Blended Learning:
An Effective Learning Methodology of Web Learning Technology
K.SURESH,
Junior Research Fellow,
Department of Education,
Tamil University,
Thanjavur – 613 010.
Tamilnadu. India.
Abstract
Education determines the standard of
the society wherein providing quality education which helps in empowering a nation in all aspects by providing new thoughts through innovative teaching.
The age of revolution of information and communication technology there is an exploration of knowledge in almost all fields. The educational technology has the responsibility to rescue with a wide range of hardware as well as software
for tackling problems in the teaching and learning process. In developing
educational methodology, the teaching method is the main key to open the students’
knowledge and ability. Nowadays the learning process becomes more difficult
depends on teaching. The learning may be successful due to some extension of
teaching methodology. The teacher has the responsibility to make effective
learning. The traditional teaching method is teacher-centered. At present it is
changed as student-centered like online learning. It focuses the memorizing and
overlooking the logical/conceptual understanding, logical reasoning and
implementation of learning. Developing technology offers may alternatives
related to educational environments, methods, and tools. The adventure of
digital technology blended learning takes a new dimension in the learning process.
It has the best features of conventional learning and face-to-face interaction
and online learning. Blended learning makes involvement of the learner in
all aspects of psychological domains like interest, knowledge, motivation in
learning. It is a combination of two methods so it is called as methodology. So this document emphasizes the concept of
blended learning is the new and innovative methodology.
Keywords:
Blended
learning, e-learning, Hybrid methodology, Mixed methodology, Flipped Classroom
Initiating:
“Destiny
of India is being shaped in the classrooms”
-
Dr.Kothari
(Mundase,
2014)
Teaching is a sociological process as well as learning is psychological process (Sharma,
2012). It is complex to analyze these processes. But it is easy when we change the teaching method
for successful learning. In the teaching-learning process, it is very essential
thus the appropriate choice of teaching or learning method. We are standing
in the medieval of ICT. ICT plays a
great role in effective teaching. Nowadays the technology is bloom. M-learning,
E-learning and E-content are examples for exploring technology in the teaching-learning process. On the other
hand, this technological development gives freedom to the learner but it
doesn’t clarify the learners' doubt. This is the main lack of technology. If the
technology gives an opportunity to clarify this will be effective. A teacher is innate in the teaching-learning process. He/she cannot be replaced. The web
learning technology should give interaction between the instructor and the
learner. One of the innovative learning methodology in web learning is
blended learning. Because it gives
an opportunity of both self-learning as well as learning through traditional
face-to-face interaction. It makes an interactive and effective classroom
climate. The author of this document produces some concepts about blended
learning for creating ideas on it.
History
of Blended Learning:
The word “Blended” is popular from
14th century. It is originated from the old English word ‘Blandan’
then it transformed into German as ‘Blending’ and now it called blended.
Blended means mixed, mingled and stirred up a liquid. According to education,
it is used as a methodology with added the term learning is Blended learning.
Blended learning is a student-centered approach. It is a learning management system that helps to develop the learning of online learners. It includes both online and face-to-face
interaction. Graham (2003) defined blended system as a learning
system that “combined face-to-face instruction with computer-mediated
instruction”. In this environment, the teacher is present to clarify doubts of
learners. In blended learning, the teacher acts as a manager and facilitates the
students learning. The teacher teaches a single concept by using traditional and
technological equipment. So he/she called as a ‘Facilitator’. Garrison and Vaughan (2008) as, “a design approach
whereby both face-to-face and online learning are made better by the presence
of the other”.
Blended learning is a novel and
innovative technique for learning methodology. It is a formal education
program in a learner learns through online self-learning method as well as
traditional face-to-face interaction.
Slogan consortium defined hybrid course as blended learning that
“Integrated online with traditional face-to-face class activities in a planned,
pedagogically valuable manner”. It is
the combination of two teaching or learning method so it is called as Hybrid,
Mixed-mode or integrative methodology. Because of the learning occurs in the
classroom by using e-learning and traditional classroom methods. Driscoll
(2002) refereed four concepts about blended learning as follows.
v It
is performing or conducting one’s teaching in a combined classroom,
v The
combination of the physical classroom and the virtual classroom,
v One
use the traditional space, and
v Then
one adds something to it.
On the other hand, e-learning in
India (2007) blended learning comprises of the following elements.
v Informative
learning
v Interactive
learning
v Collaborative
learning
It is an integrated combination of traditional learning with
web-based online approaches; blended learning may be defined as the combination
of media and tools employed in an e-learning environment. It may be described as the combination of a number of pedagogic approaches, irrespective of learning by using technology.
Why blending is essential in
learning?
Nowadays the teaching and learning
process is stumpy. Because of some internal and external factors of teacher
and the learners which makes domination or disappearance. For example
interest, attention for internal factors and fever, headache, noise pollution,
classroom arrangements for external factors affect teaching and learning.
These reasons behind why instructs, trainees or learner might pick blended
learning over other options. Graham (2003) identified six reasons why the an individual might choose the design or use to design or use as blended learning
system. They are,
v Pedagogical
richness
v Access
of knowledge
v Social
interaction
v Personal
agency
v Cost
effectiveness and
v Ease
to revision
Models
of Blended Learning:
The
majority of blended-learning programs resemble one of four models such as
Rotation, Flex, A La Carte, and Enriched Virtual.
Rotation
model: Students are cycled on a
constant schedule for course or subject. It may be done by the teacher’s
discretion between learning modalities.
1.
Station
Rotation: Students are rotated through all of the stations, not only those on
their custom schedules for course or subject. It differs from the Individual
Rotation model
2.
Lab Rotation – Students are rotated to a
computer lab for the online-learning station for course or subject.
3.
Flipped Classroom –Students are attended
the brick-and-mortar school for face-to-face, teacher facilitate the learning
like guided practice or projects and participated in off-site online learning
in place of home for homework at night.
4.
Individual
Rotation – Students are rotated individually for course or subject. Each
individual has his/her own playlist.
Flex
model: Flex models gives relaxation in online
learning by substitute some useful changes by the facilitators. Blended
learning includes online learning, traditional classroom method and off-line
homework at home.
A
La Carte Model: Student takes entirely online to accompany
other experiences that the student is having at a brick-and-mortar school or
learning center.
Enriched
Virtual model: In this model, Students are required face-to-face learning
sessions with their teacher of record (teacher list) and then they are free to
complete their remaining coursework remotely from the face-to-face teacher.
Upsides
of Blended learning:
Useful things
are made desirable effects on the teaching and learning process are called as
merits or upsides. The followings are the positives of blended learning.
v It provides greater time
flexibility, freedom, and working convenience to learners.
v It is a student-centered approach.
v Class goals can be easily attained.
v Effective use of class time.
v Learners are likely to interact more
with the instructor and peers since there are numerous opportunities to do so
both in class and online.
v Unlimited up-to-date resources
available via the Web for accessing of learners.
v It is useful to reduce instructor’s
redundant tasks.
v Learners have a chance to develop or
enhance skills in time management, critical thinking, and problem-solving.
v Learners can participate more in
class discussions since they cannot choose the environment either online or
face-to-face or in which they feel more comfortable.
v It assists struggling students.
v More time to reflect and refer to
relevant courses and other research materials when working and writing online
than when responding in class.
v Learner may learn in own pace.
v It promotes class with discussion
through an online forum.
v It provides 24/7 access to online
course materials.
v It makes students less anxious.
v Learners usually receive more
frequent feedback from their instructors.
Blended
Learning is an Effective Methodology of Web Learning: How?
From the background of
preceding paragraphs, the author of the document has a rationale for the topic. In the age of revolution of web learning, there is no enough novel learning methods are there. The web instruction and
learning are mostly innovative but not effective due to their lack of disadvantages.
M-learning, E-learning, and E-content are few examples of web instruction. We
know that web learning is most useful to remote students. Web-based
learning or instruction does not provide the school experience and clarify the
doubts to the students. For effective teaching or learning the interaction
should occur. But in web instruction has not provided this type of
interaction. So it will be a one-way communication. For two way interaction, the
instructor and the student participate appropriately. The traditional wed
instruction gives this one-way instruction or learning. Online courses have a
lack to clarify doubts. And it also restricts to give the total school
experiences of the learner. School experience makes the learner’s high social
interaction and it highly emphasizes the discipline. Generally, web learning
courses do not make the good interaction.
The teacher is an essential and non-replacable person to clarify doubts
during the teaching-learning process. But in online courses, the learners wish to
learn in the leisure time. So the teacher and students face to face interaction
is not appearing. To remove this backdrop the Blended learning technology was
developed in web learning.
Blended
learning is one of the innovative learning approaches in web learning. It gives learners online learning, traditional
classroom methods with whole school experience. It is an Effective methodology
of learning. Because of the adaptation of two methods as single and it provides the whole school experience as well as effective interaction. It has some models
into it and which is used as different from normal classroom method and other
online courses. With the combination of two methods produces a new innovative method
that is blended learning. Effective communication makes quality teaching or
learning. So the blended learning is
called an effective learning methodology of web learning.
Conclusion
In technology evolving time, web learning is a novel instructional and learning approach in teaching –
learning process. There are many countries that expect innovation in their educational process. ICT occupies a prominent place
in the teaching-learning process. The success of teaching and learning mostly depends on technology which could be selected by the teacher is appropriate. Blended
learning is one of the innovative and effective methodologies for successful
learning. Blended learning gives opportunities to the learners to learn through the web as well as traditional classroom experience. It assists the students to ask
clarification and getting feedback. The learners of blended classrooms attained
whole classroom experience with web learning technology. It more useful to the upcoming institution and those who are expected successful student’s achievement.
Finally, the author of this document hoped that the reader might get brief
knowledge about blended learning.
Bibliography
Arora,
G. L. (2002). Teachers and their teaching. New Delhi: Ravi Books.
e-learning. Retrieved, 24 Dec, 2014 from http://e-learningeducation.com.
Garrison and
Vaughan. (2008). Definition of blended
learning. Retrieved, 20 Dec, 2014 from
http://blendededucation.com.
Graham (2014). Definition of blended learning and its
elements. Retrieved, 22 Dec, 2014 from
http://graham-b-learning.com.
Mundase,Vandana.. (2014). Values
education a pathway to global paradise. Edutracks,
14(4), 17-18.
Sharma,R.A.
(2010). Technological Foundation of Education. Meerut: Raj Printers.
The
Four Important Models of Blended Learning. Dream Box. Retrieved,
23 Dec, 2014 from http://gangainstituteofeducation.com.
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