what is a blended online course?

by Mr. Frankie Carter DVM 4 min read

Blended, Hybrid, and Flipped Courses: What’s the Difference?

  • Blended Courses. 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.
  • Hybrid Courses. ...
  • Flipped Courses. ...
  • The Takeaways. ...
  • Resources. ...

“Blended Online Learning” or “Hybrid Online Learning” are phrases used to describe courses in which some traditional face-to-face "seat time" has been replaced or supplemented by online learning activities. The purpose is to take advantage of the best features of both face-to-face and online learning.

Full Answer

What are the disadvantages of blended learning?

Sep 13, 2021 · 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 method and how it works?

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 the total time spent on class commitments to online time. Learning activities and assessments can occur both online and face-to-face. Blended vs Flipped Design

What are blended learning techniques?

Jan 27, 2022 · Without the limitations of a classroom or all-online course, blended learning utilizes a variety of methodologies so the content can be customized to the learner and optimized for the subject matter. While not all face-to-face training is easily translated to digital content, it’s possible to re-engineer existing content for online delivery in a way that complements the …

What is a blended learning approach?

A course with an active Canvas course site where students post questions and share ideas in online discussion forums. Blended teaching is distinct from hybrid instruction A blended course is distinct from a hybrid course. At Stanford, hybrid specifically describes a course that meets partially in-person and partially fully online.

What is the difference between online and blended learning?

What does it mean when a course is blended?

What is an example of blended learning?

Are blended classes online?

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.

What is ELI in education?

The EDUCAUSE Learning Initiative (ELI) provides many useful resources related blended learning. The National Center for Academic Transformation has done a significant amount of work related to course redesign, including the innovative use of technology for blended learning.

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 instruction?

Blended (sometimes called hybrid) instruction has between 30 and 80 percent of the course content delivered online with some face-to-face interaction. Blended and online courses not only change how content is delivered, they also redefine traditional educational roles and provide different opportunities for learning.

What is online classroom?

The online classroom is a potentially powerful teaching and learning arena in which new practices and new relationships can make significant contributions to learning.

Why do people choose online education?

Millions of post-secondary students have turned to online education because it enables them to fit education around their work and family responsibilities and to study anytime and anywhere (p. 16).#N#Online students unquestionably value the independence, self-direction, and control online education offers them. Among several factors that drive them to online programs, students most often point to “the ability to study when and where I want” and “the ability to study at my own pace” (p. 17).

Why is online learning more flexible?

Increased Flexibility: Online learning offers more flexibility because students can control when and where they learn. By self-monitoring their time and pacing, students are able to spend more time on unfamiliar or difficult content (Aslanian & Clinefelter, 2012).

How can collaborative learning be promoted?

39). Collaborative learning can be promoted through a variety of activities, including small group assignments, case studies, simulations, and group discussions.

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 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 ...

Why is it important to have an instructor on a discussion board?

Additionally, an instructor’s teaching presence in discussion board is important to foster instructor-student interaction and student-student interaction. While it is impossible for an instructor to respond to every post, it is advisable that an instructor “shows up” regularly in the discussion board. Technology.

What percentage of online and face to face?

If the percentage is about 50% (online) and 50% (face-to-face), the instructor needs to consider incorporating higher order online activities that go beyond lower order knowledge recall and retention.#N#If a blended course has more than 50% online, the instructor has to incorporate higher order online activities and assessment such as peer review, online debate, online papers, problem sets, e-Portfolios, and group projects. When the class meets, class time can be spent on reviews, presentation, or elaborative discussions or group work.

What can an instructor do when online?

An instructor when online can use low stakes assessment strategies such as self-assessment and quizzes to support learning and increase flexibility of pacing.

What is a discussion board?

Discussion board is the beating heart in a blended course to build an online community. If the discussion board is used for topic discussions, an instructor can divide the class into small groups, or model the discussions for at least the first couple of weeks, then to assign student facilitators for each small groups.

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.

Blended teaching can take many forms

The “blend” of blended teaching often includes different technology tools, pedagogic strategies, and learning experiences.

Blended teaching is distinct from hybrid instruction

A blended course is distinct from a hybrid course. At Stanford, hybrid specifically describes a course that meets partially in-person and partially fully online. The in-person meetings may often include blended teaching elements.

Stay centered on the learning experience

Because blended teaching covers such a wide range of activities, instructors using this framework can benefit from taking a broad view of their course and first considering the central questions of teaching and learning:

Benefits of blended teaching

A key benefit of blended teaching is that it foregrounds these pedagogic questions and provides a wide array of solutions. Everything from a Canvas course site to pre-recorded lectures to digital polling is a form of blended instruction. Indeed, we might think of these options as simply "technology-enhanced" versions of our own teaching.

Finding the best blend for your course

Blended teaching is a combination of techniques and formats for different situations. The central question of blended teaching is: “What is the best strategy for your unique teaching situation?”

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 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.

Is blended learning right for me?

Blended learning is for students who wish to combine face-to-face instruction with online activities such as collaborative discussions, group projects, or other assignments. Successful blended learning students are:

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.

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.

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

Students are required to complete the Road to Success in Online Learning (RTS) before enrolling in a blended learning course. This is a prerequisite for all Berkeley College students prior to taking the required internship course.

Tips for success in blended learning

Get organized: Make time for learning and participating with your professor and your classmates. Keep track of deadlines, and give yourself plenty of time to complete assignments. Check online discussions on a regular basis and give yourself extra time to handle any technology related problems.

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What Does The Research Say About Blended and Online Learning?

  • The following definition of blended learning has been adopted by the University of Ottawa. This means that the in-class and online portions of a course are complementary and have been thoughtfully combined to meet the needs of the learner and the goals of the course. The online components are not an addition to a full course load but a purposeful substitution of some in-cl…
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What Are Elements That Can Make Blended and Online Learning Successful?

What Are Good Practices to use?

Resources

  • Online learning is one of the fastest growing trends in educational uses of technology. A recent survey (Allen & Seaman, 2013) of more than 2,800 colleges and universities reported the following: In 2010, the U.S. Department of Education released a meta-analysis and review of empirical studies focused on online learning in K-12 schools and higher education from 1996-20…
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