What is blended learning?

What is a blended learning environment? We often get many potential and existing clients asking us what this new phenomenon is. In short, blended learning is a formal education program in which a student learns at least in part through delivery of content and instruction via digital and online media with some element of student control over time, place, path, or pace.

Set up your FREE Blended Learning Environment (BLE) with LearnPac (®)

Blended learning is increasingly being used to describe the combination of e-learning and the traditional classroom methods and independent study. Some refer to blended learning as a new, hybrid teaching methodology. Blended learning represents a substantial change in basic technique than simply adding computers to to the learning environment. Blended learning represents ground-breaking change in the way teachers and students approach the learning experience. Blended learning has substantially changed the learning landscape and will continue with advances in computers and mobile technology.  

Blended learning trends

Although there is no single, reliable or agreed definition of blended learning, it’s impact has been remarkable. To illustrate this, in the early 2000’s, only a few hundred thousand students were taking online courses. This figure has grown to several million students and many schools, colleges and universities making computers central to their teaching. Whether you define blended learning as hybrid, mixed, or integrative learning, in practice, it all describes these trends. 

How does the blended learning environment model work?

Despite the lack of a universally accepted definition of blended learning, this model is here to stay. Leading educational innovators agree that blended learning has the core components as follows:

• The provision of classroom activities facilitated by a trained instructor
• Online learning materials, which may include pre-recorded lectures given by that same instructor
• Structured student independent time study guided by classroom experience and online materials provided

 Want to find out more about blended learning?

Contact our Support Team on 024 7610 0090 or via email to set up your FREE blended learning environment. Let us know your organisational learning and development requirements and we will tailor a solution to meet your online learning needs.