Exploring definitions
a) a systematic process of selecting
appropriate learning and teaching strategies, technology and media to achieve
learning outcomes set.(adapted from Dick, Carey & Carey, 2009; Holden &
Westfall, 2010)
Strength: In blended learning the idea of
teaching strategies in conjunction
with technology and media for specific learning outcomes can be appealing.
Weakness: Not quite sure of the idea of
systematic process. This may engender semantic problem in understanding the
concept.
b) a formal education program in which a
student learns at least in part through online learning, with some element of
student control over time, pace, path, and/or pace; at least in part in a
supervised physical environment; and the modalities along each student’s
learning path within a course are connected to provide an integrated learning
experience’ (UNSW Faculty of Medicine).
Strength: The definition is suggestive of wide range of flexibility
of learning in a shared physical environment.
Weakness: Learning experience is talked about but could not find any trace of learning outcomes.
Weakness: Learning experience is talked about but could not find any trace of learning outcomes.
In my view blended learning is a unique and an interesting mode of learning that combines the elements of face- to- face learning, online learning, self-paced learning along with media learning to achieve certain learning outcomes. To extend it further “a learning solution created through a mixture of face- to- face, live- e- learning, self- paced learning as well as through a mix of media” (2008 International Seminar on Future Informational Technology & Management Engineering).
Reasons for growing significance of
blended learning and open learning in traditional teaching:
·
Flexibility
and freedom of learning as a positive influencing factor in teaching- learning
process.
·
Covers
broader aspects of knowledge and learning within specific time frame.
·
Easily
manageable teaching practice to mitigate the burden of large group of students
because of higher enrolment rate.
Outline your experience of teaching,
assessing and/or providing feedback in a blended or open mode.
In my professional context blended
learning is a new concept. However, various narratives and literature of
blended learning along with my present experience of online tasks have directed
my thinking towards different perspectives and analysis of the context.
The pros and cons of blended learning can
be as follow.
Advantages:
·
BL
(Blended Learning) seems to be very beneficial to students of different
faculties such as education, business, school of nursing and so forth.
·
Based
on Smyth’s (2012) studies on students’ experience of BL:
·
BL
provides flexible learning experience with no place bounds, autonomous
learning, capabilities to problem solving and more learning.
·
Nursing
students could get useful information online and apply in their practical life.
·
Students
could consolidate their learning in part through physical learning.
Disadvantages:
·
BL
mars the essence of teaching by seizing the innate capabilities and
spiritualism.
·
Lack
of balance between online contents and face-to- face delivery (Margaret, 2011).
·
Based
on Smyth’s studies (2012):
·
Social
interaction limited
·
Overwhelming
and tiring experience
·
Internet
connectivity may be an issue in some geographical areas.
·
Absence
of prompt feedback which is an essential tool of formative assessment.
Staff Engagement and
method of delivery
Unlike
Marshall’s (2014) model of staff engagement and method delivery representation
based on high staff engagement, low staff engagement, fully delivered online
and fully delivered on campus, my institution covers only two aspects: high staff engagement and fully
delivered on campus. It is because no online courses or blended learning is
available at present. Role of technology is limited to online browsing internet
for extra information and not as a part of the curriculum or mode of teaching
and learning. However, teachers and students do get online materials for
learning but not subscribed in the course. So the lectures are always face- to-
face on campus delivery. I believe this trend will go on until explosion of
technology takes place.
SECTIONS
SECTIONS as
a technology tool as suggested by Bate & Poole (2003) is convincing in a
sense it contextualizes various important aspects with huge coverage in lesser
words. We can further extend this tool adding a few more aspects such as
feasibility in terms of a particular geographical and social context, and also
availability of experts in the particular domain of technology.
Appropriateness of
levels of engagement across the institution
The 4 level marker
encompassing Below, Basic/Fundamental, Above and Exceptions does make a sense
in understanding the nature of the course practice and use of technology but may not be quite feasible in terms of strict
grade based evaluation of students’ real knowledge and the level of practice of technology. I
guess use of formative assessment and continuous assessment system is a
challenging issue in BL.
References
Bates, A.W., & Poole, G. (2003).
Effective teaching with technology in higher education: Foundation of Success.
San Francisco, C A: Jossey- Bass.
Margaret, G., Young, P., Lockyar, L.,
& Moule, P. (2011). How ‘blended’ is blended learning?: Students’
perceptions of issues around the integration of online and face- to- face
learning in a continuing professional development (CPD) health care context. Nurse Education Today. Vol. 31, Issue
8, pp 887-891.
http://dx.doi.org.wwwproxyo.library.unsw.edu.au/10.1016/j.nedt.2011.02
Smyth, S., Houston, C., Cooney, A.,
& Casey, D. (2012). Students’ experiences of blended learning across a
range of post graduate programmes. Nature
Education Today. Vol. 32 issue 4 p.p 464-468. http://dx.doi.org.wwwproxyo.library.unsw.edu.au/10.1016/j.nedt.2011.05.01
Study on the Application of Blended
Learning in the College English Course. (2008). Xian Tang Qun Pan, Foreign
Trade College, Wuhan University of Science & Engineering, Wuhan, China.
2008 International Seminar on Future Information Technology and Management
Engineering. DOI: 10.1109/FITME.2008.65
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