college what is blended course

What are the pros and cons of blended learning?

 · Also known as “hybrid learning,” blended learning is an educational model for teaching students in both a traditional classroom setting and an online learning environment. You’ve probably heard the term a lot these days as more schools and universities have shifted to blended learning in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

What is blended learning, and why is it important?

What is a blended learning course? A blended learning course combines on-site classroom instruction with an online learning component that is conducted via Canvas and other out-of-class activities. What is a typical course schedule? Blended learning classes meet once each week for two hours in the classroom and for two hours each week online at a time of the …

How to build a blended learning course?

Blended Courses. Blended Courses: Blended courses combine the flexibility of an online class with hands-on teaching from a trained instructor. These classes meet in a traditional …

What is blended learning and how can it be used?

A blended course involves face-to-face class sessions that are accompanied by online materials and activities--essentially a “blend” of both live and online learning. A fundamental …

What is a blended learning degree?

What is a blended-learning degree? A blended or hybrid course is a type of continuing education programme that is designed to provide students with instructions partly through classroom sessions, and also through online delivery methods.

How do blended courses work?

When it comes to blended learning, a rotation approach, students in groups move through a set of online learning activities in the classroom with the guidance of a teacher. In other words, teacher-led instruction is minimized, and the students engage in common tasks online.

What is the difference between online and blended learning?

According to Smith and Brame (n.d.), what differentiates a distance or “online” course from a blended/hybrid course is the amount of online learning that takes place relative to face-to-face meeting: “Online courses are those in which at least 80 percent of course content is delivered online,” whereas blended/hybrid ...

What does blended online course mean?

What is blended learning? Blended learning is the thoughtful integration of face-to-face and online learning experiences (Garrison & Vaughan, 2008). The wide range of blended learning includes technology-enriched teaching, online preparation before class, flipped learning and restructured class time.

What are the 3 types of blended learning?

The 6 models of Blended Learning are summarized as follows:The Face-To-Face Driver Model. This model works best for diverse classrooms in which students are functioning at various levels of ability and mastery. ... The Rotation Model. ... The Flex Model. ... Online Lab School Model. ... Self-Blend Model. ... The Online Driver Model.

What is an example of blended learning?

Examples include learning stations, labs, and the flipped classroom where learners practice the lesson before attending the face-to-face training. Flex: Flex learning is a term that can be used interchangeably with personalized learning.

What does a blended program mean?

A blended or hybrid course is a type of continuing education programme that is designed to provide students with instructions partly through classroom sessions, and also through online delivery methods. This may include virtual video sessions, online tests/discussions, and other online tools.

Is blended learning effective?

Today, blended learning can help teachers to more accurately assess the student's knowledge and help to teach concepts more efficiently. It is said that blended learning improves the efficacy and efficiency of the entire learning process . Blended learning makes education more accessible.

Definition

The following definition of blended learning has been adopted by the University of Ottawa.

Course Structure

What does a blended course look like? The short answer is: it will vary.

Differences in Terminology

There are various terms used within the research literature to describe what we have deemed a blended course. For example, similar formats have been called blended, hybrid, mixed-mode, and flexible learning. These terms generally act as synonyms for the blended format described in the “Definition” section above.

What is blended learning?

A blended learning course combines on-site classroom instruction with an online learning component that is conducted via Canvas and other out-of-class activities.

What are the skills you use in blended learning?

The skills you build and use in blended learning – organization, time management, and problem solving – are life skills that will benefit you in your study at Berkeley College, in your work, and in your personal life.

Do students need to attend class?

Students need to attend the weekly class session in person. Arriving on time, being prepared, and staying for the entire class session is imperative for the successful completion of the course.

What is blended learning?

In simple terms, blended learning is an approach to education that mixes elements of online learning and traditional, in-classroom learning. That said, it can be difficult to pinpoint where traditional or online learning stops and where blended learning begins.

What is student collaboration?

Student collaboration is another area aided by technology. Tools like Google Docs allow students to work together on projects without necessarily being all in the same place at once.

Is blended learning more flexible?

It’s also true that a course following the blended learning format tends to have less flexibility, as the in-classroom components can be challenging for students with full-time work schedules or those who live far away from campus.

Is blended learning the standard?

While blended instructional models might not yet be the standard for all, more and more students and institutions are becoming comfortable with implementing elements of online learning into their curriculum. The motivations for schools embracing more online and blended learning formats vary, but there are some common reasons.

Is blended learning better than traditional learning?

There is, however, some evidence of improved academic achievement for students in blended learning formats. One analysis of educational studies found students in online courses—particularly those that blend traditional and online work—performed better than those receiving solely face-to-face instruction. This is encouraging news for educators looking for new ways to supplement and structure their coursework and curricula. It is also believed that courses that incorporate online learning are increasingly aligned with the “real-world” work that students will be doing when they’ve earned their degrees.

Is one way of learning better than the other?

Whether it’s in a fully online, traditional or hybrid format, Daninhirsch says it’s a common misconception for students to believe one way of learning is objectively better than the other. Learning preferences vary from person to person.

Is it better to take online classes or blended classes?

It’s true that some students prefer fully online courses and the flexibility that comes with them—so why would a school offer a blended format? It’s worth considering that some subjects and courses are more naturally suited to in-person instruction. For example, it’s likely much easier for a nursing instructor to explain and demonstrate the technique for starting an IV line in a classroom where hands-on modifications can be made.

What is blended course?

Blended courses (also known as hybrid or mixed-mode courses) are classes where a portion of the traditional face-to-face instruction is replaced by web-based online learning. How much of the face-to-face instruction must be replaced by online coursework?

What is blended learning?

The Online Learning Consortium (formerly, the Sloan Consortium, a professional organization dedicated to postsecondary online learning) defines blended learning as a course where 30%-70% of the instruction is delivered online.

Can courses be blended?

Courses can be blended in many ways and for many reasons. Refer to other sections of this Toolkit for research, models, and examples.

What Is a Blended Learning Approach?

A blended learning approach is adaptable to materials, student needs, location, technology access and many other features. Three features make a teaching model blended. Without some combination of these three aspects, a model cannot be considered blended learning:

Blended Learning Models

The three features of blended learning can work together in multiple ways to allow students to make progress with their learning. The multiple models of blended learning are sometimes used in the classroom at different times, with some models being more useful than others for certain grades and subjects:

Benefits of Blended Learning

Practitioners have found benefits in just about every educational model, which explains why these models have persisted over time. Although a newer model, blended learning offers learners and providers its own set of benefits.

How to Implement Blended Learning

Blended learning models often require a schoolwide commitment to change. The school must invest in technology, software, teacher training, paraprofessionals, and other aspects of the new model. Some newer schools develop as blended learning sites from the beginning, so these features are built into their operations.

What is blended course design?

Blended course design is a way of leveraging both in class and outside class activities to promote learning and use your time effectively in both formats. Blended courses, also commonly referred to as a hybrid course, is a course format that uses both face-to-face and online teaching. Blended courses specifically remove face-to-face time from ...

What is the design phase of blended learning?

In the design phase, pay attention to the alignment of face-to-face and online activities and assessments. The online environment in a blended course is not a self-study area. It is a classroom too, online. Use both learning environments to support and balance each other to diversify the teaching and learning process.

What is instructor-student interaction?

Instructor-student interaction (teaching presence) refers to the times when an individual student has meaningful interactions with the instructor such as providing feedback, addressing concerns, facilitating learning, and adjusting teaching strategies.

What are the three types of interaction in education?

There are three types of interaction that happen in education: instructor-student interaction, student-student interaction, and student-content interaction. Student -Content interaction (cognitive presence) refers to the times when the students interact with the content of the course.

What are the types of interaction in blended design?

An instructor must consider the types of interaction that occur within the class and online. There are three types of interaction that happen in education: instructor-student interaction, student-student interaction, and student-content interaction.

What is the difference between blended and flipped design?

There are two main differences between the two designs: the thinking taxonomy in the online and face-to-face activities and assessments, and the total use of class time (both inside and outside the class). Blended design can have both lower and higher order thinking activities ...

Does online learning replace regular class time?

Class time still meets at a regular time. Online activities and assessments do not replace regular class time.

What is a blended-learning degree?

A blended or hybrid course is a type of continuing education programme that is designed to provide students with instructions partly through classroom sessions, and also through online delivery methods. This may include virtual video sessions, online tests/discussions, and other online tools.

What is adult continuing education?

Adult continuing education refers to students who already hold a degree or a certification in a particular field chooses to further their study or enhance their skills.

Why studying online makes perfect sense

Blended or hybrid courses are a great option if you are looking to widen your knowledge base while being employed.