Blended Learning

The term blended learning is normally understood as a combination of e-learning, often online, and traditional place-based learning. The idea is that the e-learning part of the training replace and complement the traditional learning work.

Blended learning is a broad term that has many meanings, and many scholars has their own take on the concept. The following is some of the models that has been proposed and tested (Friesen 2012).

The face-to-face driver; In this model the educator drives the learning process and use digital tools as augmentation.

Then there is rotation; Here the students undergo a cyclic training schedule of independent study online and face-to-face classroom work.

In the Flex concept most of the training is given through a digital platform and the educators serves as mentors and coaches.

In labs the whole training is delivered through a digital platform but in a specific physical location.

The self-blend concept is where the students use digital resources to support regular training.

In online driver the whole training is delivered through an online learning platform. Face-to-face meetings with the educators are scheduled or can be appointed.

By using blended learning, it is possible to turn the educational model from teacher-centric to student-centric. This facilitate the students themselves to be responsible for the progress of the learning process. There are some advantages of this; research has showed that the efficiency of the learning process increases in such models giving learning outcomes of higher quality using less resources. The student is freed from the regular schedule and can undertake learning activities according to his or her own plan.

The nature of the omni-technical Industry 4.0 makes it natural to consider using simulators and e-learning to cover many parts of the curriculum, so blended learning is some of its varieties should prove a suiting model for the training. Our next video is about the flipped classroom which is a much-used concept complementing blended learning.

After you have read processed this element, take some time to reflect and find solutions to this task:

What part of your curriculum can be suitable for e-learning or online delivery as part of a blended learning training model?

In our next TEFFIC element we will look at Flipped classroom.

Sources:

• Friesen, Norm: Defining Blended Learning (report), 2012, https://www.normfriesen.info/papers/Defining_Blended_Learning_NF.pdf