BLENDED LEARNING

Blended Learning

Modern technology led to innovations in various fields, one of which is in education. Modern technology helps teachers innovate the combination of teaching learning. One of the combination is Blended Learning.

Blended learning is integrated learning. By using this method, it make the process of learning more practical because teacher should not always held face-to-face learning, but teacher can use online learning. It is very independent because this method is combination between online learning and traditional classroom methods. 

Blended learning has been used since several years ago. In 2000, 45000 K-12 students took an online course. In 2009, more than 3 million K-12 students took an online course. By the development of technology, it is predicted that in 2019 there will be 50% of high school courses deliver online courses. 

According to knewton.com, there are some models in blended learning. 

• Face-to-Face Driver

Face-to-face teachers deliver most of the curriculum. A physical teacher employs online learning in a technology lab or the back of the classroom to supplement.

• Rotation

In giving course, teacher uses rotation. Students rotate on fixed schedule between self-paced online learning and sitting in a classroom with a face-to-face teacher.

• Flex

An online platform delivers most of the curriculum. Teachers provide on-site, as-needed support through in-person tutoring or small group session.

• Online Web

An online platform delivers the entire course, but in a brick-and-mortar location. Often, students who participate in an online lab program also take traditional courses

• Self-Blend

Students choose to take remote online courses to supplement their school’s traditional curriculum. This model of blended learning is extremely popular among high school students. 

• Online Driver

An online platform and teacher deliver all the curriculum. Students work remotely, and face-to-face check-ins are either available or mandatory. 

There is a general consensus among education innovator that blended learning has three primary components.

• In-person classroom activities facilitated by a trained educator

• Online learning material, often including pre-recorded lectures given by that same instructor

• Structured independent study time guided by the material in the lectures and skills developed during the class experience. 

Blended learning is good to be applied because it gives some advantages not only for teacher but also for students. There are some advantages of blended learning. First, it is cheaper than face-to-face method. The students should not have textbook. They just access internet to get e-books or other materials for learning. They also just need application to save their data. It must be less expensive. Secondly, it is more efficient because students can access the material anywhere and anytime they want. Next, it makes teacher easier in giving instruction when she cannot held face-to-face learning. However, disadvantages of blended learning cannot be avoid. Teacher cannot control the students fully because they can access the material and doing task everywhere they want. Teacher cannot know the development of each student in detail.