Blended learning, which is the combination of online learning and on-campus learning, has been lauded as an effective pedagogical approach to education. With an opportunity to combine learning with digital and classroom settings, both educators and students can experience the best of both worlds.
Student holding tab showing about blended learning in higher education
Advantages of Blended Learning
1. Time-Saving
Blended learning has always been associated with busy working professionals. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, blended learning in higher education institutions has provided on-campus learning to students who need clinical or practical training, workshop laboratory, studio or special equipment in addition to sitting for examinations. While blended learning allows students to return to campus to meet these specific educational needs, it also integrates e-learning to ensure health and safety. Apart from keeping students and educators safe from the outbreak, the online component of blended learning also saves much time on commuting and gives students immediate access to study materials online.
2. Education Affordability
With blended learning, universities can save a costly expense on upgrading computer software and operating systems of their existing computers. As part of the Malaysian government’s efforts to ease the financial burden of parents with schooling children, a special tax relief of up to RM2500 for purchasing mobile phones, computers and tablets has been extended to the end of 2021. This initiative was launched to boost the current work-from-home arrangements. Students can now own their very own personal computers without relying on university computers.
3. More Complete Communication
While online learning has received praises for its innovative lesson delivery and comprehensive data analytics for progress tracking, there is a lack of technological tools to promote proximity in an e-learning environment. Research has found that the closer the educator is to the student, the higher the student’s attention and engagement levels will be. Thus, on-campus learning does play a key role particularly in the social dimension of education. Real-time discussions, task collaborations and role-playing are some of the activities that support positive educator-student relationships for a more enriching learning outcome.
Hence, one of the main benefits of blended learning is that it can bridge the communication gap by including on-campus learning.
Despite the advantages of blended learning, the combined teaching and learning method comes with its own set of challenges.
Challenges of Blended Learning
1. E-Learning: Skipping Classes and Tasks
Admittedly, not having the lecturer physically next to the student may encourage learners to skip classes, virtual class tasks and readings. To minimise or prevent this from happening, educators can instruct students to send an email of their respective learning progress each week. This increases accountability to achieve their educational goals.
2. On-Campus Learning: Lack of Classroom Space
It is a norm for popular academic programmes to have big class sizes of students. When there is a lack of space in the classroom, safety protocols like social distancing may not be possible. One of the solutions to this would be to split the students into groups for easier facilitation and monitoring according to the assigned time slots.
In line with the Malaysia Education Blueprint 2015-2025 (Higher Education), INTI International University & Colleges recognise that blended learning models will be a staple pedagogical approach in the digital era. INTI has thus carried out blended learning endeavours since 2014. Read more on how we equip our lecturers and faculty members to embrace Industry 4.0 with blended learning.
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