Blended learning is an fantastic for teachers and students alike, helping you scale your teaching efforts while improving learning outcomes.

In this post, we'll introduce you to the concept of blended learning including some instances, as well as various blended learning strategies you can integrate into your routine.

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What exactly is blended learning?

Blended learning is an approach for teaching that combines classes in person, and supplementary e-learning whether it's via online discussions and extrasynchronous or asynchronous classes, or other projects-based activities. Blended learning combines the best of traditional education-the intensity and dynamism of the live classroom, with the versatility and flexibility of e-learning.

Through its long history, the term "Blended learning" has been utilized to define 1. Combining delivery media, 2. Mixing methods of instruction, and 3. mixing in-person and online instruction, but nowadays, we typically use this phrase to mean a mixture of both in-person and online instruction.1

In the classroom, too Blended learning is now becoming the norm rather than the one-off. A recent study of UK universities revealed that 69% planned to introduce blended learning. 82% said they are witnessing a rise in need for blended learning. And in 2021 (during the pandemic) 60% of US college students were taking at least one online course. It is predicted that online education will be $257.7 billion in value before 2027.

Though we may associate the surge in learning online with the current pandemic, schools and colleges have assisted with online learning for decades-especially supplemental learning through online forums or project. It has been facilitated through educational technology tools as well as programs for online learning, such as Blackboard as well as Canvas.

Access to online learning is so commonplace that in 2023, the University of California decided to eliminate a hole in their system-it had so many courses available from online providers that students could obtain an online degree for way cheaper (they added the requirement of residency).

But blended learning isn't just used for high school or the K-12 level. It can be used for any type of learning available, be it corporate training or starting an online business blended learning can be used to blend the most effective of live learning (the interaction, the subject flexibility, the conversation) with the best on-line learning (the accessibility ).

    Blended learning may mean:

• Activity-level blend: When one learning activity is in place in-person and online.        
  
• Blending of course levels: If the course is in-person as well as online materials.        
  
• Program-level blending: Blending happens throughout a programme of study, but possibly not with specific courses or specific activities.        
  

1. Read the discussion in Chapter 1 of Curtis J. Bonk and Charles R. Graham, The Handbook of Blended Learning Global Perspectives, Local Designs (John Wiley and Sons, 2005).

Here are some blended learning statistics

• 85 percent of college students feel that online education is more efficient ( Erudera ).      
  
• Eighty-two percent of college and university students would like at the very least a portion of their education to be done online (and 41% of them want to learn completely on the internet) ( UNESCO ).      
  
• A survey of new college students in 2022 found that 27% preferred blended learning and 29% prefer completely online learning. This is a shift down from the pandemic number, however still notable ( New America ).      
  
• It is estimated that there are 2.79 million U.S. post-secondary students doing their degree online ( NCES ).      
  
• Between 2019-2020, the pandemic caused post-secondary online instruction to rise between 37% to 74% .      
  

Blended learning systems

Blended learning can only happen because of the rise of blended learning systems and the technology requirements required for online teaching. The blended learning system is constantly developing and expanding and incorporating new features every day.

Like, for instance the Mighty Co-Host(tm) can generate course outlines using AI. These capabilities will keep evolving and changing blended learning as technology evolves.

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Blended learning vs hybrid learning: What's the difference?

The words "blended learning" as well as "hybrid learning" can be utilized in conjunction. However, sometimes "hybrid" is a reference to the combination of both in-person and remote learners in the same classroom (sort similar to how we define an event that is a hybrid event)--while blended learning typically refers to an amalgamation of online and in-person education for every learner.

The benefits in blended learning

There are numerous advantages of learning online, and the best way to define them is that it offers the greatest of both worlds! Since both in-person and virtual learning can be beneficial, blended learning lets students take advantage of both approach and mitigate the negatives.

This balance is the ideal balance to learn blended. For example, asynchronous online learning may be lonely. However, blended learning allows you to meet with other students once in a while to make friends!

A New America study on blended learning in community colleges showed that the most important reasons why students favored blended learning included the possibility of setting an individualized schedule, the possibility to meet new people in the class as well as a greater sense of education, less commute time, and a reason to get out of the house.

Blended learning benefits that go along with learning in-person

• Flexible learning: Online learning lets learners study from the convenience of their home as well as synchronous online learning that is able to be completed at the student's own ease. Learning can become a possibility for people with other commitments to manage (e.g. the parent working a job has a ).    
  
• Accessibility Learning through blended learning can be more accessible to different types of learning, allowing learners go at their own pace.      
  
• Environmentally friendly: There's no need to have classrooms (or cooling or heating systems, nor electricity). Online learning is eco-friendly and cost-effective.    
  
• Flexible: Blended learning can be scaled. For example, if you had to teach three intro classes, you could combine these all in a single online discussion group.    
  
• It's easier than ever before: Technology to support e-learning continues to get better and accessible.    
  

The benefits of blended learning that are associated with learning in-person

• Energetic: If students have trouble paying attention online, live learning can enhance this.      
  
• Forming connections: Students gathering in-class can form significant connections and friendships.      
  
• Flexible: In-class learning offers flexibility of a different kind, the teacher can adapt the class topics and discussions as students take part in the classroom.      
  

Blended Learning examples

• A professor at college can add the requirement of a virtual component in their course, such as taking part with students in a chat room or writing blog entries about the reading and working on an online group project in conjunction with students.        
  
• Walmart provides the one Global Walmart Academy that offers both virtual and live education opportunities to its 2.3 million associates.      
  
• Amazon built classrooms into the fulfillment centers of their company to impart employees skills-both those relevant to the work they do at Amazon and those not. The centers offer upskilling opportunities to in-demand careers.    
  
• Many executive MBA courses combine both live and online instruction to make up for the busy schedules of students-a lot work full time while finishing their MBA degrees.      
  
• U.S. Government's Federal Cyber Defense Skilling Academy helps to train federal workers through a combination of online and in-person training.      
  
• HTML0 - The University of Phoenix is famous for online learning, but students are also able to take on-campus classes. It's the degree of blended learning.      
  

Blended E-learning

A different option for blended learning and this is blended learning via e-learning. Instead of blending in-person learning with virtual learning, blended education incorporates components of Asynchronous andsynchronous learning in an online platform.

For instance it's possible to create an asynchronous class that is made possible via virtual Live chats, events and discussion groups in real-time. You could also teach a class in real-time via a livestreaming feature and the recordings are accessible afterward, along with an online discussion board.

Like blended learning, blended e-learning brings a lot of advantages of a traditional classroom into learning via e-learning. You can benefit from the excitement of live classes as well as the discussion and discussions that take place in real time, and also the flexibility you have to bring to students' questions.

It's the difference that everything happens via an online platform. All the convenience as well as the flexibility.

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Blended learning strategies

1. Try a flipped classroom

One common approach to blended learning is referred to as the flipped classroom. Students engage with readings or lectures at home. Afterwards, classroom time can focus on conversations or engaging.

It's not easy to succeed within K-12 education however, it's possible (younger students often require parental support). However, the method is utilized widely in higher ed and has a lot in common with the "tutorial" educational model that has existed for many centuries (it's the foundation of the Oxbridge system ).

2. Let the learning objectives guide

Blending learning should be guided by the factors that help you to reach your goals for learning most effectively. It may seem like a simple thing, but you can use each of the advantages of both online and live-based learning in order to achieve various learning goals. Flipping classrooms are a great example of this.

3. Choose great tech

The technology you select to facilitate blended learning will affect the success of your blended learning program. Of course, any attributes you're searching for in a blended learning platform must be reliable and functioning. It should be able to work together and be easy for the students to both use and access.

Here are some guidelines:

• Beware of complicated stacks of technology. Look for ways to add the blended learning capabilities that you'd like while not mixing up and matching software-which creates more complications.      
  
• Check with IT. If your school has an IT staff in house Check if there are current options.      
  
• Consider interoperability if it is required ensure that your blended learning tech jives with your existing student and learning management systems.        
  

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4. Create the online count

One of the most common way for blended learning failure is by putting all the responsibility on live sessions, while making online participation mandatory. The online portion of blended learning shouldn't feel as an added-on feature or added-on. It should be considered a part of the curriculum and give real learning goals for online learning.

As an example, providing an optional discussion space is usually a recipe for less participation. Consider incorporating 10 reflections on discussion as well as 10 replies to other reflective reflections in your course (e.g. with 1% of each worth 20% of the total grade). By putting skin in the blended learning game it increases the chance that the program will be successful.

5. Do not duplicate the classroom experience on the internet.

Blended learning presents a nearly infinite number of learning opportunities. The idea of replicating the same activities as a classroom in a virtual setting can simply be a sad thing.

As an example, lectures are fine.

• However, what if you had students view a film together while chatting virtually?        
  
• or applying a concept on a film that is popular?        
  
• Try a video online game that matches the theme of your courses?        
  
• or building their own blog site or web page?        
  
• or posting on social media about the topics of your course?        
  

The sky's the limit. So be imaginative when the use of web-based formats.

6. Do not create synchronous and anasynchronous divisions.

It's tempting to assume that the class should be synchronous, and that online activities should be asynchronous, but this isn't the case. Online activities may be scheduled to be synchronous through the usage of live video, chat, messages, etc. And in-person activities don't necessarily need to be simultaneous.

If you're trying to choose between leading with asynchronous or synchronous This chart will assist you in determining the kinds of learners they best suit:

7. Orient the students

Instead of slapping students at blended learning and asynchronous learning, you can host a workshop within the class (even in an area with a computer in the event that you have access) to get them started in the online aspect of the course. Use this opportunity to teach them how to log on into the online learning system, and how to use different features, maybe even completing an assignment together.

The platform is more familiar to students, which increases the chances of students getting the most value from the platform. Technical issues are among of the top barriers to blended learning.

8. Read your data

Since blended learning comes on platform software, you'll have the chance to work with data. Data points could give you useful information about what's working as well as what's not with regards to your blended learning implementation.

Be sure to review the data frequently.

9. Join a community of practice

Adapting blended learning of any form can be challenging when you are first beginning. Look for communities of practice in which you can share and learn from others who are using blended learning successfully.

Blended platforms for learning

1.

is a community-based and learning platform which includes a robust set of tools to host discussions, livestreaming or running live events and including both synchronous and asynchronous classes.

As a blended learning platform, it is a shining light in the field of brand-related and corporate learning, with options for a branded app by using Mighty Pro. And for those running an online course or training business, it gives you everything you need for monetization-building packages, managing checkouts, and charging in 135 different currencies.

2. Moodle

Moodle can be described as an educational learning management system that comes with many different types of content, and a robust collection of features to engage students in collaboration in learning, such as discussions forums, collaborations and messaging.

3. Canvas with Instructure

Canvas could be utilized to create an institutional learning hub, with a powerful LMS, effective engaging tools, great mobile applications (better that Moodle) and Learning Tools Interoperability (LTI) ability to integrate in conjunction with the institution's IT system.

4. Blackboard Learn

A popular institutions LMS alternatives that includes many options for grading assignments and assigning grades along with a couple of great collaboration features (like the discussion board and live meeting features). It is simple to use by administrators as well as students.

Conclusion

Blended learning can be a challenge to try if it's your first time. But if done well, it can create fantastic learning opportunities, and also help to expand the scope of the quality of your teaching. Hopefully, this guide has you excited to try blended learning, and you are prepared to bring your teaching online!

If you'd like to experiment with Mighty's blended learning platform, trial it at no cost for 14 days, no credit card required.