Greetings!
Blended learning means a mix of tools and styles to create conditions for learning to take place. In particular it refers to a combination of traditional mechanisms such as face-to-face learning with a teacher and pupils in the same location as well as 2.0 applications and technologies.
2. What do you think are the opportunities of a blended approach to learning?
More flexible learning, free of shared geography and time zones;
more diverse groups of learners, interactive in distinct ways;
wider range of accessibility.
3. What are some of the challenges with blended learning?
More critical lieracies are required on the part of instructors and learners due to less homogenous groups and pairrings;
more media literacy is required from users;
maintaining quality of teaching methods and approaches;
facilitating participation;
creating and maintaining fair and meaningful evaluation mechanisms;
and, ensuring mechanisms for evolution and continual actualization of learning.
4. How do you think you could apply a blended approach in your school, workplace, and/or institution?
I foresee more outsourcing of current English for Academic Purposes to pre-arrival of International Students at undergraduate and graduate levels. In addition, immigrants and potential immigrants in rural areas and/or those who are shiftworkers will have better access to learning and opportunity for self-advancement through increased and improved blended learning services.
