’s discretion between learning modalities, at least one of which is
online learning. Other modalities might include activities such as small-group
or full-class instruction, group projects, individual tutoring, and
pencil-and-paper assignments.
a. Station Rotation
b. Lab Rotation
c. Flipped Classroom
2. Flex model — a course
or subject in which online learning is the backbone of student learning, even
if it directs students to offline activities at times. Students move on an
individually customized, fluid schedule among learning modalities. The teacher
of record is on-site, and students learn mostly on the brick-and-mortar campus,
except for any homework assignments.
3. A La Carte model —
a course that a student takes entirely online to accompany other experiences
that the student is having at a brick-and-mortar school or learning center. The
teacher of record for the A La Carte course is the online teacher. Students may
take the A La Carte course either on the brick-and-mortar campus or off-site.
4. Enriched Virtual
model — a course or subject in which students have required face-to-face
learning sessions with their teacher of record and then are free to complete
their remaining coursework remote from the face-to-face teacher. Online
learning is the backbone of student learning when the students are located
remotely.
In my opinion, Blended Learning is very interesting, because through blended learning we can have more sophisticated classes. Besides, through blended learning, we can have more sources for teaching and learning process. As a result, classes will be more interesting. students also will be excited to join classes,
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