RSA #1 - Is Blended Learning the Best of Both Worlds?

http://onlinelearninginsights.wordpress.com/2013/01/17/is-blended-learning-the-best-of-both-worlds/

This week’s module was titled “Case base learning” and focused specifically on blended learning.   Blended learning can be defined as learning that happens at least partially by a supervisor at a brick and mortar location away from home and at least partly online with a student in control of time, place, or path (Staker, pg.5) Blended learning started out by addressing the need of students to take advanced courses that were not offered at their current school(Staker, pg 1).  Since this issue has been addressed, the idea of blended learning has actually become a popular form of educating students.  Heather Staker, the author of The Rise of K-12 Blended Learning: Profiles of emerging needs, says, “By 2010 over 4 million students were participating in some kid of formal online learning program” (2011).  This shows that many people are interested in this form of blended learning, but a big question is why are students choosing to learn online?   

            This question can be addressed by a quote found in the blog post of Debbie Morrison.  It states “Research has found that blended courses have the potential to increase student-learning outcomes while lowering attrition rates in comparison with equivalent fully online courses” (Morrison, 2014).   Students in blended courses are retaining more and tend to stay involved in blended classes as opposed to fully online classes.  This may be attributed to the blended learning environment’s ability to be flexible with time schedules and allowing students develop skill sets not possible in the traditional classroom setting. 

            Morrison’s and Staker’s articles to a great job of describing what is meant by the term blended learning.  Both are clear in that blended learning, most of the content may be delivered online, there is still some face-to face contact needed to help with the success of the class. 

References

Morrison, D. (2014). Is Blended Learning the Best of Both Worlds? Retrieved from   http://onlinelearninginsights.wordpress.com/2013/01/17/is-blended-learning-the-best-of-both-worlds/

Staker, H.  (2011).  The Rise of K-12 Blended Learning: Profiles of emerging needs. 

Innosight Institute.