Blended learning is a new type of education used in many schools, but parents and educators may want to learn more about the characteristics of blended learning before one of these programs starts. Blended learning is available for college and graduate students, but some elementary, middle school and even high schools now offer classes of this type. After looking at some of the characteristics that these programs share, you can see the benefits these programs have for students.
Online and Offline Learning
There are a number of different blended learning programs now available, including flex programs and rotation courses. The one characteristic that these programs share is that each one combines some form of online learning with some type of offline learning. Students in elementary schools may take classes over the Internet in a classroom with one or more teachers and/or assistants standing by to help them complete their work. Colleges often offer hybrid courses that require students take one class on campus during the week and do the rest of their work at home over the Internet.
Instructor Involvement
A common worry among parents is that blended learning programs won’t provide their children with the same level of help from teachers that they would get in a traditional class. These programs always require that an instructor be on hand to help students with all their needs. Students taking online classes inside a school setting will have a teacher in the classroom. Those who take online classes from home can interact with their teachers online through message boards and emails. Teachers check their emails and respond to students several times every day.
Independent Learning
The biggest benefit to these programs is that it fosters the idea of independent learning in students. Some students have a difficult time in their classes because they learn differently than their peers do. They may do better in classes that require more hands on interaction than they do in classes that require they sit and listen to a teacher talk. Blended learning programs allow students to learn on their own and to use the materials and resources presented to them in ways that work best for them.
Peer Interaction
Some parents worry that students enrolled in blended learning programs won’t spend as much time with their peers as they would in a traditional classroom. Peer interaction is a key characteristic of these programs. Those working in standard classrooms will have their peers sitting right next to them, which lets them work together on assignments. Students who take classes online can interact with others via the class message board or forum and through other means. According to the National Catholic Educational Association, some students find these programs motivating because they can work with other students without assistance from a teacher.
Support for Students
Another characteristic that blended learning programs share is the support available for students. Though most kids today know how to do basic tasks on a computer, including surfing the web and writing papers, they may need help evaluating online resources, finding the best materials and putting together detailed reports and projects. Instructors working in these programs offer students all the help and support they need both through offline meetings and online contact.
Though the number of schools that offer blended learning programs is still fairly low, the number is on the rise. These programs offer a number of benefits for students and help them do their work online. Some of the characteristics of blended learning include offering technology and other types of support for students, helping them become independent learners and letting them interact with their peers.
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