Blended Learning Technique
Teachers are always trying reach their students with new techniques in order to make the learning experience more enjoyable. This is where a blended approach might come in helpful. A blended approach compared to a traditional, face to face class might mean that the class meets once per week for a lecture with the other sessions resulting in a more hands-on lab experience or a field trip. Learning activities that normally would have taken place during classroom time can be moved online.
The goal of a blended approach is to join the best aspects of both face to face and online instruction. Classroom time can be used to engage students in interactive experiences. Meanwhile, the online portion of the course can provide students with multimedia-rich content at any time of day, anywhere the student has internet access. Just keep in mind that the blend of face to face and online materials will vary depending on the content, the needs of the students, and the preferences of the instructor.
There are various models out there that a teacher can follow to help implement a blended learning technique. The two most common are:
The Supplemental Model
The supplemental model retains the basic structure of the traditional course and uses technology resources to supplement traditional lectures and textbooks.
The supplemental model for blended learning incorporates technology into the instructional approach of the course, but does not reduce “in class” time. Students may be required to complete online readings or activities, or participate in lab sessions.
The Replacement Model
The replacement model reduces the number of in-class meetings, and allows for more hands-on activities to engage your students. It replaces some in-class time with online, interactive learning activities.
Under a replacement model, there are fundamental changes to the course. Unlike the supplemental model, the online resources in a replacement model are fully integrated into the overall instructional effort. The online content acts as a replacement for time that would have been spent in a lecture hall. Consequently, the nature of the in-class activities is changed as well. Instead of traditional lectures, in-class time is freed for more interactive, collaborative learning experiences. This model is almost like "flipping" your use of class time.