Topic 4: Blended learning

Blended learning

As we already know, the situation with Covid has led to an increasing amount of digital distance education. I hope that we after Covid keep the best parts of digital teaching and combine these with teaching face to face. I think that blended learning, a mix of online and face-to-face teaching, will have an important place in teaching from now on. Studies shows that good learning environments includes different types of interaction (Cleveland-Innes & Wilton, 2018).

There are several befits with blended learning, one is the possibility to cooperate despite a physical distance and another is more options for interaction between students to student and teacher to student (Cleveland-Innes & Wilton, 2018). It is of course also important to be aware of potential problems with blended learning. One problem could be difficulties with Internet connection or software problems (Hillard, 2015). During the ONL course we discussed this and a solution to the Internet problem could be that all material has a low resolution or that a manuscript of all that is said in recorded lectures are available. I think that it is important that the universities provide good quality IT support for students. My experience is that the students lots of times have problems with software they are supposed to install on their own computers. The students get frustrated and at risk for getting behind. To make this a much smaller problem, I think the IT support needs resources to meet this new need for instant support.

Another important benefit of blended learning is the flexibility (Cleveland-Innes & Wilton, 2018). As mentioned before, the digital tools allows for collaboration when there is not possible to meet physically. But there is also the time aspect. With blended learning the course can contain some parts that are recorded or written discussions that students can engage with when it suits them.

Technological literacy is an important aspect (Cleveland-Innes & Wilton, 2018). Young people today are used to digital media end tools but some times I think it is easy to overrate the students skills. To get everyone on board it is good to test the students technological skills in the beginning of the course to provide the necessary guidance. Technological literacy should not limit the student chance of learning.

Cleveland-Innes M. & Wilton D. (2018) Guide to blended learning. Commonwealth learning.

Hillard, A. (2015) Global Blended Learning Practices for Teaching and Learning, Leadership and Professional Development. Journal of International Education Research, v11 n3 p179-188 2015

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