Blended Learning

Blended Learning is an educational approach that combines traditional face-to-face, classroom-based instruction with online learning experiences. The aim is for the online and offline aspects to complement the other, playing to the relative strengths of each.

In a blended learning environment, students have the opportunity to work with educational materials at their own pace, whether in the classroom or online, using a variety of tools and technologies. The primary goal of blended learning is to optimise learning experiences by providing students with more flexibility and greater accessibility with regards to the learning materials, accommodating different learning styles as well as the diverse needs and preferences of students. Blended learning enables learners to study the material more deeply and effectively, thus enhancing the retention of the content.

This style of education can take different forms and be tailored to meet the specific needs of participating learners. A popular approach sees students rotating between face-to-face instruction and online learning. In this model, a teacher or a facilitator divides the class into small groups, each with their own learning activities. The groups then rotate through a sequence of activities that may include classroom instruction, small group discussions, and individual online work. Another model allows students to learn at their own pace through online learning modules with provision for real-time or asynchronous support from a teacher or a facilitator.

Blended learning can be used in different educational settings, from primary schools through to further and higher education, or in professional development and training programs. Blended learning can enable access to education to those who may not have had the opportunity to attend a traditional classroom-based learning environment, such as adult learners, those who live in remote areas, or those who have disabilities.

Benefits of well-designed blended learning models include:

• increased opportunity for engagement
• better personalisation, with greater flexibility
• opportunities for collaborative work
• development of key skills including critical thinking and problem-solving
• potential for immediate feedback on student progress and performance enabling adjustments of courses and materials as they are being undertaken

With the rapid development of technology, blended learning is becoming an increasingly popular approach to education, and is likely to play an even more prominent role in the future of learning provision in different sectors.

Next Steps:

Other entries in the glossary share similar features or otherwise intersect with ideas related to blended learning (see in the glossary under further reading below). Read about some of these concepts and make notes on some of the similarities and differences, and any other relationships between them.

Further Reading:

• In the Glossary: Remote Learning | Hybrid Learning | Asynchronous Learning | e-Learning | Distance Learning | Flipped Learning
• Elsewhere online: Blended Learning (Wikipedia) |