Blended Learning Strategies for a Successful Hybrid Classroom

The fact that there is a need for another system of learning – flexible learning. We have to prepare our children for the world that is emerging more and more every second at present.

Blended learning comes into play here, it has everything that traditional learning methods have as well as the integration of technology.

So, whether you are fairly new to blended learning or still unfamiliar with it, this article is for you.

Check out more information to know the extent of blended learning and guidelines to get a successful hybrid learning model.

What do we mean by blended learning?

Hybrid teaching and learning methodology commonly referred to as ‘Blended learning’ is an educational strategy that incorporates the lecture-based physical learning environment with other characteristics of virtual learning.

Since this hybrid learning mode provides benefits from both in-person and online environments, it gives a student more flexibility and a personalised learning experience. 

Blending learning believes that the traditional learning method also has some benefits so why completely avoid it?

This is why it has included technology with conventional teaching and learning approaches, to improve students’ interest, give the best results, and also as a way of offering flexibility in learning.

Blended learning enables students to attend face-to-face classes for some days and on other days they can join other days they can join online classes and or activities.

This mode of learning can also be described as ‘individual learning’ as learners do not have to learn at a set time, have access to several resources, and know their progress because anything they do is immediately followed by feedback.

Role of Teachers in a Blended Learning Environment

When a blend of conventional and technology-based learning is applied, the teacher’s role is even more significant as they have to dispose of the two facilities to augment the learning experience.

Moreover in this method of learning the teachers are not just transferring knowledge but rather they are supposed to teach and assist the students so that they don’t find it cumbersome to manage both the physical and online classes.

To explain it more precisely let us go through the pointer below:

Instructional Design:

Teachers are needed to design a curriculum very gently so that it effectively matches online and in-person activities.

In this process, they need the right digital tools and platform, to make engaging content online, and give a space in the curriculum for face-to-face sessions that expand and strengthen online learning. 

Facilitation and Support:

Teachers should act as facilitators, and give proper and required guidance to the student in their learning journey.

It means they must do timely feedback, identify individual needs, and make the student learn how to develop time-management and self-regulation skills.

Assessment and Feedback:

Assessing regularly is critical when it comes to a blended learning environment; therefore, achieving consistency is vital.

There should be new ways of assessing them each time like sometimes encouraging them to engage in; teacher-student activities and noticing that ‘Oh, the students are demonstrating this or that’ so that one can give them the necessary feedback they require wherever they are.

Keep Yourself Updated:

Being a teacher in the context of a blended learning approach, one has to update oneself with new and more developed technologies for learning and teaching.

This will enhance their ability to constantly learn and take on better challenges within the firm.

Learners’ Proficiency in Blended Learning Context

In a blended learning environment, learners also play an important role, students have to be more responsible for how they learn

Self-Directed Learning: 

Students are required to be disciplined and motivated in their self-learning, particularly as regards learning from online content, their sleep hours included.

In this way, students themselves can set their individual goals, track their achievements, and seek help whenever they are unable to solve something.

Engagement:

Here, the student should be actively participating, in both, the online as well as the F2F learning processes.

It noted that they would write posts and comments on various social media platforms, work with friends and colleagues as in some of the assignments and activities, as well as interact with various types of digital content.

Technological Proficiency: 

For instance, on the matter, the student must understand how to use tools on the different platforms.

Presumably, they should be joined by hands when manipulating any tools, and any kind of online instruments.

With this model of learning, technology is incorporated into their learning process with the intent of aiding the students in the completion of their projects.

Feedback and Reflection: 

In my experience and the experience of other students, he who dwells much on the teachers’ or even fellow students’ comments most certainly does far better.

This assists them in distinguishing areas they are strong in and areas that they have to employ effort to enhance themselves.

Strategies for a Successful Hybrid Classroom

It is possible to mention that there is a certain need in the planning of the ideas for the success of the hybrid classroom.

We have listed below some of the relevant planning that you can consider:

Integrated Curriculum Design:

When developing the curriculum ensure that students, using either an online or offline approach, do not find it complex to understand the material.

One of them should support the other and make obvious and specific links between face-to-face sessions and distance learning.

Effective Use of Technology:

Concerning the technology component, adopt simple and efficient technologies because they will improve the teaching delivery process.

Regarding the technology component, new tools ought to be used for convenience and reliability because they assist the learning process.

Some of them like the learning management system, the interactive whiteboards, and the other collaboration tools in enhancing communication and other related activities.

Flexible Scheduling:

Since different student has different approaches to learning and the speed at which he or she can grasp the information that is being taught, it is advisable to try as much as possible to incorporate the required flexibility while developing the schedule.

Sometimes it encompasses the activities students engage in while on their own and tune into live sessions for interactions.

Engaging Content:

It is worthless if you turn the learning into a boring process, therefore, it is necessary to develop interesting and engaging content to capture the student’s attention.

This way can take the help of multimedia material like videos, podcasts, and more as it brings interest and enjoyment to learning.

Strong Communication Channels: 

Communication is possibly the most crucial and influential element that determines learning.

To do this, the teachers and the students must have an open clear communication channel so that teachers can explain to the students the progress they have made and the students in turn can explain the challenges they observed.

In the same way that all these have been done as above, educators can indeed provide students with effective hybrid learning environments that will enable the nurturing of their careers.

Featured