how to succeed in a blended course

by Eugenia Wyman 4 min read

If you are looking to execute a successful Blended Learning course, here are 5 tips for you:

  1. The right mix of Online & Offline: The success of a Blended Learning course depends on the split between face-to-face and online learning, as well as what learning activities ...
  2. Make it interactive: While trainers use several tools and techniques to make face-to-face sessions interactive, the same needs to be done in the online learning component of the blended ...
  3. Ongoing Communication & Collaboration: Losing face-to-face time should not mean losing the rich communication and discussions that can happen in the real world during the workshop sessions. ...
  4. Use Face-to-Face time to focus on Learning Gaps : In a time-starved world, it is critical for a blended learning course to make the best use of the face-to-face ...
  5. Flexibility, Convenience & Accessibility: One of the reasons Blended Learning becomes popular is because it offers flexibility and convenience to the learners. ...

10 keys to success in blended learning
  1. Personalizing learning. ...
  2. Transitioning from traditional. ...
  3. Aligning to standards. ...
  4. Matching landscape to activity. ...
  5. Flipping homework. ...
  6. Formative assessments. ...
  7. Consistency in icons. ...
  8. Setting your goals/expectations.
Dec 28, 2015

Full Answer

How to run a successful blended learning course?

If you are looking to execute a successful Blended Learning course, here are 5 tips for you: 1) The right mix of Online & Offline: The success of a Blended Learning course depends on the split between face-to-face and online learning, as well as what learning activities are done in each of those components.

How can I help students succeed in a course?

Give students tips on how to succeed in your course. For example, log-in to your course at a minimum three times per week. Provide regular opportunities for students to demonstrate their knowledge and proficiency with the course content.

How do I make my online course stand out?

Use a button, link or announcement to give students an obvious place to start in the online portion of your course. You should include: How the online course is organized and the sequence of your learning activities

How do you prepare for blended learning?

How To Plan For An Effective Blended LearningEmphasize on identifying clear learning objectives. ... Prepare a comprehensive course outline to guide the learners. ... Determine the level of interactivities for greater engagement. ... Plan your group activities to enhance the learning curve.More items...•

What are the 4 C's of blended learning?

Sure we are all aware of the 4C's: Communication, Collaboration, Critical Thinking, & Creativity; however, are we fostering a 4C-aligned classroom when integrating technology?

What are the 4 learning skills?

Benefits of testing the four skills (reading, listening, writing and speaking) When we say that someone 'speaks' a language fluently, we usually mean that they have a high level in all four skills – listening, speaking, reading and writing.

What is 21st century creativity skills?

Creativity is the practice of thinking outside the box. It means students will be able to look at a problem from multiple perspectives — including those that others may not see. This 21st-Century Skill allows students to embrace their inner strengths from big-picture planning to meticulous organization.

How to start an online course?

Use a button, link or announcement to give students an obvious place to start in the online portion of your course. You should include: 1 Location of the syllabus 2 Support materials including how to get help 3 How the online course is organized and the sequence of your learning activities

How to avoid answering the same question for every student?

To avoid answering the same question for every student, use public communication tools such as discussions to communicate with the entire class. You might have a discussion topic to post questions to the professor. Be sure to address “tone” in electronic communications and netiquette.

Do students need time management skills?

Your students may need help with time management skills. Younger students tend to have difficulty managing their time and keeping up with assignments. On the other hand, adult learners are often overcommitted between family and job responsibilities. Here are a few tips to help with time management:

What is a blended class?

In response to COVID-19 the university wanted to ensure safety while also allowing the personal touch that comes with face-to-face classes. A blended class has a mixture of in-person and online attendance. Often it means students rotate between attending in-person and online.

How do I know the attendance expectations of each of my classes?

There are two things to check: 1.) How the class is listed, and 2.) for blended courses, how your instructor has decided to schedule attendance.

Learning Resources

This page can help you to build a foundation for successful remote learning. Online Learning Resources

What should I expect in blended learning course?

Blended learning courses provide more flexibility in when you attend class than traditional on-site courses, but they require just as much dedication and focus on the learning process. The reward for the student comes from taking a more active, participatory role in the learning process. By engaging and collaborating with other students and the instructor on a regular basis in the classroom and online discussions, the blended learning student becomes an active contributor to the learning process.

What are the other benefits for students who take a blended learning course?

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.

What are the requirements for taking blended learning courses at Berkeley College?

Taking it so that you can enroll in a blended learning course means that you will have fulfilled that requirement prior to your internship.

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 student’s choosing. The four hours do not include the time it will take to complete class assignments listed on the course syllabus. Students must complete course assignments by the specified due dates.

How much time should I expect to spend online?

Blended learning students should expect to spend between two to three additional hours online throughout the week. This time does not include regular coursework such as reading, writing, and studying.

How to be successful in Canvas?

There may be new class announcements, responses to questions, new learning units, assignments, and new discussion postings by the professor and your classmates. Active participation in learning activities is critical for your learning success.

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.

Obstacles to effective learning

Despite the excellent starting point provided by the STCW, however, it is challenging to organize quality courses that ensure participants fulfilling the requirements. Obsolete didactics and even national regulations that only serve as obstacles to effective learning are common worldwide.

Learning environment

We believe in a socio-cultural approach to education and training where a facilitator replaces the instructor. To ensure effective learning, we have to create learning environments where the students and the facilitator can interact using relevant components.

Advantages of blended learning

As a blended learner, you can enjoy the physical presence of other students and teachers, while taking advantage of the opportunity to upgrade your learning experience through distance-learning courses or by joining an online learning group. Some of the key advantages of blended learning are:

How to overcome possible blended-learning challenges?

Even though blended-learning programmes have numerous benefits, you should not start your studies expecting a totally smooth and easy ride. Instead, prepare to conquer some of the following challenges:

Popular blended learning disciplines to consider

One of the most interesting features of blended learning is that the educational offer widens every year, with more and more study subjects being available in a blended-learning format. Some of the most common fields of study available in blended-learning right now are:

Choose a blended format that best suits you and start applying!

Blended formats are an adventurous way to start your career. Choosing a blended-learning format can help you gain the academic experience you desire without sacrificing the quality of content that you have become accustomed to in a classroom format.

How to evaluate blended learners?

To evaluate your blended learners in person, have them work on assignments together in groups. For example, a group of leadership candidates can take turns implementing leadership techniques they encountered via their online course materials and modules when they meet in the classroom. Doing this will give you an opportunity to see and evaluate how they practice and implement the learning materials about leadership that they’re accessing outside of the physical classroom.

How to evaluate your learners' understanding of a topic that you covered in the classroom?

To evaluate your learners’ understanding of a topic that you covered in the classroom, have them complete pop quizzes and tests online once they’re outside of the classroom. Or vice versa—give pop quizzes in class for material that was to be covered in online modules.

Should you invest in online learning?

First, it should go without saying that you should always invest in online learning tools that are on par with your learning and development programs’ goals and organizational requirements. And it should be mentioned that learners should be evaluated both online and in person during a blended course and that evaluation methods should be alternated so that they aren’t either all online or all in person.

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Getting Started

Syllabus

  • Your syllabus needs to be modified for the blended format. Some items to consider are: 1. Provide an expanded description of the course along with the catalog description 2. Describe your blended format and rationale for using it 3. Cover the extended work period expected at home that results from reduced classroom hours 4. Cover your expectation o...
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Course Orientation

  • Create an orientation to your course. An online orientation can be included as part of the Getting Started section or make the orientation part in your first class meeting. Some items to include in your orientation: 1. How to log into the course (face-to-face orientations) 2. “Walk” through the sequence of weekly/unit activities 3. Point out the syllabus, support materials, how to find grade…
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Getting Started Module

  • Generally, the first week of class requires time for technology issues (Aycock, Garnham, & Kaleta, 2002). One way to quickly identify issues with the tools in your course is to create low risk assignments using these tools. For example, create an introductory discussion and ask students to introduce themselves. This assignment tests students’ ability to use the discussion tool and s…
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Socialization

  • Students are more successful working together when they know each other (Aycock, Garnham, & Kaleta, 2002) and the socialization process progresses faster in a face-to-face environment. Therefore, use the first face-to-face classroom meeting to start student socialization.
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Tips For Success

  • Give students tips on how to succeed in your course. For example, log-in to your course at a minimum three times per week.
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Assessment

  • Provide regular opportunities for students to demonstrate their knowledge and proficiency with the course content.
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Feedback

  • Provide regular and timely feedback to students and, when appropriate, give them opportunities to correct their work.
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Technology Instructions

  • Hopefully, your institution has instructions on how to use the tools in your course management system (CMS) and you can point your students to these instructions. If not, you need to write clear instructions for the tools used in your course. Also, you need instructions for common issues encountered by students such as resetting passwords.
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Communication Policies Or Protocols

  • Provide your communication policies for classroom and online. Your policies should include methods of communication such as e-mail for personal communication. To avoid answering the same question for every student, use public communication tools such as discussions to communicate with the entire class. You might have a discussion topic to post questions to the p…
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